Remember that last time you were feeling overwhelmed? Here is a way to help you out of that spot. PLUS... a free scripture art print to download. There's no doubt you can identify with me... Earlier this week I had a task looming before me that I absolutely was not looking forward to doing. My stress level was creeping up and up by the hour. Feeling overwhelmed, I decided to ask a few of my friends to pray. They did. And the next day that seemingly gargantuan task was accomplished fairly easily. How many times do you live in dread, for whatever reason, keeping … [Read more...]
In order to navigate through life, this thing called faith is a necessity. Why is it that something so necessary seems so complicated? Faith. It's a complicated word. For some...it has great spiritual meaning. For others...it's a bit nebulous. A long time ago, when one of the girls from my youth group got married, I created some counted cross stitch art for her as a wedding gift. I stitched these words from Hebrews 11:1... Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Why in the world was I so enamored with this verse … [Read more...]
We might describe a sunset as magical, but there is something much greater, more life-changing, taking place at that moment for us to embrace with every fiber of our being. From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised. Psalm 113:3 During the winter months, I can see the sun rise and set from my south-facing bedroom window. Through the barren trees silhouetted by glorious shades of gold, orange, and deep pink, I am transported for a few moments to another time and space. My heart enthralled in the majesty of the moment … [Read more...]
The other day as I was driving home from the workshop my phone dinged. It was a notification from one of my partners in crime, er work. Since I don't text and drive, I pulled off the road to read her message and reply. There wasn't anything unusual or special about that text, but as I got back into the lane again I thought, "I love my life!" Yup. You read that right. "I love my life!" If you've been a long time reader or friend, you know that my world was rocked hard and I've spent the last eight years walking through the rubble while trying to find a new … [Read more...]
Has all the craziness of life sent you looking for peace? It's here. Contentment and peace are waiting for you. The sunsets have been stupendous lately not that I've actually seen them. What I have seen of that early setting sun is its blinding reflection bouncing off windows of the downtown condos with screaming shades of deep rich orange and the most brilliant pinks I have ever seen. Swimming in orders to be filled, I only get a glimpse while standing at my worktable in our busy upstairs workshop. Night after night I missed the sunset... until this day. This day we were … [Read more...]
Did you know that there is a special promise waiting for you to be fulfilled when you trust God? Life is full of events for which we have no control. June 3, 2009, is forever indelibly marked in my heart and mind. The few words heard at four o'clock that afternoon changed my life in ways I could never have imagined. Two months earlier, when I was backstage running through a little message I would be sharing with kids at church, I said the words I would be inviting them to say, "I can trust God no matter what." And in my spirit I sensed the Holy Spirit saying to me, "Can you really?" … [Read more...]
It's been one of those days.... extraordinarily warm for October and yet blustery. With ominous gray clouds to the north and south, it appeared the skies would bust open and pelt us with rain at any moment. And if I hadn't pulled my ponytail through the opening in my cap, it would have flown off my head countless times there on the beach. When the winds gust to 37 mph, Lake Michigan throws up some large waves. Just the kind of waves that surfboarders and kite surfers love and which little sandpipers skittering along the waters' edge seem oblivious to... even though they are … [Read more...]
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble. Psalm 46:1 When my friends hurt... I hurt. Today I have friends who have battened down the hatches, filled their bath tubs, and are waiting for Hurricane Irma. Others who escaped to higher ground or other areas to wait. I have another friend who has been betrayed by a person in her life that should always be counted on to be trustworthy. There are the friends who are trying hard to make their marriage work and each day is a struggle. I know people trying to figure out how to rebuild after Harvey. And … [Read more...]
This past week one of my dearest friends, after getting her son off for his freshman year at college, turned around and drove south with her daughter to help her settle into a new home for graduate school. As she was sitting in the hotel lobby, we started to get caught up on the details of these momentous life events when something came up on the TV there and she asked if I knew about the events in Barcelona, Paris, and Charlottesville. Frankly, beyond Charlottesville, I was unaware of the maddening attacks. I had hardly been home all week and mostly absent from social media and news media. My … [Read more...]
