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When My Heart Breaks, Where Is God And What Is His Plan?
Recently I suffered a loss. As I look around at my circle of friends, I’m not alone. Some losses happened long ago, while others are very recent. And although our losses vary in intensity, they always carry heartache and pain. Because of this, anyone who has lost something, or someone, grieves. I used to think…
How Can I Be Frustrated With A Good God?
“Ugg! Why does everything have to be so hard?” With an exasperated sigh, I pounded the steering wheel. Both of my Map Apps insisted I had reached my destination. But the clump of trees and bushes on the side of the road bore no resemblance to a dog-grooming business. Calling and texting the groomer proved…
How Can We Face Our Problems Without Losing Heart?
Life is difficult. So reads the opening line of The Road Less Traveled, a book by M. Scott Peck, M.D. According to this author, once we understand and accept this truth, life will no longer be as difficult. Our problems lie, not just in the hardships we face, but in our belief that life should…
How Did Jesus Feel About Extravagant Gifts?
Today my husband gave me an extravagant gift. He did it in love, because I’ve recently received some sad news. He also did it in preparation for a very hard decision I will soon have to make. He hopes this gift will comfort me when that time comes. I love the gift, even as my…
When It’s Hard To Extend Ourselves Grace For Our Own Limitations
Sighing, I closed the email as I tried to identify my feelings. Disappointed? Discouraged? Defeated? Definitely deflated. Just a few days earlier I had completed the first stage of a long and complicated writing project. To move it on to completion, I needed to enlist the help of an expert. At first she didn’t think…
Why We Need To Anticipate The Joy Of Heaven
Recently my husband and I booked a cruise to celebrate our thirtieth wedding anniversary. Can there be anything more fun than planning a vacation? In fact, some scientists claim anticipating a trip is more fun than actually taking it. We haven’t taken our cruise yet, but I can attest to the fun of planning it.…
How A New Testament Mystery Can Shine A Light In Today’s Dark World
For as long as I can remember, I have loved to read. Mysteries remain my top choice for “fun” reading. Apparently I’m not alone. Mystery books have always sold well ~ especially since many have been converted to television or movie series. The word mystery actually means anything that is kept secret or unknown. In…
Why Is Jesus Called The Bread Of Life?
For a brief period of time I lived above a boulangerie (bakery) in Paris. Each morning my roommates and I woke up to the sweet aroma of baking bread. With our mouths watering, we ran downstairs to buy our breakfast baguette. Bread plays an important role in the history of France. For years the French…
How We Can Avoid The Frustration Of Comparing Ourselves To Everyone Else
“I don’t understand why it has to be so hard.” Tears filled my coworker’s eyes as she poured out her heart. Recently she had faced difficult challenges in seemingly every aspect of life ~ financial, relational, and medical. All her life she had worked hard. Now she felt surrounded by people who seemed to get…
Making Opportunities To Do Good In An Increasingly Dark World
Wrinkling my nose at the foul odor, I pulled my sweater from the washing machine. Two days before I had set the wash cycle in motion, fully intending to come back and hang the sweater to dry. But life got busy and I forgot about it. Unless I wanted to live with the stink, I…
How Can They Be Joyful In The Midst Of Their Suffering?
Tears filled my eyes as I listened to the young Ukrainian child singing “Let It Go” in her native language. With every note perfectly pitched, she finished the song to the praises of the people who shared her bunker. As I turned to my husband, I saw the same sorrow etched on his face. We…
When I Need To Remember The Lord Is Faithful, Powerful, And Sovereign
Years ago a teacher advised me to “tie a string around my finger” to help me remember something. I don’t recall what I needed to remember back then. But I have since used different versions of “strings around my finger”: post-it notes, to-do lists, and special jewelry. Recently I’ve even joined the digital age and…
How Can Christians Manage Our Fear Over World Events
As I turned on the TV, I hoped for better news. But sadly the situation in the Ukraine continues to escalate. Throughout the day, even as I prayed for peace and reconciliation, fear gripped my already heavy heart. In search of comfort, I turned to one of my favorite passages, Psalm 46. In light of…
When I Find It Hard To Freely Accept Grace And Forgiveness
Crunch! What did I hit?!? With my heart beating wildly in my chest, I opened my door and stepped into the street. My bewildered eyes took in the car sitting by the side of the road. The driver’s side mirror hung by a few wires and the door had a new dent. There could be…
How God’s Powerful Word Creates And Sustains Our Life And Faith
Words are powerful. I often repeated this mantra throughout my career as an elementary school teacher. In our classroom we learned how to use our words to communicate ideas, thoughts, and feelings. Through them we expressed needs and fostered friendships. When used well, words empowered my young students. God illustrates the powerful nature of words…
Three Keys For Maintaining Harmony Even In The Midst of Conflict
Cringing, I listened as my nephew rehashed the time I lost my cool at my father’s funeral. Although everyone laughed at the memory, I still regret how I jumped to conclusions and lost my temper with my brother. Conflicts with others deeply affect us. Just like a pianist who strikes a wrong note, or a…
How We Can Support Each Other In Our Moments Of Difficulty
The soft ding from my phone across the room interrupted my train of thought. Turning from my computer, I picked up the phone and saw the notification. A friend had emailed me a Starbucks gift card. Not because it was my birthday. Not because I had done something for her. But just because she knew…
How Our Little Decisions Can Create Big Changes
I’m sorry, am I invisible? Although I didn’t give voice to my thoughts, I’m sure the incredulous look I sent the young man said it all. After cutting in front of me, he made his way to the cashier. Catching my eye, he nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders, leaving me fuming in his wake. His rudeness…
How We Can Trust God When He Answers Our Prayers With “Wait”
Pulling into the parking space, my red-rimmed eyes immediately latched onto the bumper sticker: Proverbs 3:4-5. Although I felt certain I knew it, I opened the Scripture on my Bible App: Trust in the Lord with all your heart. and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him,…
Ushering In The New Year With The Wisdom Of Prudence
Haste makes waste. How many of us have heard this phrase? It describes the natural consequences we suffer when we do things too quickly. Simply put, when we act hastily, we make mistakes. Then we expend more time, energy, and even money correcting what could have been avoided ~ if we had taken the time…
