Category: Purpose
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Christmas: When Our Expectations Flip Upside Down
Christmas time is packed full of expectations. Every parent tasked with decorating their home and buying gifts for their children understands exactly what I mean. Even those hosting the holiday meal make sure to serve it with all the expected traditional dishes. No one wants to disappoint their loved ones. We strive instead for that…
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Advent: When God Broke Through the Silence
The Advent season is upon us. Now is the time for retelling the story of Jesus’ birth in Christmas pageants across the globe. Tradition paints us a picture of a diverse cast of characters from the very young to the elderly, the poorest in ancient society to the most powerful. The word of the Lord…
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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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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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Never Forget—It’s Not About You
In this life, it’s easy for me to lose sight of my real purpose. This is especially true when I’m recovering from an injury that’s taking much longer to heal than I ever anticipated. My mood tends to go to dark places and I begin to question whether the goals I’ve set for myself are…
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Good Intentions Without Actions Are a Dead-End Street
Some say the road to hell is paved with good intentions. But I say, good intentions without actions are a dead-end street. They may not be taking you to hell, but they certainly aren’t taking you any place worthwhile. This past week, I finished the expanded version of my novel The Dream Chaser and sent…
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Reaching the Mountaintop: Three Ways to Overcome the Arrival Fallacy
Do you long to live on a mountaintop? Like many other people, this was my dream. Mountaintop living consumed my thoughts as my husband and I searched for the perfect home. In my mind, this goal made absolute sense. If I left behind the busyness and booming growth of my birthplace, then I could find…
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Purpose Within the Pain
I spend quite a lot of time trying to avoid trouble. I think the majority of us do the same. It’s self preservation. Maybe if I say and do all the right things then life will go along smoothly. I’ll somehow avoid all the problems I see others experiencing. However, this isn’t reality. Pardon me…
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Unlikely Hero in Your Own Story
Anyone who knows me well understands my love of fantasy literature. As a young child, I immersed myself in the many adventures of Dorothy and her friends in the Land of Oz. Later I discovered the wonders in Narnia and Middle Earth. Authors such as L Frank Baum, CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien captured my…
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Life as a Beekeeper
The spring honey flow is well underway and my hives are active. Right now the apple blossoms are a favorite of my bees. While taking a photo the other day, one of them stung me on the nose. Ouch! I should know better than to intrude too closely during their foraging. If I’ve learned anything…
