Help v. Hinder: 3 Ways to Equip Others
Have you ever had someone try to help you and they ended up making things worse? Or have you ever wanted to help someone else but no matter what you did they couldn’t break free of what they were struggling 
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
When “Doing” Leaves Us Empty
Do you ever get to a point of doing so much that you wonder if it’s all worth it? I do. Does anyone even appreciate our concern and effort? Some of us, including me, are serial “doers”. We see something
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
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
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.
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”
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.
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
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
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
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
The Pain of Goodbye
Have you ever had to say “goodbye” to someone you love? One of the hardest things in life is letting go of someone we truly care about. Whether they die, move away or move on, we’re left with an overwhelming
Hindsight is 20/20
How often do you go to the eye doctor? When I had laser eye surgery, I was told to go at least once a year in order to keep the lifetime guarantee on the surgeon’s work. I committed to those
Life Is What Happens When…
What are you holding out for in life? Is there something you think will make life better? Something you think of and say, “Life will be better when…” When I get a new job. When I find a guy who
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
3 Steps to Wielding the Sword of Truth
Our culture is fixated on weapons. Sleek handguns or Rambo-esque semi-automatic rifles are in almost every TV show, video game and movie. Kids grow up knowing how to expertly wield a lightsaber just like the Jedi knights in Star Wars.
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
Happiness Isn’t Enough
What makes you happy? A special person in your life? A job well done and deserved recognition through a raise or promotion? A fabulous vacation? A cute new pair of shoes? Your child’s smile? A puppy who greets you at
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
The Wilderness of Loneliness
What does it feel like to be in complete isolation? Have you been there? Could it be that someone you know is there right now? Physically isolated, devoid of meaningful interaction even if we walk through a sea of people
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
What’s Wrong With Me?
How many times have you felt that sickening pit in your stomach as someone you cared about walked away? Maybe they were ending a “discussion” you hadn’t finished. Maybe they were taking a break as you tried to draw closer.
How to Wait in the Whirlwind of Life
Have you ever felt like you should probably wait for something but you just couldn’t? Against your better judgment you made a decision and went for it. And “it” didn’t turn out so good. Sounds like the story of my
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Have you ever seen raging water during or after a storm? I was on a boardwalk at the beach once during a hurricane (before being chased off by the Coast Guard). Enormous swells of violent water were thrashing all around
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
I Am Not A Warrior
If you had to choose one word to describe yourself, what would it be? Of course I’d love to use words like fun or adventurous or daring to describe me. There have been many times I could accurately say broken,