How To Make Our Days Count While We Wait For Jesus To Come Back
“I’m glad we took that trip to the Redwoods.” As my son-in-law looked around the table, we all nodded in agreement. Christmas this year was the first time our entire family had gathered together since that vacation, which ended just days before COVID shut down the world in March 2020. Our celebration felt more festive…
Unconditional Love Is Born On Christmas Day
“I’m not going to be your friend!” In my years as an elementary teacher, I often heard this common refrain. Whenever someone hurt another’s feelings, or didn’t invite them to play, or said something offensive ~ the injured party responded by withdrawing friendship. Sadly, I see this same scenario play out among adults. Someone hurts…
How The Joy Of The Lord Can Be Our Strength
The joy of the Lord is your strength. We see this phrase on cute trinkets, plaques, or Pinterest boards. But what does it mean? How can joy be our strength? The phrase comes from the book of Nehemiah in the Old Testament. The Israelites had begun to return to Jerusalem after being in exile in…
How We Can Have A New Perspective On The State Of The World
Are we nearing the end of the world? It’s a fair question ~ and one I’ve frequently heard, or seen on social media, over the last year and a half. And no wonder. Conspiracy theorists and some religious leaders have linked the COVID pandemic, political unrest, natural disasters, and economic upheaval to various Biblical prophecies…
Anchoring Our Hope In The Loving Kindness Of Jesus
Will we ever return to normal? It’s a question we hear a lot lately. Personally, I’ve begun to categorize my life’s experiences as pre-COVID or post-COVID. Pre-COVID days felt less stressful, less uncertain, and definitely more hopeful. I know COVID will always be with us. But just as we seem to figure out how to…
How Can I Show Love To Jesus This Holiday Season?
“Well, hello there!” Turning from the counter, I located the speaker. A solitary elderly man sat finishing his dinner. “It’s getting cold, isn’t it?” he beamed. Returning his smile, my husband and I began chatting with the friendly gentleman as we waited for our food order. In just a few minutes, we learned so much…
How Our Lives Can Reflect An Overflow Of Blessings
Smiling at the passenger in the seat next to mine, I settled in with my belongings. Goodness! Air travel has certainly changed. Over the last several years, seat width and legroom have increasingly become smaller on airplanes. For someone who likes personal space, I keenly feel the difference. I shudder at the thought of spilling…
Does God Care About The Little Things In My Life?
Making my way down the basement steps, I whispered a little arrow prayer: Please help me find his thingamajig. A few minutes earlier my husband had mentioned he had misplaced some type of gadget. I didn’t really know what the gadget did or even what it looked like. But from the frustration in his voice…
How Can We Rebuild When Life’s Storms Leave Us Feeling Broken?
Early in the morning, the unrelenting pings from my phone begged for my attention. Sighing, I looked at the text messages. As I read through them, this old adage came to mind: When it rains, it pours. The message thread alerted me to yet another problem needing to be solved. It had been a difficult…
How You Can Forgive An Offense, Even When You Don’t Want To
As I made my way to the self-check register, I paused to examine a bag of popcorn. Turning back toward the register, I noticed a young woman had stepped in front of me. Startled, I hadn’t realized pausing in line meant I stepped out of it. As I stood there, a bit dumbfounded, I caught…
Seeking Our Extraordinary God In The Midst Of Our Ordinary Moments
Heaving a loud and frustrated sigh, I began another Google search for a helpful tutorial. Who knew learning to format this document would be as time-consuming as writing it? After a few hours of circling between internet videos and my document, I finally found the steps needed to correctly format my headings and page numbers.…
How Can I Win Against Temptation When It Catches Me Unaware?
Sighing, I bit my lip and turned my face toward the window. This always happens. Just when I think I’ve finally overcome a weakness, something like this hits me. When will I ever be free of this struggle? We all have natural inclinations toward certain sins. Mine is a sharp tongue which yields harsh words.…
How We Can Live Faithfully In A Fallen World
Grinning in joyful expectation, I joined the crowd and began cheering for the Medieval Jousters. Full of good-natured dramatics and artful choreography, the horses and actors performed with expert showmanship. But suddenly they introduced a startling plot twist. The evil knight powerfully defeated the noble one. And the crowd around me let out a delighted…
How We Can Choose Our Words To Help, Not Hurt
“Oh, No!” The collective roar from the passengers around me grabbed my attention. Pulling out my earphones, I asked the man sitting next to me what had happened. He shrugged, “We have to get off the plane.” Imagining all kinds of horrific scenarios, I gathered my possessions and followed the others off of the plane.…
How To Make A Positive Difference In This World Today
According to a recent survey, eighty-six percent of people ages thirteen to thirty-eight want to be an influencer. By definition, an influencer makes money by promoting products and services on their social media accounts. As this trend has grown, we now identify four levels of influencers based on the number of their followers: Nano Influencers…
How To Find Help When Your Heart Is Heavy
With a heavy heart and a restless spirit, I found myself wondering…why? I couldn’t pinpoint the specific cause for my distress. And yet, all around me the world continued to spin out of control. My heart breaks over situations both near and far: Several close friends lost loved ones. Others dealt with non-Covid related health…
How Doubts Can Help Us Grow In Our Faith
Lord, help me believe your promises. As I prayed these words, they cut me to the heart. Shouldn’t my faith be rock solid by now? How can I have doubts? Because I grew up as an unbeliever, I tend to view any form of doubt as a betrayal of faith. But over the years I’ve…
Three Powerful Reasons We Rejoice In The Midst Of Suffering
No one likes to suffer. Or at least, we don’t want to suffer unnecessarily. We’ve all heard the phrase: No pain, No gain. Although we normally associate these words with today’s exercise and fitness industries, this principle can apply to other parts of our lives. In last week’s blog post, I shared the Apostle Paul’s…
When Life Gets Hard, I Want Easy
I wish life came with its own remote control. So often in the past weeks and months, my heart has longed to “go back”. Go back to a time when life felt safe and full of hope and promise. Maybe you can relate. When life hurts, we often look back with nostalgia to easier times.…
Is My Truth The Same As Yours?
