Category
Growth
Picture this scene (or perhaps this has happened in your home)—You’ve promised your child to take them somewhere they’ve always wanted to go, and now it’s time. They’re excited. They’ve been eagerly anticipating this promise fulfilled for what seems like… Continue Reading →
How do you experience times of refreshment? When we think about refreshment, it may bring to mind going swimming on a hot day summer day. Others may find refreshment from a novel and pleasurable experience. We may experience refreshment in… Continue Reading →
Yes, even our comfort zones have an “expiration date”. In other words, sometimes our comfort zones won’t always stay so comfortable! Consider showers, for example. We’ve all been there—standing in the shower, luxuriating and relaxing under the flow of water… Continue Reading →
Back in the day of landline phones (which some folks still have), there was this annoying sound called a “busy signal”. It wasn’t pleasant. Whoever designed it could have kindly created the sound of chirping birds or a harp or… Continue Reading →
Have you ever felt like your trust in the Lord is growing old, like bread left out on the counter for a few days? Getting hard, stale, and a bit crusty, with only fond memories of when it was fresh?… Continue Reading →
With openness. We see this principle everywhere. For example, you can’t fix a car with the hood closed. We also need to open the hood to apply jumper cables, add oil, clean the parts, and do maintenance. We can’t do… Continue Reading →
We don’t (or shouldn’t) stop learning when we get old, we get “old” when we stop learning. That’s why wise people keep learning: “Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance.” Prov. 1:5… Continue Reading →
Procrastinating is harder than just getting it done. Whether it’s a project, a deliverable, a response to a message, cleaning up, getting organized, taking care of your health, or restoring broken relationships—there will always be added burdens that get increasingly… Continue Reading →
Matters matter, but our responses matter more and longer. Yes, what happens to us matters. Getting hired vs. getting fired. Passing vs. failing an exam. Birth vs. death (of anyone or anything). Winning vs. losing. Starting a relationship vs. ending… Continue Reading →
We once had an assistant youth director at the church where my husband pastors, who had a lot of what we Yiddish speakers call “chutzpah” – basically guts and nerve on steroids. At his first leadership-team meeting (online due to… Continue Reading →
As we in the U.S. celebrate the 4th of July, aka Independence Day, I’m thinking it’s also time to acknowledge and openly declare our inter-dependence! Really, there’s no shame in that, and actually it makes good sense. Interdependence happens and… Continue Reading →
In Mat. 3:16-17 (and other Gospel accounts) we read how just after Jesus was baptized, the Lord’s voice came “thundering” from heaven, saying “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased!” “Sure”, we think, “I have no… Continue Reading →
Those who leave anyone who ever hurts them will find themselves left alone. Do you see yourself in any of these scenarios?: ~As a child, you got mad at a friend, so you stopped being friends with them. ~As a… Continue Reading →
Years ago, my mom-in-love had surgery to remove the worsening cataracts in her eyes. The ophthalmologist had told her she’d have to wait until the cataracts got big and bad enough to take them out. I suppose they had their… Continue Reading →
What matters to us becomes a top priority, which means it gets our attention, keeps our attention, and we give it our best time and effort. And if it’s that important to us, we consider it worth preparing for, just… Continue Reading →
