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
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
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
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
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
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,
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
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
Chronicles of a Wind Chaser
Are you a storm chaser, aka “extreme weather adventurer”? Not many of us are. Although we love to see the footage others capture by pursuing tornadoes and hurricanes, very few of us, if any, have actually gotten in a car
The Truth About Strengths & Weaknesses
What’s your greatest strength? How about your greatest weakness? For some of us, we have answers ready to go. We know what we’re good at and can talk about these strengths at length. We also know areas that need improvement,
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
What’s More Valuable Than 15 Minutes?
What can you do in 15 minutes? Watch half a sitcom? Rush through the day’s happenings on Facebook and email? Remove your chipped toenail polish and apply two coats of a new color? Let’s be honest, 15 minutes isn’t a
We’re All In The Same Boat
Have you ever been on a sightseeing cruise? Many towns in Europe and the U.S. offer cruises up and down waterways to see their most famous and noteworthy landmarks. The boats look like multi-level, steel mini-ships, usually with an open
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