Mesmerized by the stirring lyrics and musical rhythms, I remember sitting entranced as I watched the movie Jesus Christ Superstar. At thirteen years old, this movie gave me my first taste of the story of Jesus. Although I now understand the differences between the Broadway creation and the Biblical account, the words and music of…
Keeping On The Side Of Truth
I still remember laughing with my young students as we read The Emperor’s New Clothes. Entertaining and engaging, this classic fairy tale from Hans Christian Anderson always pleased my young crowd. (If you are unfamiliar with the tale, you can read it here.) We couldn’t help but chuckle as the vain emperor fell for the…
Can We Judge Others With Love?
Out of habit I glanced at the church’s placard as I drove home: You don’t need to judge. I’ve got it covered. God Hmmm… nice reminder, I thought. But later that week, I realized how difficult it can be to leave judgment to God. A dear friend, one I admire and respect, decided to do…
Where Is Your Treasure Buried?
Few of us can resist the lure of buried treasures. And if we thought they only existed in the past, or in books and movies, we would be incorrect. In 2010, multimillionaire Forest Fenn carefully collected historical artifacts, jewels and gold. Placing them in an ornate box, he then buried it somewhere in the Rocky…
The Importance Of Praying Without Giving Up
When I married my husband some twenty-nine years ago, I had only known him for ten months. Yep, we met in August, got engaged the following April, and were married two months later. For some, our courtship appears very rushed and quick. But they don’t know the back story. From the moment I began to…
Grace Motivates Us to Do More From Love
“Hey! Number Thirty-two, over here! Over here! OVER HERE!” The young teenager sitting behind me in the stands desperately tried to get the attention of the baseball player with the number thirty-two jersey. Whenever a player hit a foul ball, this player picked it up, pointed to someone in the crowd, and tossed the ball…
Doing The Little Things With Great Love
Recently I agreed to help a friend with an assignment for his theological studies. The idea for his project came from the writings of a young French nun, Saint Thérèse of Lisieux. Known for her “little way” spirituality, Thérèse believed in doing the little, ordinary things in life with great love. My friend asked me…
How Physical Training Can Help Us Flex Our Spiritual Muscles
Sputtering and gasping for air, I reached out to grab hold of the pool’s edge. When does muscle memory kick in? I’d heard muscle memory allows us to rebuild lost muscles with less effort than it took to create them. Good news for me! If true, the swimming muscles I built in my past can…
Honoring God By How We Treat Others
Making my way to the cashier after a tiring day at an overcrowded amusement park, I noticed two queues and joined the shorter one. I began catching conversation snippets from the group in front of me. Huddled together, they debated the wisdom of their potential purchase. As they weighed the pros and cons, they didn’t…
How You Can Ensure Your Success Through God-Centered Goals
Way before arriving at her place of business, I began to brace myself: It’s just one image. It doesn’t tell the whole story. As my hair stylist wheeled me around, I sighed. How can somebody in the beauty industry be so unaware? The angle, the lighting, and even the quality of the full-length mirror itself,…
How To Save Your Memories and Create a Legacy
As we drove away from the house which had been our home for fifteen years, my heart whispered a prayer for the new owners: May their time in this house be blessed with sweet stories and rich memories. Since we’ve been married, my husband and I have lived in five different homes. While I don’t…
How Contentment In Our Current Season Helps Us Escape the Trap of FOMO
Chuckling, I watched as my three-month old granddaughter fought her much-needed nap. Just as her eyes started to close, she shook herself and erupted in an angry cry. With clenched fists, she glared at me as I continued to rock her. She must be afraid of missing out on something. I’m not sure if babies…
Why We Need To Embrace God’s Word with the Humility of a Child
Recently a friend and I reminisced about children and the funny things they say. One memory continues to play in my mind. When I began my career as a Kindergarten Teacher, we started the year discussing the importance of classroom hygiene habits. I explained at length how we don’t want to share our germs with…
How Can You Fight Off A Stinking-Bad Attitude?
