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 
Rebel, The Black Sheep
What do people think of you? That’s a hard question to answer. Different people know us in different ways. Some know us from the past, and continue to view us in light of what we used to do or how
Broken Leg Syndrome–Running from God
What’s the oddest job you or someone you know has on their resume? I’ve been rather mainstream in my work experience since my oddest jobs were camp counselor for autistic children and veterinarian assistant. Although I did muck stalls at
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
Is Failure Another Broken Dream?
Would you categorize your life as a success or failure? That’s a hard question. Most of us don’t necessarily think of our life as being successful because we know the truth of where we’ve been and where we are. And
More Than a Spiritual Snack
What kind of snacker are you: Savory or Sweet? Do chips and salsa call your name as you graze toward salty nuts, pizza and something with a kick of heat? Or are you lulled by softer fare like melt-in-your-mouth doughnuts,
Big Encouragement in Small Packages
Have you ever gotten one of those “inspirational” chain emails that says, “Make sure you read through to the end!”? I’m all about trying to encourage others with something funny or inspirational. But the problem I have with most chain
The 3 C’s of Rising Above
Have you ever felt like you were stuck? Stuck because you agreed to something you didn’t really want to do? Stuck because decisions you made had consequences you didn’t anticipate? Stuck because circumstances or the decisions of others were out
Beauty Secret #27–Burn Off Bitterness
Do you ever scan magazine covers when you’re waiting in line at the grocery or convenience store? It’s hard not to. The headlines grab us–who’s in, who’s out, who’s this week’s hottest scandal. Even for those of us not following
Thunderstorms that Rock the House
Do you like thunderstorms? Some people chase them. Some are terrified of them. Me, I love them. I love the deep rolls of thunder that you not only hear but you feel down in your soul. I love watching the
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.
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
Drive Life’s Highway–Eyes on the Road
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
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
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
View through the Keyhole
What do you think of when someone says “keyhole”? Nowadays, we have a small metal slit that our slender key fits in as it unlocks a deadbolt or doorknob. But have you ever seen a really old door? You know,
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
Believing In God In A World Gone Mad–#1
I talked to a friend of mine recently who’s an atheist. He doesn’t believe that God exists. Every couple of months we have a discussion about the new “theories” of science or what atheist leaders are saying about creation and
Message in the Chocolate
Do you ever have one of those cravings where nothing will satisfy you until you get specifically what you’re craving? I do. I crave dark chocolate. My love of this decadent (and nutritious) dessert is no secret. But many times
Your Deepest Secret–Don’t Tell Anyone
Can you keep a secret? We know secrets. We hide our own. We promise to carry someone else’s. We listen to the whispers of gossip as bonds of trust are broken. We clamor to hear the exposed secrets of celebrities
Dump the Destination–Choose to Cruise
If you had the opportunity to plan a vacation, would you fly to a city or beach of your choice and spend your time based out of one location, or would you go on a cruise so you could visit
A Shoe Fetish–The Early Years
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 basic function of protecting your feet, so you have the obligatory
We Are Survivors!
Our world can be a dark and scary place. Bad people are doing bad things. Bad things happen to good people. Senseless things happen to innocent people. We see it. We hear about it. Some of us live it. People
Victory Thinking
We have a lot on our minds. I don’t know about you, but my mind is constantly racing trying to keep up with everything. Work, school, family, relationships, finances, health issues, cleaning, errands–to name just a few. Busyness. Non-stop juggling
Bonds of Sisterhood–Our Journey Begins!
What comes to mind when someone says “friend”? For most of us, it brings warm thoughts and a smile. We think of someone we like, and even love. And they feel the same way about us. A good friend is
Hope for Tomorrow
Have you ever had one of those days where nothing goes right? You turn off the alarm instead of hitting snooze and fall back asleep. Jolting awake an hour later, you grab clothes with blazing speed–not enough time to wash
Too Many Pity Shots Ruin The Party
Have you ever been at a party where someone had too much to drink? It can get ugly. Whether “true feelings” flow or someone is emboldened by lack of judgment, generally tears are involved. Harsh words erupt. Tempers flare. The
It’s Not About Me – Living With Joy
When was the last time you encountered someone who believes the world revolves around them? They’re actually not that hard to find. We’re living during “Generation Me”, a generation of people who thinks life is all about “Me”. Regardless of
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,
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?
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