My body got WRECKED under the notion to usher in the new year all out. It wasn’t pretty. With a full surrender to Jesus and a full surrender to life to its fullest, I decided this was going to be a YES year. Saying yes to new adventures, saying yes to the uncomfortable, saying yes […]
Irma, Helen, Rosa, Lorraine, and Claire were sitting outside enjoying the fresh air and friendly conversation. As residents of the Sunshine Retirement community, they loved sharing stories about family, community gossip, and adventures they’d all like to take for the upcoming year. These elderly ladies had two things in common: they all had son’s and […]
Being around thankful-cheerful people when you’re feeling blue or cranky or sullen can be irritating. That always seems to be when you run into someone who when asked how they are doing as a nicety replies, “I’m blessed.” I mean, good for them but if you’re feeling down and grumpy that just stings. I’m reminded […]
An odd thing to blog about, I know! But this problem drove me mad and if I can help just one person avoid all the angst I went through, not to mention how it also affected my husband, then this post will be a victory. At one point I contemplated SHAVING MY HEAD resolving that […]
I’m sitting outside a small café in the middle of a village in Italy sipping my Americano. Some days I drink espresso like the Italians do but usually I prefer an Americano. You can’t get regular coffee in Italy unless you make it yourself, therefore Americano is my drink. This quaint little village has a […]
This is the question many of us are asking. More now than ever. As a kid my dad taught me that “bad things” were random. Evil is here and “stuff” just happens. I’d ask, “What about God?” Dad would say, “If there was a God why does he allow babies to die and cancer and […]
There was a famous research experiment conducted by two Princeton psychology professors that shows the harm busyness does to our priorities and our focus. Because the experiment was conducted on seminary students, it is very applicable to ministry leaders and churches. The year was 1973. John Darely and Daniel Batson were the professors. Three groupings […]
“For nothing will be impossible with God” (Luke 1:37). As a parent we have tremendous responsibility. Some might say overwhelming responsibility. What I see today with parents is a burden for compliant children and a crushing duty to get results with their kids. I completely understand this, while I was raising my three now adult […]
I was listening to two men talk. Neither of them knew I was listening in. It was during a marriage conference so there were many couples present and I listened to these two men talking, both of whom I had gotten the pleasure of getting to know. Both men were delightful with beautifully natured wives, […]
My two-year-old granddaughter was very distressed. Tears, screaming, confusion, frustration, and dismay consumed her. Then her dad said, “Come here. I will help you.” At first she stayed in her distress and kept crying. He said it again, “Come here. Daddy will help you.” She dropped her determined state to stay in her distraught and […]