Peering through the window, my heart dropped. Clouds hid the sun as the trees danced in the wind. Typical for a spring day, the weather had turned chilly. A similar storm began brewing in my spirit. My husband and I had planned to attend an outdoor gathering with friends. But the thought of sitting outside…
When I Trust Too-Good-To Be-True Promises
After spending a week cleaning and sprucing our house in preparation of its sale, we put it on the market. Within three days we had three strong offers. One potential buyer offered to pay an amount well above our asking price ~ in cash. An offer too good to refuse. But even as we signed…
When One Suffers
“That looked like it hurt.” Unable to answer, I gripped the counter with both hands and whispered, “Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!” Finally, I lifted my head and smiled at the customer behind me, “It sure did.” He stooped down and picked up the 28-oz bottle of Powerade and placed it carefully on the…
Wiping My Seasoned Slate Clean
With aching muscles, I sat back to critically assess my work. I’d spent the better part of the day scrubbing out dirt which had caked into the crevices of the tile squares of my floor. Then I attacked the grout using special chemicals and a tiny brush. Finally, I rinsed the whole floor with clear…
Breaking Free From The Fear Of Death
“I actually think about heaven a lot.” After twenty-eight years of marriage, I thought I knew everything about my husband. But this comment, made during a recent road trip, took me by surprise. I’m almost embarrassed to admit this, but heaven rarely graces my thoughts. I tend to focus on the here-and-now. Since heaven will…
How To Gracefully Receive Gifts
No matter how many times I’ve seen it, I still laugh. In The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis episode of the Big Bang Theory, the character Sheldon Cooper explains his theory on gifting. Sheldon describes gifts as obligations. Whenever he receives a gift, he feels obligated to reciprocate by giving a gift of equal value, representing…
Preparing For The Unexpected
Boxed in with hundreds of other travelers and trailer trucks, my husband and I remained stranded on an Arizona highway for twelve hours. Slippery and icy roads had caused several accidents. Without notice, the Department of Transportation closed the highway. As temperatures dropped into the teens, we received no information indicating when the pass would…
Seeing Difficulties As Part Of The Plan
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV) From the first time I read this verse on a wedding invitation, I loved it. Its words eloquently express God’s heart toward us.…
When The “Should Haves” Accuse
With a sinking heart I watched as the amount owed multiplied before my eyes. How could this have happened? I should have known better! As we prepared for our move to Virginia, I called the same governmental agency, not once, but three times. Each time a different representative repeated the same advice. Now on the…
When The “Would Haves” Sting
If only… I understand why some people refer to these words as the saddest in the English language. They open our hearts to the sting of the “would haves”: If only I knew how little time she had left. I would have made the effort to go visit her. If only I listened before jumping…
When The “Could Haves” Attack
Sobbing so hard she could hardly breathe, my daughter gasped out four words. The four words I heard stopped my heart and threw me off balance. “My baby just died.” Fortunately, my son-in-law intervened and clarified my daughter’s actual words. “My baby has jaundice.” Normally, jaundice itself would create anxiety. But in comparison with what…
When I Find Myself Living In Limbo
Moving through my daily routine felt like swimming against a current. A restless night turned into an anxious day as I checked my phone every few minutes for an update. A watched pot never boils. This idiom perfectly describes how slowly time passes when you are waiting for something. Or in my situation it could…
How To Change The World
What did you dream of becoming when you were a child? My answer may surprise you. I dreamed of becoming the President of the United States. Even at a young age I wanted my life to be important. Serving as the president seemed the best way. While I no longer entertain thoughts of the presidency,…
When I Feel Powerless
“I didn’t realize they only accepted cash. I only have my debit card.” Turning around, I located the speaker, a young lady about my daughter’s age. Glancing at her modest bag of apples, I smiled. “We have extra cash. I’m sure we can cover your purchase.” Chatting easily, we made our way to the cashier.…
Redefining Success
Focused. Hard-working. Conscientious. Determined. Results-oriented. These adjectives pepper my resumes and performance evaluations. They accurately describe my work ethic. For many years, I believed in this formula for success: Set Goals + Work Hard= Desired Results For years this formula worked like magic, fueling my drive and ensuring my success. Until it didn’t. I prepared…
When I Need To Extend Grace To Myself
“You sure love to beat yourself up.” Sighing, I realized the truth of my friend’s words. After stepping out of my comfort zone and trying something new, I nitpicked my performance, noting every flaw and imperfection. Yet as hard and demanding as I am with myself, I can be soft and gracious with others. I…
Enjoying Life During Uncertain Times
“I plan to keep living until the day I die.” I first heard these words of wisdom nearly twenty-eight years ago, shortly after my mother-in-law received her terminal cancer diagnosis. The heavy burden of her illness didn’t prevent her from enjoying the remaining days of her life. Her words always resonate with me, but I…
When the Post-Christmas Blues Attack
It still catches me by surprise. All the busy energy of the Christmas season comes to a sudden stop. As the holiday slips away, the joy of advent gives way to an all-too-familiar sense of gloom. Experts refer to this as the “post-holiday blues” and it affects a surprising large number of us. When our…
Cherishing All The Gifts of Christmas
As I publish this post on Christmas Eve, my family will soon participate in one of our final traditions of the holiday~exchanging gifts. According to legend, we give gifts to remind us of the first ones given to Jesus by the traveling magi. They offered three gifts, each of them a fitting tribute to the…
Remembering Immanuel, God With Us
