“'I am the Lord’s servant,' Mary answered. 'May your word to me be fulfilled.' ... and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: '... Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!'” (Luke 1:38.41-44). I once heard a call…
From pandemic health and loss struggles to violence and division, the 2020 year has pummeled us. We face an aftermath of financial struggles, family strain, and despair. Even those who once felt confident may now wonder if we can ever restore our lives. Is there hope for recovery after so…
January has three weeks bulging under her belt. Many of this month's early-date fans now resent her as much as their own waistlines. Unlike the fickle masses, statistics maintain a consistent view of January. She reflects human nature's tendency to launch with the boldest of aspirations only to crash into…
I struggled with motivation at the onset of the New Year. My attempts to launch the year by setting goals or resolutions sputtered. No word for the year came to me, despite regular prayer and meditation. Instead, the questions of "Why?" and "Will my efforts even matter?" needled my thoughts. I…
In our quest to fulfill our purposes as divine warriors, we must slay the inner dragons which stand in the way of our destinies. After embracing true identity as an esteemed member of Christ's special forces, the next steps are to identify and overcome monstrous barriers. Our previous training revealed…
Summer's bloom wilts on the branch-like weeks of our calendar. In the next breath, the season of respite will drift away and wither in the breeze of time. With heavy sighs, we face the next pages of our year. School and work routines loom before us. The angry, red eyes…
The Myth of Purpose and Balance as Opposites Purpose and balance messages scream at us from media platforms, as if the concepts battle to win allegiance to one lifestyle or the other. One camp urges us to do more and thus be more. Get busy and hustle. The opposition insists we…
Work. The word bludgeons many and elicits a groan. We could search for zen jobs, but even the best workplace cannot promise a Utopian experience. Neither a new employer nor entrepreneurship can offer us an escape from the sense of drudgery. Happiness depends on more than the type of work. While we should…
Delight can prove most challenging when we feel stalled. Others seem to be shining in spotlights and joy, while we seem doomed to linger in the shadows. Despite our hopes of fulfillment, we're stuck in the wings watching others beam with happiness. We seem to churn our days in the…
We pour out compassion for lives razed by wildfire. Our hearts crumble for earthquake survivors. Hurricanes whip at our upraised voices from all directions, yet we manage to cry out for those hit by them, too. When violent crimes and local tragedies claim further victims, our weary eyes pour themselves bankrupt…