The month of November ushers in thoughts of gratitude as eyes, hearts (and tummies) turn towards celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday. While gratitude approaches abound, I prefer mindfully lingering with gratitude in various ways. Throughout the month on Mindfulness Monday, I’ll share unique ways you can enjoy practicing mindful gratitude. At the end of the post, you can sign up for…
Read More
Enjoy Practicing Mindful Gratitude
How to Seek Refuge in God
Watching the wildlife in my wooded yard provides me not only with entertainment, but timely lessons from the Creator. Recently, a bustle of activity indicated seasonal changes and the need for more permanent shelter for the coming harsh weather. Interestingly, some animals remain in their “year-round” homes while others seek a warmer climate. Wondering at the way the rabbits poked…
Read More
Embracing Change with Gratitude
Though still lovely in the afternoon sun, a brief shadow creeps across my heart, fading the smile tickling my cheeks only a moment before while gazing upon the once colorful hyssop. Change: inescapable, uncertain, often unwelcome. Forboding at times, stealing the present and dimming the future, it taunts me. Yet, new beauty lurks on the other side of embracing change…
Read More
October Offerings: Share Four Somethings
Easing the shock of yet another month all but concluded, I rejoice in a glance back at my October Offerings joining Heather Gerwing as she hosts a monthly feature called, Share Four Somethings, where writers share the fourth Saturday of each month something in each of four categories from the previous month. The four categories remain the same, something loved, something read or heard, something treasured, and something ahead. The premise…
Read More
Taming Anxiety with the CALM Technique
Some days simple distraction, a walk or mindful breathing capably arrests my anxiety. On other days I feel more like a prisoner in need of a serious jailbreak. On one such day recently, enlisting the help of the CALM Technique, I moved more easily towards taming my anxiety. anxiety in charge Well managed through daily quiet times, scripture memory and…
Read More
Joy Conversations with God
If you join me monthly for my One Word 2021 journey with JOY, you know for a tiny word, it speaks in huge ways! As I pondered my ten month expedition into the uncharted territory of biblical JOY, rich lessons greeted me often from unexpected places. My joy conversations with God moved me from a myopic view of JOY to…
Read More
How to Trust God with Your Anxiety
Fleeing the comfort and protection of home, betrayed by the son once so beloved, the bedraggled figure shoulders stooped, eyes barely seeing the next step clouded by tears, stumbled along the path. Breath shortened by the tightness gripping weary lungs, helplessly wondering, “how to trust God in the midst of this suffocating anxiety? the faithful are not exempt from anxiety…
Read More
What My Garden Taught Me About Resilience
They speak in many ways these plants and flowers of mine; but only for ears bent in listening. Whispered lessons of sheer delight arrayed in finery bedazzled by the afternoon sun, somber strains of wilted strength slain by heat, even the sadness of wounds endured; all offered to the ear keen for listening. But the best lesson of all lingers…
Read More
Reduce Overwhelm and Enjoy Life
I know better. Still, I sit staring at my outlook calendar, steno pad full of unfinished tasks, editorial calendar and goal review sheet. Clenching my pen tighter with each forced inhale, eyes closed in a weak attempt at silencing my inner critic, a frustrated exhale escapes despite my efforts at controlled breathing. It all started with a fleeting thought: reduce…
Read More
