Posts by Christina Fox

Fear and the Lord’s Amazing Grace

Nov 19, 2020

I think it is safe to say most people are familiar with the hymn Amazing Grace . Many famous musicians have sung or performed it. It’s heard at many funerals and other events. Yet too few know the grace of which the author wrote and more, what makes it so amazing. John Newton penned this much-loved...

In the Face of Crisis, Fear the Lord

Apr 22, 2020

Fear. It’s an emotion we all know well, and in recent weeks, it’s one that has asserted itself in our minds and hearts. We fear both ourselves and loved ones catching the virus. We fear what will happen to our finances because of lost wages. We fear how long our life will be put on hold. We fear...

To Nurture a Community

Aug 7, 2019

One year I made a resolution to get my hands dirty and grow potted plants on my back porch. It was my first foray into all things botanical. I went to the garden section of my local Home Depot and selected a variety of pots, an assortment of flowers and herbs, a giant bag of potting soil, and all...

When You Say You'll Pray...

Jun 29, 2019

Have you ever gotten a request from a fellow brother or sister in Christ asking for immediate prayer? Perhaps he is facing a temptation for which he needs help resisting. Or maybe she is feeling overcome by grief or sorrow and is desperate for peace. It might be that your friend has a need and is...

When Our Children Sin

May 3, 2019

Do you remember when you first learned you would have a child? You likely prayed over your little one day after day. Even though you'd never met him or her in person, you loved your child more than anything. You waited for months--and if you were an adoptive parent, sometimes years--anticipating...

Promoting the Work of Others

Mar 14, 2019

I have a dear friend who is an artist. Her work covers the walls of my home. I love learning about her creative process, the various mediums she uses, and what she is learning through her work. Most of all, I love how she images God and points to him through her creativity. No matter how hard I try...

God's Word in Your Child's Mind

Jan 25, 2019

A few years ago, at the start of a new school year, I announced to the kids that we would be memorizing the book of James. “The whole book?” one son asked, eyes wide with surprise. “That’s the goal,” I responded. “Impossible!” he declared. Up to that point...

Singing from Mary's Sheet

Dec 5, 2018

"My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him...

When Our Idols Fail Us

Nov 9, 2018

One of my son’s favorite Bible stories is that of Elijah and the prophets of Baal. Earlier this year, we had the opportunity to visit the site where that event took place. As we stood on Mount Carmel and looked across the Jezreel Valley, it was surreal to think of the great altar where God...

Guard Your Heart

Sep 17, 2018

Watch any romantic drama or comedy and you are bound to hear it. It’s a phrase that inevitably comes up in conversation between characters. When a woman is torn about whether to pursue a relationship with a man, her friend (or mother) will ask, "What does your heart tell you?" It...

Learning from Example

Sep 4, 2018

In my quiet time lately, I've been reading the book of Jeremiah. He was a prophet to the people of Judah, called to warn them of God's coming wrath for their sin. As I've read it, I've found myself wanting to do what my kids do while watching a game on TV: yell at the players,...

The Story and the Suffering

Jul 5, 2018

The Bible has a lot to say about human suffering. Most believers can reference or quote a few passages that speak to the pains and sorrows we face in life. We all know the story of Job. Most of us have probably memorized Romans 8:28. We might have a list of go-to passages that give us hope and...

When You Go Through the Valley

May 7, 2018

On a recent trip to Israel, I had the privilege of walking where Jesus walked. Our group also explored sites and locations of important places and events in the Old Testament. After spending a couple of days in the Jordan River Valley, we headed west toward Jerusalem. We read through the Psalms of...

Weeping While We Work

Mar 14, 2018

When you are part of a church for any length of time, you inevitably experience the ups and downs of church life. I attended the same church for two decades and saw leadership change many times over, membership rise and fall, and the life of the church thrive in some seasons and shrivel in others...

True Self-Knowledge

Jan 3, 2018

Have you ever gone through some sort of identity crisis? You know, the kind where you wonder who you are and what you are supposed to do? After living in the same town for nearly twenty years, I moved to another state. Since then, I’ve gone through an identity crisis of sorts. Where I used to...

Something to Hate

Nov 2, 2017

Do you have any words you outlaw in your home? Perhaps you forbid words such as “shut up” or “stupid.” One of the words I limit in our house is the word “hate.” I can’t say that I hate the word, because I think it's a powerful word that should be used...

Biblical Encouragement

Sep 11, 2017

“How are you doing? Really doing? How are you handling your hard week?” she asked. Then she followed those questions up with, “Can I pray for you right now?” Encouragement--we would recognize it anywhere. It’s like a gentle push forward when we’ve run out of...

Promises Made, Promises Kept

Jul 11, 2017

Most believers have a favorite promise in Scripture that they have memorized and cling to during hard times--often even more than one. Personally. I have always been partial to Isaiah 40, in which we read, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you...

The Tempted One

May 5, 2017

What does it mean to you that Jesus faced temptation? The fact that Jesus experienced temptations is important for our salvation as well as for our own daily battles with temptation. The writer of Hebrews captured the significance of this vital aspect of Christ's ministry when he wrote: “...

Cynicism and the God Who Makes All things New

Mar 16, 2017

In our homeschool, I’ve been going through a cycle of World History with my children. We began with ancient civilizations and have moved slowly through the centuries each year. Most recently, we studied WWII. Each time I read an event in history, one of the kids inevitably mutters, “...

What John Calvin Taught Me About Parenthood

Feb 7, 2017

Have you ever played a word association game? Let’s do one now. What’s the first thought that comes to mind when you think of John Calvin? Perhaps you thought of the words predestination, reformation, and theology. I doubt you thought of parenthood. Calvin on Psalm 78 After my first...

Pray for Your Church Leaders

Jan 17, 2017

The warning in the book of James to teachers is sobering, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness” (3:1). Some of that “greater strictness” is seen in the responses of church members and the...

Thanksgiving in All Things

Nov 2, 2016

It’s the month of Thanksgiving. Walk into any store and you’ll see all things in varying shades of orange, brown, and red. Turkeys, gourds, and colorful leaves decorate every establishment. Our children will dress up as Pilgrims and Native Americans and act out the first Thanksgiving at...

Learning Repentance from the Psalmist

Aug 26, 2016

I broke my arm two years ago. It was the first broken bone of my life. I thought it would be fun to expose my kids to the joys of roller skating at the local roller rink. I wanted to share the fun of skating to sounds of the latest pop music, eating roller rink fare, and participating in in the...

The Heart of Hospitality

Jul 13, 2016

A friend recently thanked me for the hospitality I had extended to him and his family over the years. Feeling uncomfortable with the compliment, I responded, “Actually, it’s my husband you need to thank. I learned it from him.” I think my comment surprised him. Perhaps because it...

The Laments: Where the Mind and the Heart Meet

May 4, 2016

We often categorize ourselves as being either a thinker or a feeler. A thinker is more likely to make decisions and act based on knowledge and a feeler based on emotion. When it comes to matters of faith, a thinker would emphasize what we know about God’s word and a feeler what we feel or...

Praying the Redemptive Story

Mar 10, 2016

Scripture has instructed and formed my prayer life in a myriad of ways. I’ve learned from the Lord’s Prayer the glorious truth of what it means to pray “My Father” and “Thy Will be Done.” Paul’s prayers have taught me to look beyond immediate physical needs...

How the Laments Speak to Our Fears

Jan 5, 2016

We had planned the trip for months. I looked forward to seeing God’s wonders on display in the majestic peaks of Northern California. I couldn’t wait to hear the sounds of rushing water and stand beside the towering ancient pines. After a long hike, we waited for our turn to stand at...

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