I've been absent from my blog and social media for most of the summer as I've been rehabbing a house, moving my family, and dealing with some heavy emotional stuff. When I told my friend, Kelly Balarie, that I'd support her book launch, I had no idea how much I'd be helped by the book […]
There was a time in my life when I felt a heavy burden and great stress about what I was and wasn't doing. At that time, I was a baby Christian with a poor understanding of the realities of who I was in Christ and how God made me. Each time a good activity […]
The kids and I sprawled out on the partly shaded trampoline with our books. The gentle, spring wind blew magnolia petals onto us. The sunshine and perfect, sixty-five-degree temperature were just too much for them, though. Every time I attempted to move us toward our homeschool lessons, they giggled or tried to insert a joke. […]
I've recently changed how I'm posting on my blog. Starting this week, I'm going to start writing at least one additional article each week. As usual, I'll write a post on helping ourselves turn toward gospel-centered thinking under the "Coach Yourself" area of the blog. I'll also write an additional post on the same theme […]
Can a person's own attitudes both create and reduce stress? Unfortunately and fortunately, yes! Perhaps attitude is one of greatest potential personal strengths...but also one of our greatest weaknesses. The inner workings of our attitudes are hidden, but they always produce visible overflow into our behavior, including our stress responses. Unfortunately, bad attitudes can create […]
Does this passage resonate with you? "Blessed be the Lord! For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him." -Psalm 28:6-7 Me too! I can say that no matter how you […]
Have you ever witnessed a great mediator at work? One of the best human mediators I've seen in action is my husband. He's great at calming a storm in just about any kind of situation. Our family is blessed to have him as he can readily bring peace into intense situations brought on by offenses […]
According to the American Psychological Association, chronic stress can be linked to the six leading causes of death: heart disease, cancer, lung ailments, accidents, cirrhosis of the liver and suicide. And more than 75 percent of all physician office visits are for stress-related ailments and complaints. That sounds really disheartening, but let me give you some encouragement! Not all […]
I have dream that one day all of our thinking patterns that are damaging to ourselves, our loved ones, our relationship with the world around us and to God will be obliterated! Thankfully, I know that this will happen! "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be […]
"Examine me, O Lord, and try me; Test my mind and my heart." -Psalm 26:2 "Lord, all my desire is before You; And my sighing is not hidden from you." Psalm 38:9 Do you, like me, ever feel "programmed" to respond to life circumstances in a certain way? While we must take responsibility for our […]
Advent Joy isn’t shallow or sentimental—it is rooted in the appearing of Christ. When Scripture speaks of Christ being manifested, it means that God has made Himself clearly seen, known, and encountered in order to save. “The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation…” — Titus 2:11, ESV The Child in the manger is the […]
Where do you long for Christ’s Peace to enter your story this week? Or have you given up hope for that? Perhaps it would be good for you and me to remember Jesus' words about the kind of peace He gives. "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the […]