The colorful lights, packages wrapped with beautiful bows, Santa’s lap filled with happy children, the music of the season: all these joys spell Christmas. But what if you are smack in the middle of grief this December? What if some of the joy is colored by sadness? Over 750,000 families will be missing someone this …
The thief first appeared as a slight blip on the memory screen. A word forgotten, a key chain misplaced. We laughed — at first. Then more and more items were misplaced. Numerous words forgotten until finally our parents’ identities disappeared. We no longer laughed. Instead, we sought out doctors and resources. Someone who could tell …
It makes sense to post about gratitude during this Thanksgiving week. Each year’s Thanksgiving week brings a variety of experiences to draw on. More wisdom learned (hopefully). More intuition about possible gratitudes. Several years ago, I learned more about the power of gratitude when I followed the blog of Ann Voskamp. Her book, One Thousand …
As I was paying bills, it happened again. Another online company wanted me to upgrade my account. Translation: pay more money for a few more services. Nay, nay. Ah, upgrading. The DIY shows focus on upgrading the home, particularly the kitchen. Fun to watch and imagine how I might do the same. Some day. As …
The following post is an excerpt from the book Just for Today: Hope for Single Moms. I do believe, however, that it is appropriate for all my followers — no matter what your marital status. God shows how much he cares for us when he declares himself as being both Creator and Husband. The One …
Working on long-range plans is a beneficial business model. And as a coach, I often encourage my clients to reflect on annual planning. But we live one day at a time. And depending on the circumstances, we may not be able to generate a long-range plan. We may have only one day. The Old Testament …
In the middle of the overcast sadness one winter, I discovered some fun at the local Bed, Bath and Beyond. The $5 coupon was also a draw. Walking through this store, it was fun to dream about new fluffy towels or dishware in my favorite colors. But the section that always draws me in is …
The following blog post is an annual favorite. I repost it this year with gratitude for my readers. As I stood on my deck, a tree unloaded its entire leafy burden. It was as if God said, “It’s now 3:24 on this date I created before the foundation of the world. Disengage.” Within seconds, every …
One Sunday while I was getting ready for church, I clicked onto the worship service of Elevation Church. Pastor Steven Furtick often preaches with a focus on the practical and how our emotions (or baggage) affect our faith walk. On this Sunday, he carried around a magnifying glass. Pastor Furtick reminded his audience, “What we …
It takes a while to stop spinning. Like a tire with loosened lug nuts, the wheel spinning around its axis, we transition into a new season. The slowing down requires intentional rest. To keep spinning will send us into confusion, our axis tilted at a weird angle. Soul weary. Falling apart. To be purposely still, …