Last year, I wrote: I was born a people-pleaser. I can’t remember a time in life when I wasn’t anxious about keeping the important people in my life happy. Disapproval was all the discipline I needed. I “danced!” I used well-practiced steps to earn and keep approval. But dancing is exhausting and impossible. The most difficult times were…
Multiple studies suggest this one thing can improve your life and emotional well-being and your physical health. It strengthens relationships, creates feelings of satisfaction and contentment, and can even help you cope with stress. What is it? Gratitude Did you know all the ways being thankful could bless you? Not to mention the blessings for those…
Photo Credit I decided to save my original post for today to stop and honor the life and faith of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. His message of love and forgiveness is one you and I need to raise up in this season of antagonism and anger. We are more alike than we are different….
Photo Credit The following story took place on Christmas Eve 1914: I Shall Never Forget It: 100 Years Since Christmas Eve Truce With British and German forces separated only by a no-man’s land littered with fallen comrades, sounds of a German Christmas carol suddenly drifted across the frigid air. “It was a beautiful moonlit night,…
Waiting, preparation, and now joy . . . the third week in Advent. Joy not determined by how we feel, but by who God is and all He does. Love and grace poured into our lives in the gift of Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joy Quotes for the Third Week in…
Awe is the overwhelming feeling of reverence, respect, fear, and wonder produced by that which is grand, sublime, or extremely powerful. Awe = wonder & respect mixed with fear. Not fear that hides, but bows in humble reverence. Questions – We have this one life. I wonder if we’ve turned it on its head? Who or what do we revere? Who…
This week we’re getting ready for Jesus . . . the celebration of His birth and His victorious return. The following quotes and verses will help us focus on being ready today for forever. Quotes and Verses to Help You Get Ready “Realize that illness and other temporal setbacks often come to us from the…
I spent yesterday morning at the dentist and the DMV . . . not my favorite. Just a couple of places I hate to wait. Do you know the worst places to wait? 10 Worst Places To Be Stuck Waiting Airports Fast Food Places Hospitals Department of Motor Vehicles (Looks like I’m not alone.) Concession Stands Restrooms Theme Parks…
I’m blessed to be featured on the World Vision Blog . . . where I wrote about why pigs are our favorite gift. Give the Gift of a Pig – One Pig $205 or a Share of a Pig $25! Give the gift of a pig today to boost family incomes and provide plenty of protein for…
Last week I shared a post about my struggle with people-pleasing titled: When I Stopped Dancing. Kim at Sweet Water and Bitter left the following comment that I believe is a great lead in to continue the conversation. Deb, I always find that “people-pleasing” mentality very interesting, only because I was never that way AT ALL. (Stick…
“You know the quote, “You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you can’t fool all the people all of the time.” ~Abraham Lincoln It’s also true of pleasing people. You can please some people all the time. You may even be able to…
Yesterday I asked, “Do we really believe Jesus plus nothing is enough?” We want to add doctrine, rules, and practices because they’re easier. We understand doing it right and being accepted by others who are doing the same. But that’s not . . . Jesus plus nothing. So what does it mean to trust, to be…
Rev isn’t pastoring a congregation at the moment, but he has in the past. We know what it’s like to lead a group of people with varying personalities and opinions. We know what it’s like to have someone threaten to leave for exactly the opposite reasons that someone else is threatening to leave. If you’re…
Just look at a group of teen girls. They are probably all dressed alike, with similar hairstyles, and the same brand of purses thrown over their shoulders. Because we want to fit in. We want to be liked. Everyone knows popular is better than unpopular. Stop. What if you were made to be different? You were….
It can take more strength to keep your opinions to yourself than it does to give them a voice. How strong are you? This week we’re looking at self-control, especially when it comes to words. Solomon said, “Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish. The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to…
How is your impulse control? What rules do you follow? Are any of them non-negotiable? Would you like people to respect you more? Would you like to respect yourself more? Good news! It’s not too late. It’s never too late. You can take steps to strengthen your character. “Character” is defined as “the inherent complex of attributes that…
Trustworthy, respectful, responsible, fair, caring, and honest . . . attributes of a person with strong good character. How is your character? What about your friends? Since individuals have penned words . . . the importance of having strength of character has been documented. Today, I’m sharing some of my favorites: “Being faithful in the smallest things is the way…
Most days I wake up feeling weak and vulnerable. And it’s okay. I don’t have to be strong. I just have to get up, wander into my quiet place, and turn to the One who promises to give me His strength. The One whose grace is sufficient and whose love never ends. My Father, who will…
Do you trust easily? Would you describe yourself as a faithful friend? Would you say your friends are faithful? What does faithfulness mean to you? The rest of the week we are going to look at a dozen ways to inspire and maintain faithfulness in our relationships. For today . . . let’s take a look at…
I rarely have writer’s block. I can almost always think of something to say. What to write about this third week of September and first week of fall? I thought and prayed, and repeated often . . . and nothing. Then two words came to my heart and mind. “I do.” Do you promise to…
Some things seem impossible to forgive. The terrorist attack on September 11, 2001 is a perfect example. I promised to talk about healing after forgiveness, but I felt today might be better spent remembering and honoring. Healing brings hope. And we will look at the steps to take to help the healing process… But for…