Mystified, I looked at the package. I didn’t recognize the person in the return address. As I opened it, a smile lit up my face. Inside lay a dainty candy cane watch~but no card. “Do you think one of your readers sent it?” my husband asked. “You often write about your love of candy canes…
An Unbeliever’s Perspective On Christmas
My good friend, Jennifer Elwood, recently published her first Bible study, Counting Up to Christmas, Twenty-four Gifts from the Gospel of Luke. Her book resonates deeply with me because I first became a believer during the Christmas season. I originally wrote this post as a guest on her blog. Please check out her website for…
Making My Lists and Checking Them Twice
Last night I finally completed the list my family repeatedly asked for: what do I want for Christmas? For someone who loves making lists~Christmas brings an added measure of joy. So many lists to create: Addresses for Christmas Cards Gift ideas for the people in my life Stores where said gifts can be purchased Dates…
Why Giving Thanks Matters
Years ago I heard this story in a small Bible discussion group and it remains one of my favorites: Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called…
When You Wake Up On The Wrong Side Of The Bed
Beds ought to come with warnings: Caution: Waking up on the wrong side could be hazardous to your relationships. The origin of this idiom can be found in ancient Roman superstition. These people believed each side of the bed connected to either positive or negative forces. The side you exited determined the fate of your…
Opening the Gift of Jesus the Cornerstone
Friends, today I invited my friend and fellow writer, Jennifer Elwood, to share some thoughts with us from her newly published Bible Study, Counting Up To Christmas: 24 Gifts from the Gospel of Luke. Jennifer and I became friends through COMPEL Training. Over the past year we polished each other’s writing through critiques and encouragement.…
Discovering The Lost Art of Biblical Meditation
I once heard a friend say Christians have lost the art of meditation. Although I didn’t disagree, meditation, like rest, runs contrary to my busy lifestyle. But lately this idea of meditation has resurfaced in my circle of friends. I often associate the word meditation with eastern religions, yoga, new age philosophies and the current…
A New Way To Think About Rest
For years I lived my life at full throttle, burning the candle at both ends. As a worker bee, I believed in the sanctity of work. So much so, I tended to identify rest with laziness. Thankfully, this is not God’s position. The first time we see the idea of rest in the Bible is…
What’s A $1.50 Worth?
Stunned, I reread the email. Nothing bad… just not expected. I had struggled before I made the initial purchase. Something at half the price would have sufficed. But, I liked the company and the product, so I splurged. Immediately the company thanked me with a coupon for 10% off my next purchase. Feeling validated, I browsed…
Why We Can Trust This Lifetime Guarantee
This week someone blindsided me by breaking a promise. Immediately a swarm of emotions began to swirl in my heart: betrayal, frustration, disappointment, and an unwillingness to trust. Broken promises do that. Sometimes this unwillingness to trust extends beyond the person whose promises failed. Because of this, especially in business, we insist on guarantees. For…
When Promises Seem Too Good To Be True
Some promises seem too good to be true. Consider the following example: Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4 NIV) During the years of waiting for a husband (you can read about this here), people often quoted this Scripture to encourage me. The underlying logic…
When Disappointment Derails Our Hopes
God has a funny way of reminding us of the truths we teach. Immediately after I published my last blog post on anchored hopes, something I hoped for did not materialize. God knew I needed that lesson to process the coming disappointment. Not every specific hope we have ties directly to a promise from God.…
Hoping Against Hope
Anchored hopes never disappoint. Can you imagine life without hope? Hopefully not. Most of us would agree hope is essential to the human spirit. Even so, hope can be tricky for me. By definition, it conjures up images of happy anticipation and expectation. But unfulfilled hope can crush the spirit. The Bible describes this reality:…
When The Darkness Of The World Feels Overwhelming
His light defeats the world’s darkness. My favorite way to decorate my home revolves around lights. Twinkle lights smile at me from above my kitchen cabinets, Scentsy warmers adorn various corners, and a bouquet of lights takes center stage in my dining room. For me these lights create a cozy and comforting ambiance. A four-part…
When We Follow The One Who Never Changes
Recently a friend reminded me fall is around the corner. Thanks to our recent move to Virginia, I look forward to seeing the leaves change color for the first time in several years. The colorful foliage will not be the only mark of change this year. Retirement, our cross-country move, a new church family, and…
Taking Time to Consider His Creation
Greetings from Virginia! After 2,200 miles (approximately 44 hours of driving), we arrived in Virginia. My husband did all the driving while I helped navigate. But most of the time, I snuggled with Noëlle and enjoyed the changing scenery. The farther we traveled east, the more green the landscape became. These green rolling hills sharply…
When Blessings Feel Like Hardships
We can learn to be content no matter our circumstances because God gives us strength. (Philippians 4:13) For me, He often strengthens me through the relationships He gives me. I learned this important lesson while living in Paris.
When Love Takes The Witness Stand
The countdown has begun. In just ten days, my husband and I will pack a truck with our belongings and start our trek across the country to our new home. Life at the moment reflects a flurry of fun, yet bittersweet dates with dear friends. Saying good-bye has never been easy for me. I prefer…
Discovering True Joy
Earlier this week, opportunity came knocking. My husband and I saw a way to lighten the burdens of some people we love. Although helping these people required sacrifice, the process lifted our spirits. Can I confess? I had forgotten how great it feels to sacrifice and serve others. It reminds me of one of my…
Happy People Read the Bible and Drink Coffee
Hello everyone! Today’s blog post is a video: I’ve never done this before, so please bear with me as I work through all the technical details. Enjoy!
