A new year has begun with all its promise, opportunity and challenge. We think about a fresh start, resolutions, goals, and TIME. We have many choices ahead regarding how we will spend our minutes …
My Word for the Year
The week after Christmas is a great time to pack away the memories and prepare for the new year. As I unwind from the flurry of holiday activities, I reflect on the previous twelve months. God brings …
Guidance: Looking Back, Moving Forward
Guidance for the new year occurs through looking back over the past year before moving forward into the new one. Now is a good time to reflect on where you've been and what you hope to do in …
Christmas Love Versus Fear and Loneliness
Christmas love brings to mind warm sentimental scenes created from movies. People are cozy and happy in television specials, getting along with everyone. However, in real life, …
Christmas Joy Versus Despairing
Waiting for joy. Outcasts on a hillside watching their sheep. Suddenly life changed forever. The angel's announcement shocked them. But the angel said to …
Christmas Hope Versus Darkness
Hope gets stirred up during December through the anticipation Christmas gifts. Kids …
Christmas Peace versus Chaos
Everyday situations and people rob us of peace is we let them. A baby in the night cries and the mom wonders if she’ll ever have a silent night again. The caregiver of a terminally ill person wonders …
Thanks-Living, The Benefits of a Thankful Heart
An attitude of gratitude cultivates many blessings and benefits. Benefit 1: A thankful heart acknowledges reliance of God. God is the giver of the big and small blessings in each day. Family, food, …
Everyday Gratitude
Gratitude increases our awareness of the Giver of the blessings in our lives. Year ago, this scenario played out in front of me every week. Rick’s car pulled into the driveway; the engine turned …
Fearful? Worried? Embrace God’s Promises
Promises are made through quiet words spoken with fingers crossed behind the back or by statements of conviction sealed with a firm handshake. Which do you prefer? The value of a promise is …
How is Your Endurance?
Endurance varies from person to person, depending on the activity and motivation. My husband and I both walk for exercise. At one time I was the more consistent, faster-paced walker and he …
Are You Stuck, Needing Transformation?
Do you feel stuck, needing transformation? Often we hope for something to change, but things stay the same. We hope that change will be instantaneous, like an ordinary person being a recipient of a …
Ready for the Season of Change?
Every day reveals more evidence that the season is changing. The warm wind has an occasional touch of coolness in it. The tips the leaves of our maple tree are turning red; within a week they will be …
Simple Blessings Abound to You!
When troubles abound, do you yearn for good news? Instead, can you see the simple blessings that are around you? Even when hope seems lost, the Lord is there. Our challenge is to open our eyes to see …
Are You a Lifelong Learner?
“Daddy I have the best teacher EVER!" Those words drifted through my open windows on the first day of school. Outside a little girl trotted home in her new school clothes and backpack.Her excitement …
Are You Mindful of Your Mindset?
Our mindset develops every morning when we open our eyes and get out of bed. The new day is before us; we have a choice of what mindset we'll have throughout the day. Have you noticed that when you …
Olympic Moments: Focus and Press On
The focus of many of the conversations in our house has been the Olympic performances. How do athletes tuck their bodies to spin and flip off mats and platforms so skillfully? My brain would be …
Need a New 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 …
Prayer, the Language of Relationship
When our hearts ache for peace, we can turn to the Lord and know His presence. Prayer is the love language for our relationship with God. We can turn our hearts and thoughts toward heaven, knowing …
What Do You Rely On?
We rely on many things to begin the day. The alarm clock wakes us up. We anticipate everything we need to be accessible as we begin the day, especially coffee. Throughout the day, we rely on …
