“I’m not so lost to myself that I can’t love and pray for others.” Ouch! I wish I could say that quote was my own, but it’s not. These days I feel like I’m in a perpetual cycle of being “lost to myself”. This is not the same as being selfish. I’m lost because I’m overwhelmed on a daily basis. Piles of all kinds lay in tangible and untangle forms
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A New Thing Springs Up: A New Life and a New Story in Preparation for a Return to Mount Hermon
Last year at this time my life was in a severe upheaval. Since my husband and I had lost our jobs nearly a year earlier, we’d moved twice (locally) and started new jobs. Though we felt more appreciated than at our former employers, the work didn’t pay nearly as well, and the work and commuting demands were taking their toll on us both. Our living situation wasn’t horrible, but it
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Top 10 — #3 Back and Forth of Health, Plus 10 Tips for Partnering with God to Stay Healthy!
Decade at a Glance Over the past decade I’ve learned to care for my own personal health and eventually recovered from severe chronic pain and fatigue as I carefully weighed every choice in order to gain the ability to work full-time. Also, our youngest son acquired severe eczema, which led to me spending most of my free time in the kitchen. Then our oldest son received a diagnosis of Celiac
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TOP 10 — #1 The Back and Forth of Finances
Starting New Rhythms… This morning I woke up late after having a bit of insomnia. In part, I blamed the two cupcakes (sugar, chocolate, gluten and all!) that were leftovers from my granddaughter’s 1st Birthday Party on Sunday. Second, my 17-year-old hadn’t sent me a Snapchat saying he was home from work (our agreement so I don’t wake up at 2am wondering if he made it home safe!) However, after
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The Hidden Fault of Comparing Myself to Myself
How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt, and innocent of great sin. May the words of my mouth and the mediation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. ~Psalms 19:12-14 As part of January 23rd’s
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When the Third One Left the Nest – The Differences Between Sons and Daughters
Maybe it’s because I’m the mom and he’s my son, but I had no idea it would be so hard to watch my boy leave home. After all, his sisters have been on their own for years and they are doing amazing. So, why did the smallest thought of him being on his own bring so many tears? I admit his dad and I haven’t done the best job allowing
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His Reckless Love is Greater Than – Wounds to Wins Sidenote
Accepting the gift of salvation and not bothering to know your Savior is like accepting a beautifully wrapped present and then placing it on a shelf and never discovering the wonderful things inside. A saved life should be a changed life. We either choose to work toward change or we choose to remain as we were. With God’s help our efforts will give us glimpses of Heaven here on Earth
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Exchanging Platitude for Gratitute – The real key to peace in a fallen world
Among debates on gun control and gun rights (after another school shooting this past week), continued hate for President Trump spewing across social media and news outlets that have long forgotten their role to provide us with unbiased and actual “news” — I desire more than anything to focus my mind, time, energy — and mostly my heart — on good things. A week’s reflection of gratitude Here’s my list
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He’s a Just God, but Never Just God
Have you ever thought of why in group prayers, we use the word “just” often? “God, …just work in the life of her, …just give me peace today, …just provide here, …just place your healing hands…” I think it’s mostly just a habit. But have you ever considered how that word automatically sets limits around our prayers and petitions? Did it start with us not wanting to ask too much
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40 Days to Mount Hermon – Fasting and Prayer Week 2
DAY 8 – Friday “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12 Somehow, I woke out of a deep dream in time to get my son to school. Another full day ahead and a birthday on Saturday (my youngest turned 13) – I realized writing time would be minimal. Yet, I was feeling better than ever — really good actually! I was excited and felt confident
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40 Days to Mount Hermon – Fasting and Prayer Week 1
My first week was primarily focused on fasting. Beginning with a 21 day sugar detox and changing up my evening routine to focus on reading and an earlier bedtime. The goal was to purge some bad habits so that my mind and body could be more in tune with God and His guidance in all areas of my life. But the ultimate goal was to eliminate distractions and find a
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Breaking Free of Relationship Killers – Overcoming Apathy for Abundance
Am I really more Apathetic than Active when it comes to healthy relationships? I mostly cried through the entire Sunday sermon at church. Feeling vulnerable and unable to hold back tears, I ended up expressing all my pent up frustrations to the first woman I encountered after the service. I knew I could trust her to simply listen, and was more than willing for her to pray for me after I’d