Posted in growth, hope, pain & suffering, peace, refuge in God, trust, women's ministry, tagged hope, suffering on August 1, 2007 | 1 Comment »
I wrote in yesterday’s entry how some things never die, how old heartaches can take us by surprise and leave us feeling things we haven’t felt, perhaps, in decades.
They can make us feel like we’re walking old paths we thought we’d left behind. The paths may, indeed, be behind us, but their ramifications are not.
Despite [...]
Posted in busyness, direction, growth, priorities, purpose, time management on July 21, 2007 | 5 Comments »
I celebrated my 47th birthday last week.
Birthdays, for me, prompt self-assessment and reflection. Where am I? Where am I headed? Who have I become, and who am I becoming? Who do I want to be? How do I want to live my life.
Now, well into my middle years, I can finally say, “I think I’m [...]
Posted in growth, inner life, pain & suffering, peace, priorities, refuge in God, trust on July 11, 2007 | 1 Comment »
Surrender produces growth.
I wish I could remember that.
I wish I could convince my heart, mind, and soul of the constant truth of that statement.
I wish I could just…let go.
But it’s not that easy. Especially when everything in me screams…
what about me?
what about my interests?
what about my reputation?
what about my pain?
what about my wants, hopes, and [...]
Posted in encouragement, growth, hope, inner life, peace, purpose, refuge in God on July 2, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
I’m not sure why, but I’ve been feeling fragile lately. Emotionally, psychologically, mentally, spiritually, physically — you name it — I’ve been living with this egg-shell sensation of if I get bumped, I just might crack.
God is the potter, I know, and I’m his vessel. And I’m content to be a vessel for common [...]
Posted in attitude, growth, hope, humility, inner life, refuge in God, trust on July 1, 2007 | 1 Comment »
If you’ve read my other blogs, you undoubtedly know we own four Labrador retrievers, the gentlest of which is probably Elsie, our 2.5-year-old yellow female.
Elsie loves to be touched. She needs the assurance of our presence. She relishes the warmth of our nearness. She thrives in a life filled with connection with those who love [...]
Posted in attitude, giggle factor, growth, humility on June 28, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
I captured the photo of this sign (with the owner’s permission, of course) in a broom-makers shop in Tennessee while DH and I were vacationing in the Great Smoky Mountains in April.
Being the Queen of Dumb Mistakes (or often feeling like I am), I just knew it would come in handy. )
And so it [...]
Posted in attitude, distractions, growth, inner life, pain & suffering, refuge in God, value, worth, dignity, women on June 24, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
What lies am I tempted to believe?
What falsehoods or half-truths do I tend to live my life by?
One of our pastors asked that first question in his sermon this morning. I’ve been asking the second in many of my talks and teachings over the past few years.
They’re great questions. Probing questions. Revealing questions.
They [...]
Posted in attitude, busyness, distractions, encouragement, growth, inner life, priorities, time management, value, worth, dignity on June 19, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
How’s that for an attention-getting title? We (in American culture) long for less complexity and greater simplicity in our lives!
I can think of so many ways and times when less is more:
Less humidity = more enjoyment of the weather (it’s really humid and hot here now)
Less stuff = more freedom from things and clutter
Less house [...]
Posted in attitude, encouragement, growth, hope, inner beauty, inner life, peace, priorities, refuge in God, trust, wonder on June 16, 2007 | 2 Comments »
It’s been a rough week somewhere (adapting Alan Jackson’s It’s Five O’clock Somewhere).
It’s been a rough week here, too. For me, on one level, yes, but not nearly as much as it has been for people I love and care about. For some, it’s been the heartbreak of managing difficult life adjustments (kids graduating, for [...]