I have a special reminder for you today. YOU ARE LOVED! Yes! YOU! If you're feeling unworthy, comparing yourself to someone else, or are feeling rejected today, know... you are loved. If today, you're on top of your game, you're shining brightly, and you're a wonderful blessing to everyone you see... you are loved. You are loved by your Creator... the God of the Universe and he says... "you are mine." Now, this is what the Lord says... “Don’t be afraid, for I will protect you. I call you by name, you are mine. Isaiah 43:1 Sometimes we … [Read more...]
Do you wonder if you have enough faith? You think... "If only I had enough faith... I would have handled the situation differently." OR "Things would have turned out differently." I have a friend whose son innocently got in trouble with the law. It was one of those things where he just didn't think and he offered to help his friends out. The consequences were unimaginable. And all I can think is what is happening to our justice system? For months we have been praying in faith, believing that God would rescue him from what feels like an unjust prosecutor. We believe … [Read more...]
Ever notice that sometimes when you look at the face of someone you're close to, their face is telling? The other day we were at the laundromat when my husband asked me if I was okay. I mumbled something. But I wasn't okay. In addition to internally fussing over the inconvenience of having to schlep my towels, bedding, and clothes to a laundromat (albeit with my dear husband's help), I had a laundry list of items running through my mind which I had allowed to pull my spirit down. I guess it was written across my face. At that moment I knew I needed to … [Read more...]
At one time of another, we ALL face mountains. I belong to a mastermind group. It sounds like a big important group, but in actuality, it's me and two more blogging friends. We share blog goals, we bounce ideas off one another, we give lots of encouragement when it's needed, and best of all, we pray for each other. All of us are either going through or have had some pretty big life challenges and one thing we know for sure... prayer works. It's not uncommon for one of us to be facing a small challenge or a mountain of a challenge and for another one of us to say, "God will … [Read more...]
Just between us... do you sometimes feel like God doesn't care? It's okay... you're not alone. We all feel like that sometimes. As I was preparing to write this post, I had a sense that you needed to be reminded just how very much God cares for you. God. Our big God. The Creator of the universe. The One who had you in His mind's eye before you were even conceived. Yes... that amazing, powerful, just, strong, amazing, faithful, loving, and tender God... He loves you and cares for you intimately. And... Just in case you need further validation... here are some … [Read more...]
My writing chair faces north. Through a wide expanse of windows, I have a beautiful tree top view. And even though I can't see the sun rise from my spot this morning, I do see fingers of golden light reaching... reaching around as gentle wisps of radiant color into my narrow view. From this vantage point, my field of vision is limited. The branches of the tall oaks are silhouetted against the dawn like a line drawing. The intricacy is incredible... but it is only a glimpse of a bigger world. For as far as I can see... beyond the trees... are more trees. Off to the side... … [Read more...]
Here we are the week AFTER Easter and I find myself reflecting on some of the events leading up to Jesus' death and resurrection. I think that's the way it was for Jesus' friends and followers, too. Sometimes we see things in hindsight that were right in front of us but we just didn't see them. Jesus said a lot of things that night of the last supper. If it wasn't enough that he humbled himself to wash his disciples' feet, he also told them about things to come that were unfathomable and challenging even for us to process when we know the whole story. You can read all about it in … [Read more...]
Right now I feel like I'm in the midst of a teaching moment. One where I am the student. It started when I was chatting with my husband about the blog. I have a sense that I need to step up my game. Improve some technical aspects of the website, educate myself on a few areas where I lack expertise, and overall, be more diligent and purposeful in my work. And then I said, "But I don't think God wants me to hustle." There wasn't anything earth-shaking about that conversation or my statements. I'm guessing that when we are in the process of being molded by God, the process is pretty … [Read more...]
