A Trade Worth Making

February 16, 2015 by

I am not a fan of negotiation. It stresses me out, especially when it comes to exchanging money or goods. Sure, I can negotiate with my husband about our schedules of kid-watching so we can be grown-ups/eatwithtwohands/gotothebathroomalone with the best of ’em. And sometimes I get my Mama negotiation skills out with our tiny human, who, for someone so small, seems to be very well versed in this department.

But most of the time, trying to make a trade just makes me twitch. I either feel like a jerk for demanding too much or like I am about to get the short end of the stick because I will do almost anything to avoid major confrontation. [Read more…]

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Filed Under: faith Tagged With: , , , , ,

Bad things. Good People. Great God.

December 22, 2014 by

In lieu of the holiday season, I am taking a quick breather (for a couple of weeks) from cranking out lots of fresh material. There will still be blogs posted, some new, some reposts. Like this one. I pray it speaks to your heart today!

***

I have heard this phrase in many conversations. I have witnessed it on Facebook statuses. I have even seen it on a billboard.

“Why do bad things happen to good people?”

That is a good question. And a tough one at that. I’m not gonna get all theological on you today (my brain isn’t quite up for that level of discussion) but I think that “Bad things” happen to “Good people” due to sin. [Read more…]

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Filed Under: affirmation, challenge, Christ, cross, death, faith, God, life, pain, promises Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

He Forgave You– Now Forgive Yourself Too.

December 17, 2014 by

You might have noticed that in this current season,  Wednesdays are my days to work toward some super-awesome God-sized dreams. So here is a blast from the past straight from the archives. Enjoy, dear friends… and thanks for the grace. 

***

“If only I hadn’t… I wish I didn’t… Why can’t I go back… It’s all my fault.”

Regrets. Mistakes. We all have ’em. We’ve all made ’em.

So what are we supposed to do?

[Read more…]

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In Ready Position

December 3, 2014 by

You might have noticed that in this current season,  Wednesdays are my days to work toward some super-awesome God-sized dreams. So here is a blast from the past straight from the archives. Enjoy, dear friends… and thanks for the grace. 

***

I never really liked gym class. No offense to any gym teachers out there, but I rarely looked forward to gym, especially during that middle school phase…

Each day when I was down in the musty locker room changing my clothes, my heart would start to pound as I thought about what activity awaited me at the top of the stairs. One of the most dreaded gym sessions of the year? Basketball.

To this day, I still can’t do a lay-up with good form or dribble down the court without “traveling.” It’s not that I didn’t try– I just was never very good. I was THAT kid– you know the one– the kid that always got hit in the face with the ball. (Don’t believe me? I once got my lip split open by a ping pong ball. My face naturally attracted flying objects. It’s science.) [Read more…]

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Clarity in the Chaos

November 26, 2014 by

You might have noticed that in this current season,  Wednesdays are my days to work toward some super-awesome God-sized dreams. So here is a blast from the past straight from the archives. Enjoy, dear friends… and thanks for the grace. 

***

Today I have a little brain teaser for you… What does this mean to you?

DLEKMTRUSTIPWETRTIINWIGNXTHESLEQP
PDRELORDADVCWITHOIWTHIALLSLGMDIW
CYOUR XSAQLKHEARTCRETWMEAMENLSGF

Is it just a random jumble of letters to you? Or were you able to break it down and see something hidden in the chaos? Not sure? Look again… [Read more…]

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Because Jesus Told Me To

November 19, 2014 by

You might have noticed that in this current season,  Wednesdays are my days to work toward some super-awesome God-sized dreams. So here is a blast from the past straight from the archives. Enjoy, dear friends… and thanks for the grace. 

***

People think I am crazy. Hey, sometimes I think I am crazy too. (We have covered this thought in several posts prior to this one.) But sometimes a little crazy is a good thing.

Last week during my quiet time, God led me to the Message version of Philippians 3:13-14. I literally laughed out loud because it reminded me of this ministry.

“I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.” [Read more…]

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Ink Pen in the Dryer

November 12, 2014 by

You might have noticed that in this current season,  Wednesdays are my days to work toward some super-awesome God-sized dreams. So here is a blast from the past straight from the archives. Enjoy, dear friends… and thanks for the grace. 

***

You recognize it immediately.  You feel like you have been sucker punched. Your breath gets cut short. You gasp. Your heart leaps into your throat and your stomach drops. There it is…

The aftermath of… an ink pen in the dryer. [Read more…]

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The Reset Button (#EverydayJesus Link-up)

October 30, 2014 by

Welcome to another week of our Everyday Jesus link-up. Be sure to link-up below this post, comment on your neighbor’s blog and share with your friends… Because Jesus is everywhere, every day! 

***

Do you ever wish we could just hit a reset button and start over?

I do.

Earlier this week, I was having one of “those mornings.”

I thought it was just me… perhaps I was just in a mood. Or better yet, my favorite excuse: hormones.

That morning,  I was easily rattled. Tiny Human woke up at 5:14am. The 12-lb dog found the gate left open by my Beloved hubs and sprinted across the neighborhood, howling like a high-pitched coon dog. He quickly returned when he heard the tone in my voice (and the fact that my quest to never-ever cuss was temporarily abandoned. Don’t worry. It was only one word. I repented.)

Then Tiny Human was squeaking for breakfast and I tripped over the dog as I scramble to appease her.  I was flustered, already sweating and begging God for a reset button.

We had been awake for 14 minutes. [Read more…]

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Peace by Piece

October 29, 2014 by

You might have noticed that in this current season,  Wednesdays are my days to work toward some super-awesome God-sized dreams. So here is a blast from the past straight from the archives. Enjoy, dear friends… and thanks for the grace. 

***

Sometimes you have to be knocked down to get your balance. Or perhaps you need to be broken into pieces before you experience real peace.

I love it when God reveals concepts in a new and fresh way… which is exactly what happened to me last week.

My emotions, fears, hopes, feelings have been all over the board in the last couple of weeks. But during my quiet time last Thursday, God gave me a revelation that literally changed my life.

The amount of peace in your life is directly proportionate to the extent in which you trust God. [Read more…]

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Dive In & Just Keep Swimming

October 22, 2014 by

You might have noticed that in this current season,  Wednesdays are my days to work toward some super-awesome God-sized dreams. So here is a blast from the past straight from the archives. Enjoy, dear friends… and thanks for the grace. 

***

My heart was pounding. The sun was beating down on the back of my neck. My little feet left wet footprints on the warm concrete. I shivered… from the gentle Kansas breeze or nerves, I couldn’t tell. I approached my target. Breath. Step. Breath. Step. Breath. Step.

The higher I climbed, the harder my heart pounded. I reached the top and peered down to the deep blue water. My Mama was looking up at me, her hands shielding her eyes from the sun, watching my every move. I inched slowly to the end of the board. Then I turned around, heading back towards the ladder. [Read more…]

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Filed Under: Courage, perseverance Tagged With: , , , , , ,
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