Taming My Negative Thoughts
We’d been dreading it for weeks. We put it off for days. But in preparation for our retirement and future move across the country, tackling the garage became a priority. For most people, garages are places to park their cars. But desert sand makes basements impossible. So for people living in the desert, garages become…
When A Heart Rejects The Gospel Message
When I became a Christian thirty-eight years ago, I couldn’t stop talking about Jesus. My life reflected the Apostle Paul’s words found in his letter to the Romans: For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then…
When You Feel Like A Skeptic
Has anyone ever called you a skeptic? When anything sounds too good to be true, I tend to build a wall of skepticism around my heart. I instinctively seek to protect myself from the inevitable hurt caused by believing a lie. Since God’s ways and thoughts are not like mine (Isaiah 55:8-9), many of His…
Changing the World One Heart at a Time
I love inspirational stories. Especially those tied to the gospel. Because by changing the hearts of individuals, the gospel powerfully changes the world. The lives of both Peter and Paul testify to the transformative power of the gospel. Two brothers, James and John, also experienced gospel-inspired heart changes. In Mark’s list of the twelve disciples,…
Building Bridges Instead of Walls
Our world is hurting. The words of James have guided me as I grappled with the recent events plaguing our country: My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.…
When His Blessings Don’t Meet My Expectations
Not every act of obedience brings the expected reward. Although true, this statement creates some dissonance with my soul. I always believed if I did A, B and C, then D, E, and F would logically follow. I know better. I can point to times I did everything right, but… the relationship failed. the job…
When We Face Ourselves
Real transformation requires real honesty. If you want to move forward — get real with yourself.– Bryant McGill A recurring dream haunts me. A nightmare, really. The setting of the dream varies, but the theme remains the same. Sometimes in these dreams I see myself as a confident college student. Suddenly, another student reminds me…
Facing Our Fears
You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do.– Eleanor Roosevelt Teacher Appreciation Week officially began on Monday. When asked to share about my favorite teacher, I immediately thought of Mr. Blubaugh who…
When Your Attitude Stinks
Your attitude is like the aroma of your heart. If your attitude stinks, it means your heart’s not right. – Alex Kendrick Recently, I found myself struggling against a bad attitude. After months of praying over a certain situation, I still had no clear answer from the Lord. Frustration seeped into my soul and a…
When Believers Doubt
Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe. –Saint Augustine Years ago, my doctor advised me to take vitamins for some specific health concerns. Unfortunately, the vitamin bottle collects dust as it sits on the shelf. The other day my husband asked me…
Planning in a Season of Uncertainty
The longing for certainty … is in every human mind. But certainty is generally illusion.– Oliver Wendell Holmes Lord, please just show me the plan, so I can get behind it. I can’t tell you how many times I have prayed these words. I truly believe I can deal with anything, except the unknown. And…
Celebrating Easter in the Midst of the Coronavirus
As I write these words, my country prepares to face the peak of the Coronavirus Crisis, even as we make plans to celebrate Easter. I can’t help but marvel at the paradox. One event stirs fear in our hearts as we watch the number of deaths grow. The other, because it holds the only solution…
Finding Peace in the Midst of Evil
Only when we stand in awe of God will we find it unnecessary to be in awe of Satan.- Erwin W. Lutzer As I write this blog post, the world battles against what many call “the invisible enemy”. Although unseeable by the human eye, no one questions the reality of its existence. Across the globe,…
When We Feel Shaken
The struggle you’re in today is developing the strength you need for tomorrow. Don’t give up. – Robert Tew Anyone feeling a bit shaken up right now? The phrase “shake up” can mean to drastically rearrange or reorganize something. I believe all of us can relate to the “shaking up” of our lives due to…
He Still Calls Us By Name
Remember that a person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.-Dale Carnegie When my husband and I became pregnant with each of our children, we agonized over selecting names. We searched for names which would set our children apart, yet would be appropriate for each season of their…
Making Time for What Matters Most
The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it. – Henry David Thoreau When I announced my plans to retire this year, one response stood out against the others. Why are you retiring now? At first this question surprised me, because my decision to retire didn’t seem unusual. However, a recent…
Turning Enemies Into Friends
The best way to destroy an enemy is to make him a friend. -Abraham Lincoln Recently, I experienced a phenomenon called earworm, or involuntary musical imagery. The lyrics to a certain song continuously played in my mind: A wise man once told me Give a little thanks to enemies They teach me How to let…
What Can Dolphins Teach Us About Jesus?
Among the sea-fishes many stories are told about the dolphin, indicative of his gentle and kindly nature…. It appears to be the fleetest of all animals, marine and terrestrial, and it can leap over the masts of large vessels. –Aristotle If you have read my “About Me” page, you know I love dolphins. My fascination…
Responding with Righteousness to Unmet Expectations
Recently, my husband asked me to clarify my expectations for Valentine’s Day. Expectations can be tricky. We learned early in our marriage how unmet expectations lead to frustration. Every. Single. Time. Married couples do not corner the market on unmet expectations. These types of frustration play out in a myriad of scenarios across a variety…
New Day, New Mercies, New Hope
Imagine if we treated each new dawn of each new day with the same reverence and joy as we do each new year.– Angie Lynn When I taught in an elementary classroom, I used a Clip Chart (created by Rick Morris) as an integral part of our classroom management. Every morning, I clipped each student’s…
New Wine, New Wineskins
Our dilemma is that we hate change and love it at the same time; what we really want is for things to remain the same but get better. –Sydney J. Harris Sighing, I bit back a heated response. Glancing around the room, I saw my own frustration mirrored in the faces of my colleagues. Our…
New Year, New Beginnings
