right time for everything
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A Right Time for Everything Under Heaven

Even though I’m anxious to rototill the garden as soon as warm days arrive, I force myself to wait. Patience is a must this time of year. Tender plants wilted in the frost have taught me a hard lesson. There’s a right time for everything under heaven and gardening in…
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an easter surprise
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Encountering An Easter Morning Surprise

Jesus was dead—or so they thought. Mary Magdalene and the other women had witnessed the horrific act of crucifixion from the foot of the cross. Who could possibly survive a Roman execution? In modern times, we try to downplay its brutality with the gold crosses we wear as jewelry. In…
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be a barnabas
Comments Off on In a World Full of Discouragement, Be a Barnabas

In a World Full of Discouragement, Be a Barnabas

We live in tough times. Even a casual glance at events in the national and global news leave most of us shaking our heads. Add personal problems with finances or health to these outside forces and it’s easy to lose heart. How do we combat the darkness that threatens to…
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Comments Off on Lord, Let Me Offer My Breath as a Prayer

Lord, Let Me Offer My Breath as a Prayer

The mountain air is clear and crisp this morning. I inhale its freshness, releasing a deep sigh. Oh, how thankful I am to return to Appalachia. Its sheer beauty calms my troubled soul. I offer my breath as a prayer—not knowing exactly what to pray, I allow the Spirit to…
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everyone of us is an influencer

Every One of Us is An Influencer

Every one of us is an influencer whether we realize it or not. We can’t change the fact that we impact the world around us. But we do have a choice how we exert that influence. With all our words and every action, we make a decision. Will I spread…
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How to Find Inspiration When the Spring Runs Dry

I intended to write a blog earlier this week, but it wasn’t happening. A multitude of ideas bounced in my head yet none of them felt right. With every little thing causing a distraction, the flow of my creativity came to a halt. It wasn’t the first time I’ve struggled…
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good intentions

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…
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Look Up: Behold a Great Light

It’s chilly in the mountains these last days before Christmas. Yesterday evening I hurried out in the cold to take a bag of trash to the garage. With gift wrapping, we unfortunately make a lot of trash. As I shuffled my feet to avoid slipping on the new crust of…
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when thankfulness doesn't come easy

How To Respond When Thankfulness Doesn’t Come Easy

It’s Thanksgiving week and turkey with all the fixings await me. As I ponder all I have to be thankful for, my thoughts are juxtaposed against all my worries and challenges. I find myself weighing one against the other. In reality, the challenges I face are small in comparison to…
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stepping out within the storm

Stepping Out Within the Storm

Self-preservation is a strong instinct. When waves lap over the bow and wind batters my ship, human nature urges me to hunker below deck. Stepping out within the storm wouldn’t even cross my mind. But this is exactly what the apostle Peter did. Were Peter’s actions simply a moment of…
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beauty found within the ashes

Beauty Found Within the Ashes

Life is so full of confusing contrasts. Isn’t it odd how often unexpected beauty is found within the ashes? Its boldness brightens our day and pushes away worries that threaten to weigh us down. Out of the darkness, beauty offers hope within a world blanketed in sorrow. During my recent…
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I Think I Can: A Mindset of Confidence

When my children were young, one of my favorite stories to read to them was The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper. Now that my grandchildren are old enough to listen to books, I find joy in this classic tale once again. The best line in the story comes…
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Caught Up in an Unexpected Standstill

My day whizzed past as I navigated a busy four-lane highway heading back home to Tennessee. After more than a week of working in the wellness clinic and helping with my twin grandchildren, I focused my mind on all I planned to do to catch up. I was gliding along…
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Simple Stewardship: A Trust to Keep

In the times we live in, a little simple stewardship goes a long way. We hear a lot about not overusing our resources in the media which is important. But what about reusing what we already have? The sticker shock of inflation has everyone reeling in the check-out line. Instead…
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Living Hope: Faith in Action

Do you sometimes leave worship services with more questions than when you entered? I know I do. Since this past Sunday, I’ve wrestled with Pastor Doug’s sermon. His message spoke of living hope which is not a new term for me. According to the Bible, Jesus is our living hope.…
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