A GPS for 2017
In my busyness the last few months, I’ve not taken time to put papers, receipts, books, cards, and other miscellaneous items in their designated places. This morning, I set out to change that. As I was sorting through the items piled next to my computer, I soon realized that it would take me more than […]
The Last Page and the First Page
This week, I attended a memorial service in which I celebrated the life of a dear friend. Barry died, at what seemed to me, before his time. Yet, who am I to determine when the last page of his life should be written and what it should look like? I’ve determined to trust God in […]
In a Town Called Nazareth
FreeBibleimages Each year during the Christmas season , I like to read the Gospel records of Jesus’ birth. This year, I’ve been reading about Mary and reflecting on the great favor God gave to her–the privilege of giving birth to Jesus Christ, his beloved Son. I’ve been focusing on what it means to have God’s […]
What Does Christmas Mean?
Expectations, cards, and gifts, Wreaths hung upon the door– Is this what Christmas really means? Could there be something more? Fancy cookies, cakes, and breads, Snow-covered brooks and trees– Is this what Christmas is about? What does it mean to me? What does it mean that Jesus came– That God became a man? […]
A Box of Christmas Lemons
Last Saturday John and I purchased a Christmas tree, and Tuesday we received a box of lemons from our friend in California. Our house is filled with the fragrances of pine and lemon! For several years Anne has sent us tree-ripened lemons,; they’re freshly picked from a magnificent tree that sprawls over the fence in her yard. The box […]
Unexpected Gifts Are The Best Kind
Spending time with my daughter and her family took priority over writing a blog post, last week. Laura roasted the Thanksgiving turkey this year; I enjoyed not doing it. Remembering my dietary restrictions, she lovingly bought ingredients for and prepared extra dishes for me, such as a tasty quinoa and sweet potato casserole. That was one of […]
Being “Present” in the Present
Sometimes we become too focused on the “bad” that happened yesterday or the “bad” that what might happen tomorrow. As a consequence, either anger and resentment (about the past) or fear and anxiety (about the future) block our ability to be “present” in the present–in the moments of the day. To be present requires our attention. When our attention is diverted […]
In These Sad and Troubled Days . . .
The election is over. If we have been winners, it is not a time for us to gloat; if we have been losers, it is not a time for us to despair. It’s a time of great challenge. Not only in this country but in the entire world, systems are broken and people are in pain. […]
Retaining Stability in the “Brain Fog” of Anxiety
Although most of the leaves have fallen from the trees in my front yard, most of the leaves on the trees in my back yard, which overlooks the lake, remain. On cloudy days their gold and yellow colors brighten my heart, motivating me to take just one more photo. Such was the case on Tuesday morning, […]
The Two-Step Dance Called “Choosing Grace”
Too much work and not enough play–that was my mother’s diagnosis, one day, when I felt tired, crabby, and depressed. As a adolescent and teenager, I tended to take life very seriously. Whether it was doing school work, helping my dad in the grocery store, or helping my mom in the house, I worked hard at everything. I […]