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Boldly Break Free from This Self-Imposed Silence
There’s a strange sort of dynamic going on in the US for some time now. Even though everyone is guaranteed the right to free speech and religion, a number of people don’t fully exercise that freedom. A vocal minority bullies the majority into remaining quiet about their opinions and beliefs by claiming such talk is…
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What the World Needs Now Is . . . You!
I remember the moment when I first stumbled upon Psalm 139. It was a time in my early life when I first started reading the Bible—REALLY reading the Bible. Not out of any sense of moral obligation or intellectual study but out of curiosity. I had many questions for God (and still do), not the…
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The Storyteller’s Corner
Hello friends and Facebook followers! Pour yourself a steaming cup of coffee or tea and pull up a cozy chair. This next month I’m launching a new feature through my author website called The Storyteller’s Corner. Please consider signing up here to start receiving it. In this subscriber only email, you will find updates on…
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Discovering How to Be Still and Wait on the Lord
If you were to ask anyone who knows me well to rank my strengths, knowing how to be still and wait wouldn’t even make the list. I’m the first to admit, calmness within a delay is not a quality I possess. But if you need ideas and action, I’m your girl. Give me a problem…
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Open Our Eyes to See and Ears to Hear
The world competes for our attention. A variety of influencers from movie stars to media moguls vie for our interests. Politicians and corporate leaders work to redirect our focus toward their own agendas. With all these voices clamoring to garner our notice, how do we sort through the beneficial messages from the harmful ones? Do…
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Bent But Not Broken: 5 Ways to Grow Resilience
A solitary tree stands like a sentry in our backyard stretching upward into the sky. It marks the entrance to the holler leading up to the natural spring feeding water to our home. Although only a common tulip poplar, this tree has a distinctive feature not easily noticed in the tall grass. The base of…
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Celebrating a Different Kind of Freedom
This year’s Independence holiday reminds me how thankful I am every day for the freedoms afforded me in America. It’s important to recognize that our rights are not entitlements, but gifts paid forward by the sacrifices of our forefathers. We must never take them for granted. For as we’ve witnessed in other parts of the…
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Don’t Let the Gray Hair Fool You
Don’t let the gray hair fool you. Even though I joined the ranks of senior citizens some time ago, I haven’t allowed it to deter me. And neither have a good number of my peers. We are a force to be reckoned with yet also a massive movement for good. While it is true that…
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God’s Grace Is Never Stagnant
The Jordan river in Israel flows into the Sea of Galilee then moves southward until it ends in the Dead Sea. It enters and leaves the Sea of Galilee, vibrant and full of life. Fishermen are still seen on the shores of the lake, as in Jesus’ time on earth, harvesting the tilapia that thrive there. In contrast, when the Jordan…
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Memorial Day: A Time to Remember
Memorial Day is a time to remember. On this day we focus our thoughts on those who gave their lives to give us our freedom. Indeed, these are dear memories of selflessness and sacrifice. Many fought and never returned home. However, those who did make it back to their loved ones often carry with them…
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Walking With God: A Powerful Partnership
Hiking is my passion. Over my lifetime, I’ve found that nothing calms my soul like a trek through the forest. The scent of pine and the chatter of birds within the trees draw me into a holy communion with the Lord. Nature is His tabernacle. It’s in these wild places—not within the walls of a…
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Planting New Seeds When the Old Don’t Sprout
I’m a bit of a gardening nut. When the days get longer and temps start to rise, I’m excited to put my hands in the soil again. I watch anxiously for the seed I placed in the ground to emerge as tiny plants. But, if nothing comes up, I’m in a dilemma. Should I be…
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To Swarm or Not to Swarm? That is the Question
The first time I experienced a swarm of bees, I was filled with both awe and terror. Awe as I witnessed the massive bee tornado encompassing my entire backyard. And terror as I watched a hive I’d spent so much effort trying to maintain, readying itself to leave. What causes bees to swarm or not…
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Hope When Life Throws You Roadblocks
It’s difficult to maintain hope when life throws you roadblocks. This is especially true when one obstacle after another litters your path. Sometimes these situations only act as speedbumps. But at other times, they’re a massive rockslide blocking your way. How do you keep a positive attitude when these roadblocks make any forward movement impossible?…
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Seeking Out and Sustaining a Healthy Dose of Awe
When was the last time a life experience instilled in you a healthy dose of awe? If you’re like me, either mundane tasks or sensationalized information overload compose most of your day. It’s no surprise we’re left wrung out and weary by the end of the week. We resort to stimulating our brain by scrolling…