The best time for new beginnings is now. – Unknown The beginning of a new year always creates the perfect backdrop for new beginnings. During the first few days of 2020, posts depicting new year resolutions or single-word targets flooded social media. I joined in the flurry when I published my last blog post. But…
Every Road Leads Somewhere
If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there. -Lewis Carroll This quote, taken from Alice in Wonderland, illustrates the importance of focus. If we don’t have a goal, it doesn’t matter what direction we take. By contrast, we have all heard “all roads lead to Rome”. This medieval saying…
Jesus: Eloquent Translator of Truth
Eloquence is the power to translate a truth into language perfectly intelligible to the person to whom you speak.- Ralph Waldo Emerson Unlike many Christians I know, I did not grow up hearing the words of Jesus. My glimpses of Him came during my final year of college as I studied the gospel of John.…
Jesus: Empathetic Friend
I do not ask the wounded person how he feels, I myself become the wounded person.– Walt Whitman Last week, my family and I attended the memorial service of a dear friend. When we first moved to Nevada, she welcomed me into our new church family. We lived in the same neighborhood and watched our…
Jesus: Discerning Arbitrator
Discernment is not knowing the difference between right and wrong. It is knowing the difference between right and almost right. -Charles Spurgeon. Recently a colleague pulled me into a sticky situation. Claiming she needed to “clarify a misconception”, she asked me to explain a policy to other coworkers. Wanting to be helpful, I did as…
Jesus: Loving Savior
“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.”- Lao Tzu Even though I did not grow up in the church, I often heard Jesus referred to as the Savior of the World. The title meant very little to me then. But as I continued to read through…
Jesus: Celebrator of Life
The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate. – Oprah Winfrey ‘Tis the season to celebrate. Cookie and Ornament Exchanges, Ugly Sweater Soirees, Secret Santa Gifts, Office Potlucks, Caroling Outings, Tree-trimming Parties, Family Get-Togethers, Christmas Movie Marathons… the list goes on and on… Personally, I love all…
Jesus: Rabbi (Teacher)
A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.- Henry B. Adams Before truly studying the Bible, I believed Jesus to be one of those enviable people who possess charisma in abundance. He just had to say the words “Follow me” and the disciples did so, leaving behind their careers and families. …
Jesus: Sovereign Creator
I love Christmas. I love it because somewhere someone will ask the Christmas questions: What’s the big deal about the baby in the manger? Who was he? What does his birth have to do with me?-Max Lucado Recently, I began studying Because of Bethlehem by Max Lucado with Proverbs 31 Ministries. The words quoted above…
Second Chances
Every moment of your life is a second chance.– Rick Price Years ago I heard a story about a young pastor. As he geared up to preach his first sermon, nervous excitement coursed through his veins. Finally, the moment arrived. Facing his audience, he suddenly froze. His carefully crafted sermon faded into the recesses of…
Moments
Life isn’t a matter of milestones, but of moments.- Rose Kennedy Everywhere I look, I see autumn in full force. As the year winds down, the air cools and the days grow shorter. Time seems to pass even more quickly now. Sooner than I care to admit, we will be celebrating the holidays and ringing…
Refined by Fire
Real gold fears no fire. -Randy Alcorn In my area of the country, fall appeared almost overnight. As the temperature dropped, we caught ourselves ditching sandals and donning sweaters. Chilly weather invites the warmth of a cozy fire. Reading as I sit by the fireplace will always top my list of favorite things. But not…
Boundaries
In life, as in football, you won’t go far unless you know where the goalposts are.-Arnold H. Glasow Without a doubt, football reigns supreme during the autumn months. I admit. No one will ever call me a football fanatic. But I believe the game can teach us some important life lessons. For example, I recently…
Pressing Pause (Again)
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” -George Santayana My heart plummeted as I read the freshly printed agenda. With heightened hindsight, I suddenly remembered my responsibility as a presenter at the meeting. I glanced at the clock. 9:00 PM. The meeting would begin in just ten hours. Not only was…
Sincerity or Hypocrisy?
Sincerity makes the very least person to be of more value than the most talented hypocrite. –Charles Spurgeon I confess. Growing up as an unbeliever, I classified most Christians as hypocrites. My judgement extended even to my believing friends. To be honest, I often felt judged by them because my family did not go to…
The Power of Yet
It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop. –Confucius Standing in the parking lot of the grocery store, I fumbled with my phone as I attempted to place a mobile order using my Starbucks app. “This should be easier,” I kept thinking as I backed out of…
Transparency
Honesty and transparency make you vulnerable. Be honest and transparent anyway.– Mother Teresa Recent events led me to recall one of my heroes in the Bible. Known simply as a man with a shriveled hand, his story appears in three of the gospels. When Jesus met this man in the synagogue on the Sabbath, critical…
Productive Struggle
The important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle.-Pierre de Coubertin. I wanted to be a better person. A bigger person. A more spiritual person. A person who didn’t struggle. Recently I fell victim to chance and circumstance. An admittedly unfair situation forced itself upon me. I was simply in the wrong…
Triggers
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. -Aristotle “I’m actually a very shy person.” We all gaped at our friend in complete disbelief. Michelle, with her warmth and great conversational skills, befriended everyone she met. Her quick wit animated all of our gatherings and kept us in…
Rest
Slow down, you move too fast- Paul Simon Not quite two minutes long, this song, Feelin’ Groovy, resides permanently in my “Favorites” playlist on my iPhone. By nature, I attack life at full throttle. This simple song reminds me to slow down. Only then can I rest, reflect, and refresh my soul. This need for…
Personalities
I’m a big personality. I walk into a room, big and tall and loud. – Adele Sometimes I long for a different personality. People like Adele intrigue me. Larger than life, we all notice them. Their bold and outspoken natures instinctively equip them for leadership. Naturally quiet and reflective, my personality paints a completely different…
Lists
