Tag: courage
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The Opportunity of Freedom
Is freedom a right or an opportunity? What do you think?
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Celebrating This Exceptionally Unwelcome Birthday
In July, I turn 65 and for the past 3 months, insurance companies have hounded me to sign up for Medicare. From emails to phone calls and even Facebook ads, they implore me to choose their supplement or Advantage plan. The stubborn part of me, continues to procrastinate. Why do all these people persist in…
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Tell Your Story . . . Then Let the Holy Spirit Do the Rest.
Are you ready to tell your story? I asked myself on our way to church. Trepidation filled my heart. It was Pentecost and we had a guest minister in the pulpit. Since we live just north of Asheville NC, my husband and I had time to attend Sunday services before driving to the Blue Ridge…
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Trust Jesus With Your ‘What Ifs’
If I’m totally honest, I admit I worry too much. With the daily disasters reported in the news, it’s easy to get caught up in the ‘What If’ game. This is especially true when it comes to my grandchildren. What if they become ill, what if they’re in an accident, what if . . ….
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What Good Are Fences Anyway?
When we moved to our mountain farm in Tennessee, a multitude of fences zigzagged across our property. Most of the posts and rails were still sturdy but a good number were shaky, at best, or simply falling down. My husband and I questioned why some of the fencing was even needed by the previous owners….
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Sow Generously and Wisely for a Spirit Filled Life
The days grow longer and signs of spring abound. It’s time to plant the garden. Depending on where you live, you may already have seeds in the ground. I do. The “cold tolerant” vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, and beets, do well early in the season. Whereas the tender tomato plants must wait until the…
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What is the Measure of Success?
Over this past weekend, my husband and I spent a considerable amount of time digging around in the mud. We were attempting to replace a broken stock tank in order to divert water from the natural spring which runs down the mountain behind our home. Between the tremendous amount of water flowing from this spring…
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Hidden Treasures in Small Packages
Raising honeybees is a labor of love. Or, let me restate this another, more honest way. Attempting to raise honeybees is an exasperating task. Any beekeeper will tell you this fact. Honeybees are vulnerable to just about anything. If it’s too hot or too cold, too wet or too dry they will die. They are…
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Ready, Set . . . Wait: Cultivating the Tender Art of Patience
Spring is here! Maybe. The seasons are fickle in the mountains. One day the temperature is in the 70’s, only for it to plummet down to freezing the next. Last weekend I mowed the lawn and two days later, it snowed. I’m ready. I’m set. But wait. Spring is not here yet. I’m slowly learning…
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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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What Is That in Your Hand?
What is that in your hand? A voice within my dream inquired. Sudden and distinct, the question woke me from my slumber. I peered at my hand, but my palm was empty . . . vacant. At first glance, I held nothing in my hand. All the while, my mind struggled to remember. Where have…
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Change is On the Way: Am I Ready?
What a lazy day! It’s my day off work and I didn’t wake up until almost 10 am! Yesterday spent all my energy and left me overly tired. My Wednesdays are such a cluster with work starting at 6:30 am, then going to my niece’s to babysit her little boy in the afternoon and Bible…
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Finding the Courage to Stay Strong and Carry On
Life is full of setbacks. Sometimes, finding the courage to stay strong and carry on is the most difficult part. It’s easy to feel like giving up when recuring obstacles threaten to defeat us. Our recent move to Tennessee is a good example of real challenges we’ve faced lately. Whatever could go wrong did go…
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Battle-Ready: Wisdom from a Fellow Warrior
You and I were made to be warriors. If you read my last post, you heard about David, an earthly Shepherd-King who overcame fear by trusting in the Lord. We can walk in courage like him by recognizing our heavenly Shepherd-King who stands beside us in our battles. God fights for us and with us….
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Be Not Afraid: Advice from a Shepherd King
I was made to be a warrior. Not the kind who wields sword or spear like a medieval knight. But one who dons the sturdy armor essential for spiritual warfare. Slings and arrows of evil fly all around me. Yet, I refuse to cower in fear. The Lord stands at my side. His angels call…
