Seizing Joy Amid Life’s Storms

  One might doubt whether more can be said about storms this week, or even how I could mention the topic of joy. Bleary-eyed newscasters continue to report the current path of a seemingly endless hurricane. The stress of the record-breaking wait for Dorian to relent and move away has exhausted…

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Blessed are Those Who STOP Praying for Backup

  Many faithful churchgoers encourage us to face hard times by saying, "Jesus has your back." We call on the Lord from those crisis moments, admitting we cannot cope alone. We recognize our need for divine intervention when things get tough. When our efforts to get through the struggle have fallen…

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Honor the Shame-Slayer

  Filthy, stained, and weary, I trudged in from the unfinished work in my yard. My strength and supplies had run out. I couldn't go on, and I needed cleansing from head to toe. Shame had once devastated my life in a similar, but far more profound way. I desperately sought…

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When Does a Life Need Re-potting?

  Orchid blooms bowed toward me as I circled the aisle. I selected a tall beauty with gorgeous, snowy blooms. The horticulturalist grinned as she helped me take the plant down from its perch. "This is a good one. See, the flowers haven't all opened yet." As we began the transaction,…

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Faith in the Lonely Places

Less than two months ago, a move ripped me from my comfort zone. Church family, neighbors, and favorite spots disappeared into the horizon as a truck too small to hold our home carried us northward. In just a few hours, the temperature chilled ten degrees. Familiar people and landmarks vanished like…

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5 Keys to Perfect Love

  On a day meant to celebrate the heart, we're encouraged to purchase gifts as the key to true love.  To embrace lovers, family, or to better love ourselves, the media insists we must buy just the right ticket to harmony. Culture gluts our media with advertisements for the best ways…

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Aching as We Wait

As children, we fidgeted through the advent season. Those ribbon-locked packages peeked from under our Christmas trees as if teasing us. Some of us, not to be named, might have failed this test of patience and suffered the consequences. Christmas tests our patience in more serious ways as we mature. The…

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The Secret to Navigating Transitions

Have you ever struggled with transitions and stress? If shifts in life wrack you off balance, you're not alone. Moving from known to unfamiliar challenges us all. Discomfort in times of transition is a normal part of the human experience. We're wired to enjoy our security and feel apprehensive when circumstances…

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