Have you ever attempted to do something without the instructions? The other day I decided to bake a favorite recipe for baked oatmeal, one that I've created many times. I glanced at the directions to …
The Blessing of Personal Freedom
The blessing of personal freedom is a key component of life for us. I'm thankful for the everyday freedoms to make decisions, worship, travel, and choose many personal preferences. I'm also grateful …
Random Thoughts: Where Has My Brain Gone?
Random thoughts jump around in my head, sometimes like fleas and other times like galloping horses needing corralled. Focus? It's nearly gone. Writing projects are temporarily put on hold. Here's …
Heavenly Father, Perfect Father for All
Our father can rescue us from peril. I took a dare from my older brother to climb the big poplar tree in our front yard. The branches were the perfect distance apart for my little legs to reach and …
A Message for Moms: You Are Enough!
Moms, have you ever judged yourself as not good enough? Always coming up short of what is expected or needed? As I’ve observed moms of all ages throughout the decades of my life, I’ve seen a common …
The Unfolding of Redemption
The week leading up to Easter is often busy with anticipation of celebrating spring, family get-togethers, and egg hunts. As the week unfolds, we live out the plan of our preparations. If we get too …
What Do Your Words Say About You?
Have you noticed the harsh words that bombard us? The noise of the world through television, social media, and talk shows constantly invade our lives. Are the words we hear encouraging or …
Wrap God’s Love Around You
Wrap God's love around your heart. Try to grasp how wide and far and deep and high it is, like standing on the ocean shore seeing the infinite sky and water. Find comfort in reading the words of …
Why Trust the Sovereign God?
Trust. A simple but powerful word that is the belief that someone or something is reliable, good, honest, effective, etc. The all-knowing, sovereign God is trustworthy. When we can't see through the …
Seven Questions for Year-End Review
A year-end review enlightens us with understanding for future days. Learning from the past helps prepare us for the new year. God guides us through as we look to Him. A year-end review is valuable. …
The Wonder of Grace at Christmas
Recapture the wonder of grace. Twinkling lights on the tree, sounds of joyful Christmas music, and the aroma of sugar cookies baking in the oven create a calm atmosphere in the home during …
Perfect Love, The Gift of Christmas
Perfect love came a a gift through the child in the manger. God gave the purest gift to us, but many do not receive the gift. Who doesn't love to get gifts at Christmas? What is motive for giving the …
The Birth of True Joy
True joy entered the world in the birth of Jesus. Shepherds, outcasts on a hillside watching their sheep, were shocked by the angel's announcement. Suddenly life changed forever. "Today in the …
Are Stress and Peace the Rhythm of Life?
Peace is often hard to find in a world full of stress. We anticipate something to happen one way, but it turns out another. Stress increases. We live in the tension between stress and peace. Our …
A Broken Mess?
We live in a broken mess. On the news we hear about fires raging out of control, eathquakes rattling communities, and unresolved wars. People made homeless due to natural disasaters or joblessness. …
How is Your Gratitude Perspective?
I love the reminders to be thankful during this season, but am saddened that it lasts only a few weeks in November. A gratitude perspective is hard to maintain throughout the year with the pressures …
A Thankful Surprise
The winds of autumn blow through the trees, swirling yellow and red leaves to the ground. Brown crunchy leaves line the streets. Temperature fall; days are shorter. Autumn is here. Each season has its …
Improve Your Perspective: Release Disillusionment and Embrace Faith
A new perspective is hard to come by when life seems unfair. Disillusionment clouds our thinking; all we can see is the injustice around us. We grumble that we didn't get the promotion or …
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Psalm 23: Knowing the Shepherd
A favorite Bible passage of mine is Psalm 23. Although often read at funerals for comfort, its words bring comfort and guidance any day, in any situation. It is a psalm of confidence about the Lord's …
Need an Infusion of Genuine Hope?
Hope stirs up expectations in our minds. We look forward to good things with an optimistic perspective. We long for a good school year. everything getting done before a deadline. good …
