The photo above comes from the moment when the following dialogue takes place in Wicked, The Musical. Elphaba: I wish I could be beautiful… for you. Fiyero: Elphaba… Elphaba: Don’t tell me that I am, you don’t need to lie to me. Fiyero: It’s not lying! It’s… uh… it’s looking at things another way. Elpheba the…
Do you ever wake up in the morning and realize before you get out of bed . . . “Ooh, I’m in a mood today?” You don’t know why. Nothing particularly bad happened. But your nerves are on edge. Or the opposite is true . . . you’ve got the blues. And you just know the next 15+ hours…
It’s hard to overcome negativity. I’ve had times when it seemed like the gray cloud above me stretched as far as I could see in every direction. Friends and family would remind me of blessings they could see in my life. And although I knew they were right, what wasn’t loomed larger than what was . . . at least…
When our daughter was a very little girl she had a terrible time understanding the difference between today and tomorrow. We couldn’t even talk about yesterday. For example – We’d say, “We’re going to do __________ tomorrow.” Daughter reacted with great enthusiasm. The next morning she’d get up and ask, “Is it tomorrow?” (Who knew…
True or false? [Tweet “The greater your willingness to invest in something, the greater its value to you.”] Whether it’s a relationship, a purchase, your education, or career . . . where you focus your time, money, energy, and thoughts is where you place the most value. That’s nothing new. Many have said it before…
They say if you want to know what a person values most . . . look at their calendar and their checkbook/credit card statement. What do you value most? I’m not talking values like patience, honesty, and compassion, today. We’ll leave that for another time. I’m talking about the places we invest ourselves. Most of…
Yesterday we looked at seven ways to bless your day with less. The following is a list of quotes and Bible verses that are encouraging me in my efforts to make these changes: Quotes to Bless Your Day with Less Less Talking – More Listening “Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they…
The last few years Rev and I have been trying to live with less. Less stuff. Less stress. Less frustration. Less stuff and simple organization makes life easier, and gives us more peace and contentment. We know what we have and where it is. And we love it! Since less stuff is proving to be a blessing, I’ve decided to…
What is your story? I want to know. There are more that 7 billion people in the world. No two alike. Each person unique and wonderful. You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.Thank You for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well…
Yesterday, I wrote about my need to “dance” to make people happy. I’m not just talking people pleasing, this was a deeply felt belief that I was responsible for their happiness. Thankfully, God help me understand that I was putting impossible expectations on myself and others. I’ve learned the best way to spread happiness is to be happy;…
God promises peace in His presence. Here is a collection of 25 verses that will bless you with the promise of peace. When stressors increase and anxiety levels rise . . . I turn to God’s Word. He promises that in His presence we will find peace that goes beyond our ability to understand. Peace…
They don’t know where to find peace or what it means to be just and good. They have mapped out crooked roads, and no one who follows them knows a moment’s peace. Isaiah 59:8 The above words were written by the Prophet Isaiah approximately 700 years before the birth of Christ Jesus. Yet – they…
I wrote something else for today, but I’m going to save that as I have something else on my heart and mind that I need to share with you. My Bible Reading yesterday morning began with these words from Max Lucado’s book, Traveling Light: “The LORD will do what He thinks is right.” 1 Chronicles 19:13 Righteousness…
No more hiding behind the image of pseudo-perfection. I was a mess. Embarrassingly so. I needed answers, but even more than answers I needed help, comfort, peace, and hope. I needed God. Not a deal or a bargain for a life that looks good, but the real living presence of God. That was the beginning of…
“A true friend knows your weaknesses but shows you your strengths; feels your fears but fortifies your faith; sees your anxieties but frees your spirit; recognizes your disabilities but emphasizes your possibilities.” ~William Arthur Ward Are you blessed with good friends? People who believe in you, encourage you, and point you toward hope when you don’t…
You make goals and plans. You set high bars for yourself and your children. But what does it take to make those things happen? To be successful? “Four steps to achievement: Plan purposefully. Prepare prayerfully. Proceed positively. Pursue persistently.” ~William Arthur Ward An achievement is the successful completion of an accomplishment either by hard work,…
Last week I wrote my Personal Mission Statement. In a nutshell my mission is – Love the Lord God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength and love my neighbor as I love myself.Mark 12:30–31 I used to love from a place of weakness and fear. What do I mean? I believed I had to keep the people I loved…
Are you great? Do you want to be? What does it take? Here’s a list of important truths that promise to help you be great the person you were created to be! Are you great? Do you want to be? How would people in your life answer those questions about you? Greatness defined: The property…
I’m always looking for quotes by teachers who inspire me to be and do better coming from a perspective of faith—love for God and people. William Arthur Ward is one of those teachers. He authored Fountains of Faith and hundreds of articles and poems. Ward is one of the most quoted Americans of the 20th Century. Born in 1921, he served for…
My dad celebrated his 90th birthday last month. And it made me wonder, if I should be blessed to celebrate nine decades . . . what would people say about me? Do I live my beliefs and values? Do I live intentionally? These question inspired me to work on my personal mission statement . . . a brief…
Do you know anyone who shares their faith through rules, judgments, accusations, and arguments. Do you? Christians who go around “looking like they were baptized in pickle juice” rarely make someone want to join the flock of the faith-filled. On the other hand, have you ever met a believer who has inspired you to want a closer relationship with Jesus. Who’s love,…
