Swimming the Deep End
Have you ever been in the ocean at night? At first, it’s exhilarating. We feel daring and adventurous swimming the shallow waters between mystery and solid ground. But as clouds darken the sky, there’s no way to see what lurks 
Daddy’s Little Girl
Do you know anyone who’s a Daddy’s Girl? It’s not that their dad is playing favorites. There’s just a special bond that forms between some fathers and their daughters that nothing can rival. I was a Daddy’s Girl. Oh how
The Struggling Worm
Have you ever gone to a bridal shower, baby shower or other gathering and you have to play a game to get to know the other people at the party? Personally, I hate those games (ok, maybe “hate” is too
Forgotten Dreams
Many of us have endured the pangs of despair and heavy sorrow from shattered hopes and dreams. If this is where you are today, my heart goes out to you. I am truly sorry that you’re in pain. Please
Cocoa’s Frisbee–Which Way Do We Go?
My friend has four small dogs that love to romp and play outdoors. I’ve always thought of myself as a “big dog” kind of girl, but recently I had the opportunity to spend some time at my friend’s house. The
Headed for the Holy Land!
Have you ever wondered what it would have been like to live back in the day of Moses or Jesus? Besides thinking it would be hard to not shower or to wear cute shoes in the sand, imagine if we
Honesty is a Kiss
How do you greet your closest friends? In many cultures, people greet friends with a kiss on one or both cheeks. In our culture, most of us greet casual friends with a wave or handshake or maybe even a hug.
Pumpkins in our Patch of Real Life
Have you ever grown your own vegetables? It sounds like a great idea at first. But trying to get vegetable plants to grow and survive in a backyard garden to the point of actually producing edible fruit is easier said
We Can’t Lose Our Citizenship
What comes to mind when you think of “citizenship”? I think of our country and the freedoms that we have. How blessed we are to be American. The song that comes to mind is Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA”
Passport to Heaven
What’s the number one city you’ve never been to but you’d like to visit? There are so many on my list, but if I had to narrow it down to just one I think I’d pick Prague in the Czech
Do You Want Help?
Do you have a hard time asking for help? I do. Sometimes it’s because I don’t want to rely on other people. Sometimes it’s because I think that I should be able to do it by myself. Sometimes it’s because
How Do You Say L-O-V-E?
How do you say “I love you”? Not how do you actually speak those three words (although that can be hard to do sometimes). But how do you show someone that you love them? Some people hold long embraces and
The Land of Rebellion
Do you know someone living in the land of rebellion? Making bad choices. Running with a partying crowd. Throwing caution to the wind. Caught in the wilderness of loneliness and emptiness. Heading down the path to a very dark place.
Who Needs A Good Doctor?
Do you have a good doctor you would recommend? The days of a physician that delivers babies and then cares for the entire family through adulthood are over. Now we have specialists for every phase of life, every disease, and
In Her Own Words… Jill
My name is Jill and this is my story… I sat outside in the grass, leaning against the side of the house. I sobbed. “What has happened?” I wondered. Rob and I had been married 5 years. We had a
Fear that Binds Us
Is there something that scares you? Snakes? Elevators? Heights? Clowns? Public speaking? Death? Fear is powerful. Fear is consuming. Left unchecked it can grip like a vice and squeeze until we can’t function or even breathe. For those who give
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly: Ambition
Are you driven? Not as in are you driven around by your friend who has her own car. But is there something in your life that you’re driven to achieve? For most of us, great opportunities for advancement and growth
Make It Happen
Have you ever pushed for something and been completely committed to it, only to realize down the road that it was a bad idea? We talked yesterday about personal mottos and life mantras, and I shared that as a teenager
Dare to be Different
Do you have a personal motto? Some people memorize motivational or inspirational sayings to recall in times of trial. Some people want a mantra they can carry through life which depicts their purpose or calling. As a teenager, there were
What’s In Your Wallet?
Have you seen or heard those catchy credit card commercials that depict the medieval people in funny modern-day situations? The message of the commercials is twofold: 1) we can and should go experience the world, and 2) no matter what
Is It All In The Shoes?
What’s your favorite pair of shoes? Mine is a cute pair of pink silk stiletto sandals with high ankle straps and big pink beads over the toes. They’re pretty and fun and as comfortable as heels can be. What’s not
To Give or Receive: Love is the Question
If I were to ask how you express love to others, is there something that comes to mind right away? We hear a lot of talk about love languages. Supposedly, that’s how we express our love to others in meaningful
I Trust You, But…
When things are going haywire and the storms of life begin to swirl, is there someone that you trust to always be there for you? Someone who will take care of you? Someone who will listen and bring reason to
What To Do When Jesus Is Coming
What do you do to get ready when a guest is coming to visit? It probably depends on who they are and how long they’re staying. If they’re someone important that we’re trying to impress, the vacuum comes out, counters
Peace is Not the Absence of Trouble
What is peace? We hear people talk about wanting world peace or peace of mind. Some people use “peace” as a way of wishing others well at the end of a conversation or email. But what exactly is peace? Is
The View from Heaven
Have you ever experienced the view from heaven? Most of us have flown in airplanes and looked down at the patchwork of farms, rivers, forests and urban civilization below. Many of us have seen pictures of planet earth taken from
Seasons, They Are Changing
What’s your favorite season? It’s hard for me to decide. I love spring flowers and the warm, fresh breeze that ushers in excitement of new beginnings. I love the long days of summer and time outdoors with friends. I love
What Moves You?
What moves you? Feelings? Something you see? Something you hear? It’s hard to answer that question without knowing what “move” means. Move how? Move us in what way? Move us emotionally to a place of compassion? Move us to tears
Knock, Knock! Who’s There? Jesus.
Do you know any good “Knock, Knock” jokes? I have a hard time remembering jokes, but here are a few I think are really funny: Knock, knock! Who’s there? Juno. Juno who? Juno I’m out here waiting, right? Knock, knock!
The Pendulum of Life
Have you ever watched the pendulum of a large clock, like a grandfather clock? It goes back and forth in a slow, methodic rhythm. Never stopping. Never detouring. Just left and right and left again, over and over as it
The Power of Belief
What is something you believe is true without a shadow of a doubt? How do you know? Usually we know something is true based on personal experience. I’m helping a friend of mine train for her first half-marathon. Each week
An Audience Of One
Do you ever feel like you’re performing for others? Like the script of your life isn’t what you want to write, but it’s what other people have written for you? Or that you’re not really the person you want to
Are We There Yet?
Have you ever been on a long trip when someone in your family (or group) breaks through the impatience barrier and utters those all-too-famous words, “Are we there yet?” The answer, of course, is obvious. No. If we were there,
Superpower Coming Right Up
If you were approached by a superhero genie who could grant you one wish for any superpower, what would you ask for? It may seem like a strange question, but seriously, take a moment and think about it. What superpower
Love in the Trenches
Do you know of any amazing love stories? True stories. Stories that bring tears of compassion. Stories that reassure us that deep, undying love does exist. The kind that keep us hoping. The kind that show us how love should