“We are what we think about all day long.”- Ralph Waldo Emerson While not necessarily a neat freak, I am an order freak. I like for things to be in their proper place. I need order to function, to be productive and to think clearly. So, I love lists. They help me to remember, to…
Constant Change
“Change is the only constant in life.” Heraclitus “I just wish we would hear something, “ my husband muttered as he peered over my shoulder at my computer. Checking my email for the last time that day, we hoped to learn the status of my job. A few months ago, I received “the letter”. A…
Ordinary People
God uses ordinary people like you and me to star in extraordinary “God stories”-real-life narratives of purpose and influence.- Pam Tebow Vividly I remember the day she walked into our office. Clear blue eyes and auburn hair created a beautiful backdrop for her dazzling smile. Everything about her exuded warmth and friendliness. I felt sure…
French Connection
How far we travel in life matters far less than those we meet along the way. – Mark Twain Leaving my children to finish their tour of the Eiffel Tower, I stepped inside the enclosed observatory to sit and rest my throbbing knee. Less than one week prior we had embarked on this trip to…
Translation of Mohamed Sebouai’s Testimony
Mohamed speaks of growing up in a Muslim family in the region of Kabylie in Algeria. Because his father worked in France, he was raised by his mother. She taught him: God is good, God is love and to be respectful. He attended a Koranic school until the age of 14. Even though he had…
Clutter
Clutter is anything that gets between you and the life you want to be living. -Peter Walsh Recently my son announced his friend gave him a cooking lesson. Completely on board, I shared his excitement, until I realized one important fact. The cooking took place at my house. In my completely cluttered, unkempt kitchen.…
Pause
“It’s not enough to be busy, so are the ants. The question is, what are we busy about?” – Henry David Thoreau I confess: I like being busy. Productivity boosts my spirit. I find it hard to sit still. Fishing with my husband never quite makes my “Must Do” list. How can anyone sit still…
Progress
If there is no struggle, there is no progress. Frederick Douglass Groundhog’s Day in the desert was unusually stormy and gloomy. Normally I enjoy the rare change in our rather monotonous weather. But on this day, the battleship gray sky mirrored the internal struggle raging in my heart. The cause of my angst? A house…
A Hallmark Christmas
Just before the holiday season began, my daughter tagged me in a FB meme. In essence, the meme posed two questions: Does every Hallmark Christmas movie have the same plot? Yes Will I watch them anyway? Yes OK. Guilty as charged. I cannot deny my love…
Positively Joyful
“We just need to get you Tiggerized.” -Tigger (speaking to Eeyore) From childhood, I identify with the character Eeyore. I love and admire Tigger, with his positive spirit and boundless energy. But I get Eeyore. By nature, my attention is immediately drawn to problems and potential pitfalls. So imagine my surprise when my supervisor recently…
Laugh or Cry?
Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face. -Victor Hugo “I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry!” How many of us can relate to this statement? I’m betting most of us have found ourselves in these situations more than once. In fact, this experience is so common our language turned this phrase…
Defining Moments
It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light. -Aristotle Ever have a defining moment? A moment where a pivotal decision will dictate the next direction of your life? Eight weeks after my foot surgery, the doctors removed my cast, moved me into a boot, and gave me the green…
Blink!
“In the blink of an eye, something happens by chance-when you least expect it-sets you on a course that you never planned, into a future you never imagined.” Nicholas Sparks With prayer and purpose I stitched together a sweet design for my summer: • Serving as host and tour guide for the young daughter of…
Balanced Equations
In 1557, Robert Recorde, a Welsh physician and mathematician, invented the equals sign, written with two parallel lines (=), because “noe 2 thynges, can be moare equalle”. I confess. A math nerd at heart, I actually enjoy solving a complex algebraic equation. I take comfort in knowing everything on the left side of the equal…
God-Driven Decisions
I am often asked, “How do you know if you are following God’s will?” But the truer question is the one not vocalized: What happens if the decision I make is not in line with God’s will for me? Early in my twenties, I wrestled with a decision to move to Paris, France. I definitely…
Walking with Weakness: The Devotion
That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:10 (NIV) “Walk across if you have ever been a bully.” As I reflected on these words, I hesitated. My colleagues and I were participating in…
Walking with Weakness: Back Story
Today, a devotional I wrote for a contest was published on the Proverbs 31 website. Winning that contest was another important step on my journey. The contest was sponsored by the writing training group, COMPEL (https://compeltraining.com). After subscribing to the group for a year and a half, I was on the verge of canceling my…
Pressing On Toward The Goal
Have you ever whole-heartedly committed to a project, only to later wonder, “What was I thinking?” For me it can feel like I am at the top of a roller coaster ride, all strapped in, and suddenly I want to change my mind. But by then, it is too late. New Year’s Resolutions can feel…
Contagious Connections
My last post was all about my love of Christmas. And every word in that post is true. This Christmas has been filled with all the things I love, ushering in the joy characteristic of the holiday. But this season also brought moments of great sadness. The daughter of a colleague was critically injured in…
I Am A Rock
Paul Simon A winter’s day In a deep and dark December I am alone Gazing from my window To the streets below On a freshly fallen, silent shroud of snow I am a rock I am an island I’ve built walls A fortress, steep and mighty That none may penetrate I have no need of…
No Man Is An Island
John Donne No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friend’s or of…
Candy Canes and Gingerbread Men
‘Tis the season once again. I love Christmas and I always have. Honestly there is just so much to love: Christmas carols playing 24/7 Snuggling with my puppy Noëlle (yes, her name means Christmas in French) Home-baked goodies anonymously appearing in our teacher staff room Endearing Christmas concerts performed by all our young students New…
The Road Not Taken
The Road Not Taken Robert Frost, 1874 – 1963 Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And…
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