It’s How We Finish That Matters
Who cares how we started? That’s what I want to say. No, this isn’t the normal way I start a blog, but today I’m in a fighting mood. Why? Because there are so many of us girls out there who 
Walking, Running, Rushing Thru Life
Do you ever go for a leisurely walk? It’s a great idea to get out, relax and enjoy fresh air, warm sun, and the beauty of nature. But me? Not so much. I have a hard time finding time to
Who is Looking For You?
Have you ever been completely lost? I don’t mean just lost as in you don’t have the right driving directions to get to a new restaurant. I mean really lost––as in you’re alone in a foreign or isolated place and
A Majority That Always Wins
What’s a situation you faced when you felt completely outnumbered? Most of us have never been on a battlefield when enemy forces dwarfed our own, but we can still feel like the odds are against us. Maybe it’s a sports
Floating in the Dead Sea
Have you ever relaxed on a raft in a pool or the ocean? For me it’s the epitome of peacefulness. Feeling the warm sun, smelling the fresh breeze, floating softly as the stress just melts away. That’s the life. If
Here I Am, But Send Someone Else!
Have you ever been “volunteered” for something you really didn’t want to do? If you’re like me, you’re still wondering, “How did it happen?” When they were looking for someone to step up we did the right thing; we kept
The Beauty of Baptism–Our New Threads
Have you ever seen someone get baptized? What does it mean? I’ve watched baptisms at various churches and each one is different. Some baptize babies and others baptize people who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Some baptize
A Matter of Life or Death
Have you ever had to make a decision with huge consequences? It’s not easy figuring out the right choice because there are so many factors to consider. Risks. Pros and cons. The effects on us and others. Long-term repercussions we
Don’t Be Afraid!
What do Golgotha, Mt. of Olives, Dead Sea, Mt. Sinai, Galilee, Nazareth, Bet Shean and Petra, Jordan all have in common? No hints. Give up? Ok, I’ll tell you. They’re a few of the places I experienced on my trip
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
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.
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
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
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
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
In Her Own Words… Madelyn
My name is Madelyn and this is my story… I grew up in the country with fields and farm lands surrounding our little neighborhood. The only commerce in our community was a gas station, a grain elevator and a small
When Does It Get Easier?
Do you ever feel like you struggle with the same things again and again? I do. I might even be good for two or three years, and then “boom” there it is. That same weakness flaring up again. Shouldn’t I
In Her Own Words… Anonymous
This is my story… Do you remember the Talking Heads song “Once in a Lifetime”? David Byrne sings, “You may ask yourself, ‘Well, how did I get here?’” That’s what I woke up asking myself so many times. “How did
In Her Own Words… Stacey
My name is Stacey and this is my story… Life was good. Loving husband. Two healthy, beautiful daughters–one was almost 4 years old, the other 1 ½. Caring, involved grandparents for my children. Thankfully, my husband’s job allowed me to
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
Postcards from the Edge
What’s the coolest postcard you’ve ever received? My friends and family have traveled to some fabulous places so I’ve been the recipient of awesome cards. But my mom takes the cake. A few months ago she and my stepfather were
Can You Hear Me Now?–Talking To God
Do you remember those TV commercials for the wireless phone company where the guy would be in all kinds of crazy places as he tested the connection by asking, “Can you hear me now?” The idea was that no matter
Fishing v. Phishing – Dangers of Gossip
Not all girls are outdoorsy types, but have you ever had an outdoor experience that made you feel like one with nature? Like you were a part of what was happening in the serene world that others may never see?
Into Darkness Shines the Light of Hope
Do you know anyone who’s been in the dark pits of life? Maybe it was you. Maybe the pit was more like an abyss where the silence of isolation was deafening and the terror was real. Some of us have
Fairytales and Fables
What’s your favorite fairytale? Cinderella and Snow White are classics, with the outcast young girl being noticed and then rescued by the handsome young prince. And of course they live happily ever after. What’s not to love? We secretly (or
A Shoe Fetish–The Early Years
Back by popular demand (and technical difficulties on the day this originally ran)… How do you feel about shoes? It may seem like a crazy question, but really, what’s your opinion? Are you the type of person who thinks shoes serve the
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
My Day as a Race Car Driver
When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up? In kindergarten, my teacher had each student make a “book” of pictures we drew showing three things we dreamed of being when we got older. My
Driving Life’s Highway–Eyes on the ...
What was it like when you learned to drive? Did you have to take a Driver’s Ed course? Did a parent or family member sit in the passenger seat barking out instructions–one after another–until you were ready to pull the
Living in the Middle–Addiction Shadows
Have you ever known someone struggling with addiction? My experience is that they often laugh it off or minimize its affect on them. Even our society doesn’t seem to think some addictions are all that serious. Workaholic? At least they’re
Where’s the Hand Gel? – Real Life Dirt
Are we obsessed with being clean? No really. There was a time when there were only two kinds of soap: liquid and bar. Liquid was used for washing dishes and the bar was for washing people. Now there’s liquid, bar,
Believing In God In A World Gone Mad–#2
Yesterday I shared about my conversation with a friend who’s an atheist. He doesn’t believe in God. My friend and I began our discussion by talking about whether or not God exists. Then he moved on to the obstacles preventing