Struggling for Simplicity
Do you long for simplicity? In the chaos and confusion of overwhelm and overload, do you instinctively know your life wasn’t meant to be this way? Our bodies crave simplicity. They long for whole foods...
View Article5 Habits for Getting and Staying in Shape
The New Testament uses a variety of athletic metaphors to describe the life of a Christian. These references were certainly understood by those to whom the letter was written since the Olympic games,...
View ArticlePursuing a Holy Spirit Led Life
Growing up in church, I learned a lot about the Trinity. The idea of Father, Son & Holy Spirit, three in One, never struck me as odd. It simply always existed as truth for me. With this upbringing,...
View ArticlePlaying to Win Instead of Playing to Not Lose
Playing to Not Lose Sports commentators often discuss how teams need to decide to “play to win” instead of simply “playing to not lose.” In football, it’s the difference between going for a field goal...
View ArticleDiscover Encouragement and Overcome Discouragement
Discussing Discouragement Lack of progress. Politics. Stupidity. Illness. Aging. Unemployment. Failure. These things continuously discourage me. If I dwell on them too often and too deeply, I become...
View ArticlePursuing Truth
Solving the Problems of Flight The Wright Brothers hit a standstill at Kitty Hawk in 1901 and almost gave up because they could not solve the issue of predictable control. They eventually realized they...
View ArticleThe Only Solution to Worry
Worn Out from Worry Couldn’t sleep the other night. Worry consumed my mind. Racing thoughts kept me awake even though fatigue pulled at my eyelids. The next day, worry destroyed my schedule....
View ArticleShould Assertiveness be Your Goal?
Feel Like a Doormat? Ever made plans, got organized and fully prepared to follow through, only to have them changed by someone who already agreed to those plans? Do the same people seem to do this to...
View ArticleMake Becoming Christ-Like Your Goal
In Should Assertiveness Be Your Goal? we talked about how some people often feel like doormats but struggle with becoming more assertive. We came to the conclusion that becoming Christ-like, which...
View ArticleDefeating Discouragement
Promise of Deliverance After about 400 years of being in Egypt, God sends Moses to deliver the Israelites. The Egyptians respond to Moses’ announcement by increasing the work the Israelite slaves had...
View ArticleUnbroken Perseverance
Unbroken Toward the end of the movie Unbroken, Louis Zamperini is again being tortured by a Japanese prison camp officer. This man, known as “The Bird,” took a special interest in Louis. Even after...
View ArticleMore Books Than Time
Some people feel the need to finish every book they start. I do not. I will start and not finish a book if it’s poorly written. I’ll also stop reading it if it just does not click with me for any...
View ArticleSpending Time With God
My husband and I have been married for 24 years, and we dated for 6 years before getting married. At this point, we know each other pretty well. Likes. Dislikes. Annoyances. Goals. Dreams. Fears. We...
View ArticleDigging In to Scripture
The Value of Research As a writer, I fully understand the value of research and knowing my topic well. Regardless of length or type of work, research allows me to better know my writing topic. When I...
View ArticleShipwrecked Faith, Part 1
What causes most shipwrecks? Shipwrecks are usually caused by one of many reasons. The most common are poor design, instability, navigational errors, weather, warfare, effects of age, improper...
View ArticleShipwrecked Faith, Part 2
In Shipwrecked, Part 1, we defined a shipwrecked faith and talked about how the struggle to avoid one is real for everyone. In this post, we’ll look at avoiding shipwreck as well as how to recover from...
View ArticleGet Ready to Be Ready
Being Prepared My mind naturally gravitates toward what’s coming and to being prepared for it. In fact, I struggle turning my thoughts away from planning, and it actually keeps me awake at night...
View ArticleHow to Avoid Bad Advice
Bad Advice Lots of examples exist in scripture of individuals who followed bad advice. It begins with Adam taking Eve’s advice to eat the piece of fruit (Genesis 3). And it goes at least through...
View ArticleDigesting God’s Word
Most of us read Scripture for our own specific purposes. We search for knowledge, inspiration, direction, comfort and wisdom. We have a problem, and we want guidance on how to handle it. Or, we’re...
View ArticleExpecting Encouragement
Feeling Encouraged Encouragement can feel a variety of ways. When I’m encouraged, I’m any number of the following… Motivated — Appreciated — Energized — Hopeful Validated — Inspired — Reassured —...
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