You’re wonderful! Yes, you! But if you’re like me, you’ve already thought of a dozen ways to disagree those words. I never think of myself as wonderful. Most of the time I go straight to the superficial . . . to appearances. And all I see are imperfections. I started treatment for acne last week. Seriously,…
Are you a peacemaker or a peacekeeper? As I ask that question, I want to make the point that this isn’t about military or law enforcement peacekeepers . . . today we’re talking personal and relational! You see… I hate conflict and for much of my life, I was a peacekeeper. I did whatever it took…
If you and I want to experience peace, we must live one day at a time. Peace can’t be tacked on to an agitated yesterday or pre-applied to tomorrow’s unknown. Have you ever gotten to the end of the day and regretted wasting it on worry and anxiety? I know I have. No more. I’m…
Do you believe God is who He says He is? Do you believe He is the “I Am”? I know it takes strong faith to have big peace . . . especially when life is hard. But strong faith in anything that isn’t true or able to keep promises might make us feel better but…
Everyone I knew called my Gram’s sister, “Weird Marion.” Even in college, I learned that one of my professors knew her as “Weird Marion.” But the more I learned about her “weirdness,” the more I wanted to be just like her. You see, it was the way my Aunt Marion lived out her faith that made…
Last week, I asked you if you’d like an early warning system for your life. Over the weekend, we received another Red Alert phone call in the middle of the night. 4:00AM to be exact . . . first, the land line rings and we answer it; then, about 5 minutes later, both of our…
This is for you, the one hurting with silent grief. The one whose life has been altered by a loss or event that’s left you feeling broken and alone. You can’t talk about it. There are reasons known only to you. You see people grieving openly and you envy the love, support, and understanding they receive….
We have an Early Alert System in our community. An automated system that calls to let us know when a potentially dangerous storm is coming. I wonder if you and I would like an Early Alert System for our lives? Something that would let us know when we are about to be hit by a big…
I’m excited to dig deep into peace this month. If you’d known me a little over a decade ago, you’d have said I was the last person in the world who should be talking about peace. I was diagnosed with high anxiety depression, living in a constant state of agitation and worry. Peace always seemed like it was just…
Peace – that tranquil feeling that flits in for occasional moments and then disappears for far too long . . . everyone wants it but few have it. I crave calm. No thrill seeker here. I want peace in my relationships and peace in my heart and mind. But even as we talk about wanting…
I wanted to know about goodness . . . but foolishly believed I would spend this month studying obedience. Was I wrong! Like everything else, goodness begins with God. So, if you missed anything, I’ve gathered all the posts on goodness here in one place. Click on the title or graphic to read a post…
This is for you, the one who’s exhausted. The one who feels like they’ve poured themselves into others until there’s just nothing left. You know “goodness does.” You want to pour out love and care for others but for today . . . you are goodnessed out! Your tank is empty and you’ve got nothin’ left….
“Grief is such a weird, uncontrollable beast. You never know when or where or how it’s going to pop up and demand its due.” Rev leaned over the upstairs banister and read those words to me the other night from A Dream So Big, by Steve Peifer. As he shared the words above, tears dripped down…
I’m going to be perfectly honest with you, some days I just don’t want to do good. Seriously, don’t you have days when it’s all you can do to try to avoid the don’ts? Don’t covet. Don’t gossip. Don’t waste. Don’t judge. Don’t worry. So, those mornings when I get out of bed and there…
Am I the only one who writes a post and then decides it doesn’t work? I’ve been thinking about how God pours out His goodness. How you and I pour out our hurts, fear, and confusion to God and He pours patience, grace, mercy, kindness, and love into us. The wonderful part . . ….
A very wise friend once said, “If everyone is annoying you and getting on your last nerve . . . you have to stop and think about the common denominator. Maybe the problem is you.” How’s your attitude? When I’m cranky and irritable it’s easy to blame everyone and everything. To look around and grumble…
You might be a hypocrite if: you expect God to forgive you but can’t forgive others. you point out the sins of others while ignoring your own sins. you hate anyone. you don’t think you’re as bad as ______________. If the log in your eye never keeps you from seeing the speck in someone else’s eye. Or…
Guilt. You’ve got it. You know, that thing the enemy uses to label you a failure . . . to hold you back and defeat you. Everyone has something maybe even several somethings. I thought about making a list of examples but that would only be a distraction. All that matters is what’s on your list. I…
God is good! You and I want to trust those words with everything in us . . . heart, mind, soul, and strength. But if you’re like me, you pray and ask God to help you trust Him completely and then something happens and worry is followed by a little doubt and you find yourself struggling—again….
You and I are relational. We crave connectedness. So, we will always attach to someone or something . . . maybe even several someones or somethings. Jesus called it being yoked. And once we become followers of Jesus, it’s up to us whether we are yoked to slavery or freedom. It is for freedom that…
Do you like getting gifts? Of course, you do. Who doesn’t? It’s normal for children to start making lists of the presents they want for their birthday or Christmas long before they can write. And many of us still have lists of things we want, just in case someone’s interested . . . decades later. You and…
