Author: Vanessa Taylor

[And] Let your patience [perserverance; endurance] show itself perfectly in what you do [have its full effect; finish its work]. Then you will be perfect and complete [mature and whole; or completely mature] and will have everything you need [lack nothing]. (James 1:4 EXB) REFLECTION  During my Asian adventure, I landed in a place where the trees… Continue reading The Full Effect of Patience

“Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived.”(Galatians… Continue reading Sharing Burdens

“No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.” (1 John 4:12 ESV) REFLECTION  While living in South Africa, the late great John Whiffen invited me to a special Toastmasters event. When I arrived I was welcomed by a kindly man in… Continue reading The Bright Light of Love

Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your… Continue reading Sacrificial Love

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” (Hebrews 12:11 NIV) REFLECTION  One of the reasons why I’m so passionate about encouraging my students to make a consistent effort (and teaching them the value of… Continue reading The Value of Discipline

“And now there remain: faith [abiding trust in God and His promises], hope [confident expectation of eternal salvation], love [unselfish love for others growing out of God’s love for me], these three [the choicest graces]; but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13 AMP) REFLECTION  While exploring the Chinese city of Xian, I… Continue reading Faith, Hope & Love

“If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”(John 15:7-8 ESV). REFLECTION  While helping a talented student prepare for a national speech festival, I… Continue reading Abundantly Fruitful

“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:4 ESV) REFLECTION  While observing one of my students, I was reminded that even when diligence and discipline are established, there is a great temptation to tether one’s identity to what one does. Despite this particular… Continue reading Cultivate Curiosity

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” (Psalms 139:23-24. NLT) REFLECTION  God knows when we are really ready to confront something. And we know too, don’t we? Signs point to… Continue reading Ascending Awareness

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV) REFLECTION  In this fallen world, none of us survive childhood unscathed. A perfect childhood does… Continue reading True Transformation