This week I've begun using the treadmill again. While exercising I can look out the window, watch webinars on my computer, and read the inspirations on the walls in my office. Seeing my wall …
A Lesson of Commitment
My word for year--commit--tested me. Rather, it guided me in making a decision. I wanted to back out of a commitment I made months ago, something that is to continue through the next five months. But …
The Mixture of Joy and Thanks
Today my heart has a mixture of joy and thanks. It overflows! After seven weeks of prayer and offering sacrificial praise and thanks to God during a rough time, I'm pleased to have a new mixture of …
Courage, Trust, or Commit?
Courage, trust or commit? Which will direct me in 2015? In a previous post, I shared how the new year is an appropriate time to commit to reflection and recalibration of your life, to look forward …
New Year, Fresh Start
The New Year has begun—and with it comes a fresh start to improve ourselves, making the world a better place. A blank page is before each of us to write our story and grows our character. The …
Abide – 2014 in Review
The one word that guided me through 2014 was ABIDE. As I reflect on the past year, I see how I've been encouraged by those five letters. I discovered this word is both an active and …
Giving Thanks for…Waiting
Waiting is hard. We have to do it all the time--waiting in line at the checkout, waiting in the doctor's office, waiting for test results, waiting for Christmas... Many times it is so hard to wait. …
Praise and Thanks
What’s the difference between offering praise and thanks? Praise and thanks are closely connected but separate. Each has a specific objective, yet they overlap in purpose. In thanksgiving we list …
Fall! New Season Arrives
Each season brings the anticipation of change--the new buds of spring bear hope, full summer shade brings relaxation, autumn's painted trees announce exhilaration, and snowy fields of winter herald …
Persevere Past the Mid-way Point
The mid-year point has passed, and we are now in the second half of 2014. It's hard to believe,isn't it? In many places school has resumed. Mid-way points are interesting; they are markers indicating …
Summer Faith
Summer is upon us! It's transition time again! The next three months could be full of ball games, picnics, vacations, extra lessons, and camps. A different kind of agenda settles over the calendar. …
A Beautiful Path
Red cardinals swooped through the blooming white dogwoods and other newly leafed trees. Caterpillars wiggled across the walking trail, while an orange butterfly floated in the air. The …
Remember Easter?
Remember Easter? Not long ago, Easter brought a flurry of spring activities. Family dinners, new clothes, jellybeans and chocolate. Now the candy is mostly gone, the lilies are wilting, and the …
Searchlight of the Heart
The lantern atop a lighthouse sweeps back and forth over the dark waters in continual motion. The beam guides ships through the night, but also reveals the dangers of rocks and sandbars. …
Choices Everywhere!
Have you ever wondered how many choices we make in a day? It has been suggested that thousands of decisions are made, ranging from simple to complex. We decide what to wear and eat, where to drive and …
The Ultimate Valentine
The ultimate valentine has been sent to us. It expresses is an unending love of such magnitude that it is hard for us grasp, far beyond our limited comprehension. But it is so real. The Word of God …
True Security
Hatchlings in a nest. A baby asleep in mom's arms. A family hunkered in a warm house while a winter storm paralyzes the outside world in snow and ice. All these are images of security. Security …
8 Verses for Abiding in Christ
The tiny leaf in the middle of the photo illustrates the word "abide." It is new growth, protected by larger leaves. The smaller one shares the same source of nourishment for life. But if it is …
Abide in Grace
Last year, instead of resolutions, I chose one word to focus and guide my actions. This approach was new to me. The word for 2013 was "intentional." This word helped me focus on and complete some …
Time in His Hands
Time passes quickly when we are enjoying life, but creeps slowly when we walk through trials. We yearn for control over time. Everyone has the same amount of time every day. The Bible uses two …
