8 Wise & Helpful Ways to Speak the Truth in Love
When it comes to truth-telling where would you fall on a scale of 1 to 10? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 If someone…
4 Verses and Prayer that Thank God for the Blessing of Beautiful Friends
It’s Thanksgiving week in the U.S. and I want to take this opportunity to say that you, my beautiful friends, are near the top of my list of things for which I’m thankful. You faithfully bless me with your friendship and your encouragement. But most of all you bless me by the many ways you…
4 Ways to Stop Generalizing and Start Loving Like Jesus
Generalizing is the belief that all members of a group are alike. It assumes that a few individuals in the group represent the whole group. Therefore every individual believes, thinks, and acts exactly like all the others. Generalizing believe that… Women are _________. Men are _________. White people are _________. Black people are _________. Democrats…
3 Questions to Help You Share Your Story through Joy, Junk, & Jesus
Let’s talk about our Joy, Junk, & Jesus. I picked up my old Bible the other day. The one I used when our children were growing up. I’ve always kept it in a cute fabric case so the cover still looks clean and undamaged. But the pages are a different story. They’re covered with notes…
10 Verses to Pray Asking God to Bless and Strengthen Your Family
A family counselor once shared the following with me… I met with the (Smith) family because four-year-old (Brittany) was having trouble getting along with the other children at her pre-school. As mom and dad took their seats, Brittany wandered the room picking up puppets and books. After a few moments of chit-chat, I asked, ”…
7 Helpful Ways to Guide Your Child Toward a Strong Moral Character
“You can learn many things from children.How much patience you have, for instance.” ~Franklin P. Jones Don’t you wish each individual child came with a personalized instruction manual? Parenting is both a wonderful rewarding blessing and a humbling challenging responsibility. Some days you feel like an expert and others you’re quite sure you’re a total…
5 Ways You Can Be Positive in a World Full of Negativity
How would your friends and family describe you? Are you a positive person? How would people on social media describe you? Are you positive there, too? It’s not easy but I typically try to choose words that are loving, kind, and encouraging . . . even when it feels like I’m swimming against the current. I’ve…
5 Important Things to Do When Difficult People Rob Your Sunshine
Okay, I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not Suzie Sunshine every day. I know, shocking right?! But like you, I have days when I’m… Frustrated. Annoyed. Upset. Tired. Discouraged. _________. And even on a good day, it only takes one or two interactions with difficult people to make my sunny day gloomy. So,…
How to Fight Spiritual Battles for the People You Love
I recently reread Priscilla Shirer’s book – Fervent. This time I added a journal . . . taking notes and writing prayers. I have felt the need to go to battle in my war room more often lately because everywhere I look it seems like the enemy is ramping up his attacks on the people…
How to Have the Relationship You Want with Your Adult Children
It’s almost that time of year again when families will gather together for the holidays. The time when personality clashes, opinions, behaviors, and attitudes put a strain on the relationship between parents and their adult children. We all want to have ongoing great relationships with our adult children but they don’t always happen easily. But…
Simple Things You Can Do that will Make Thanksgiving Special
For many of us in America, our Thanksgiving celebration is rich with traditions we enjoy with family and friends. We gather together and dine on must-have recipes that get gobbled up (pun not intended) way too quickly. What if we’re missing some of the best and most important parts of celebrating Thanksgiving out of hurried…
How to Share Your Faith and Talk about God
Although it happened many years ago, I can still remember it like it took place yesterday. I was involved in a rather intense Bible Study group discussion about God’s characteristics and qualities. And I was passionate about the information and faith that inspired my side of the conversation. I remember saying, “my God is…” And…