Familiar butterflies in my stomach took flight the closer I got to the meeting. Tempted to turn around, I forced each step into the room. Why was this so hard? I wanted to be there, but I was meeting someone new and I had no idea how...
When Rosemary and I began the LIFEstory journey, we spent a lot of time talking about what kind of resources would actually help people grow in their faith. We knew we wanted to point others to the hope found in God's promises. And we knew that spending...
The weather had been gorgeous for the past week. After a long winter where the remnants of an ice storm lingered for weeks, spring temperatures had finally arrived, and I could not wait to sit on the porch and enjoy the warmer air. But just as...
The wipers pushed away the raindrops the same way I wiped the tear from my eye. The gray, rainy day mirrored exactly what I felt inside My heart was heavy. I had been replaying a situation over and over in my mind, building a story around it...
I have one cool plant in my yard - a lilac bush planted by a previous owner. Each spring, fragrant pale purple flowers bloom, filling the air with their beautiful scent. I adore this plant. For the past few years, it has faithfully blossomed. I’ve clipped blooms...
As I turned the corner, a familiar shape swooped down to a patch of green grass nearby. Red-chested, with a dark head and bright beak, the robin’s sharp eyes tracked my every step. Each day, he took up this same position as I walked by. I...
Her tiny hand gripped mine as she gingerly stepped forward. Smiling, she turned and looked at me as this new skill took shape. With growing confidence, her steps became steadier as she ventured further. Eventually, her hand let go of mine as she delighted in...
Reaching into the sweetener bowl at a coffee shop, I picked up a packet. The slogan on it read, “Always trust in yourself.” I’m not sure why sugar packets are now dispensing pep talks, but I have to disagree with this one. We cannot trust in ourselves. As followers...
Do any of these sound familiar? "I'm a failure." "I'm a disappointment." "I'm weak." "I'm nothing." Or maybe you hear “I’m all by myself. I’m unlovable. I’m not good enough.” We all have lies we hear in our minds, sometimes on constant replay. These lies are accusations, not from God, but whispers straight...