On this particular day, as darkness tightened its grip on my heart, the piercing pain seemed to force the tears from my eyes in unhindered cascades. I watched her go, she never once glanced back. They came, every word, every nuance; all of the memories; I wanted them to stop. But then that was the way of the darkness; cold,…
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What to Do When Your Strength Fails
Overcome Distractions: Linger with Jesus
Mocking me from the steno pad on my desk, my “To Do” list evidenced the insufficiency of my sixteen waking hours for accomplishing the pressing needs of the day. Unfortunately, this experience is not rare. Reviewing my schedule demands often tempts me towards shaving time off of my devotional encounters with Jesus. Until I learned the best way to overcome…
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The Power of Joy Filled Conversations
My Joy journey connected me with others in both unexpected and unusual ways this past month. Despite sharing my One Word with family and a few close friends, posting on social media, and writing regularly here on the blog; branching out in conversation about Joy was rare. Without much effort on my part, I stumbled upon the power of joy…
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4 Steps to a Renewed Quiet Time
I love my early morning quiet times with God: we meet in my favorite chair, coffee in hand and my Bible hugged close in my lap. Delighting in my first full breaths of the day, I ask God for open eyes, heart and mind, desiring a glimpse of Him in the pages in my lap. Yet some days, I end…
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The Secret Joy of Sunflowers
Sunflowers prove rather an enigma for me. While florists and grocery stores peddle a smaller variety, most I encounter exceed my petite five foot frame. Blue, red and green ribbons adorn the largest sunflower heads at the local fairs: some as large as two feet in diameter! But until recently the secret joy of sunflowers escaped my notice. sunflower surprise…
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Taking the Anxiety Out of Reading the Headlines
Headline stress disorder, the newest diagnosis for the anxiety occuring from reading today’s headlines surfaced recently. Perhaps, like me, you avoid watching or reading the daily headlines as a means of escaping heart palpitations or a sick feeling in your stomach. But God provided a better avenue for taking the anxiety out of reading the headlines. facing the reality of…
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A Light That Defeats Darkness
His perspective differed from mine. Years in the court system darkened his outlook on life. Viewing world events through this lens left him of the opinion “the dark side always wins.” He mocked my hope, labeling me as an “idealist” for my belief in a Light that defeats darkness. We both sat in the same courthouse hallway waiting for the…
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August Abundance: Share Four Somethings
Easing the shock of yet another month all but concluded, I rejoice in a glance back at my August Abundance 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,…
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How to Trust God in a Chaotic World
A glance at the headlines reveals a world in turmoil; seemingly spinning out of control. Whether political, financial or human interest, we find little in the news that fails to inflict grief or further anxiety upon our bedraggled hearts. Now more than ever, learning how to trust God in a chaotic world becomes indispensible. How to Live With Confidence in…
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