I have noticed this tendency to believe God has abandoned me in the seasons of darkness. When I’m sad, depressed or angry, I think God must be absent, or worse He’s upset with me. It is easy to feel God is only present in the victorious times of joy and celebration. He is the author of victory and strength after …
Celebrating Independence Day
When it comes to Independence Day, most people think of celebrating with picnics and fireworks. Whereas I grew up in a military family, and this day has a deeper meaning for me. When I was young, my father was away for almost a year serving in Vietnam as an Air Force Navigator. My grandfather earned a purple heart during WWII …
Missed Opportunities
As I continue to seek healing and stay in the Lord’s refining process, I have learned not to avoid the fires of conflict. Refining conversations are rarely fun, but they can accelerate growth with life-changing effects. The people in my life who have risked much to be honest and transparent are the relationships I value most. The healing process is …
Are You Blessed?
I was recently in a restaurant when I overheard part of a conversation between three women. I couldn’t tell if they were Christ followers or not, but they were mocking the online posts of a mutual acquaintance who repeatedly said how “blessed” she was. Though their gossip saddened me, I understood their negative reaction to the overused term blessed. When …
Truth About Suffering Avoidance
My newest Son-in-love is from the Netherlands, and I love that he brings a broader perspective to our family discussions. He said something that made me think. He was talking about his plans and said matter-of-factly that he was choosing his suffering. At first, I was confused, but then he explained, that this broken world offers a full buffet of …
Guest Blogger: Stefanie Marek
A precious woman reached out to me and took the risk of sharing her heart and her art with me. I was so touched by her beautiful and poignant words I had to share them with you. So this blog is written by Stephanie Marek. You saw me through a broken lens. Its surface clouded and cracked. Vital pieces missing. …
The Hope of Advent
Every year, it seems the time goes by faster and faster. Another season of gifts, activities, and opportunity. It’s easy for me to get lost in all of this flurry and miss sight of the promise and reflection of advent. Many light candles each week in December as they reflect and remember the long expectations of faithful believers for the …
I Can’t Hear God
I am excited to introduce you to one of my remote facilitators, Marilyn. I love this lady’s transparency and heart for the hurting. I wanted you to hear her through her blog but also introduce you to a great resource. She refers to her devotional called Jewels of Wisdom. If you are like me, your can’t have enough good devotionals. …
How Good is Good Enough?
This concept of “good” keeps coming up. Dealing with wives betrayed by their husband’s sexual brokenness, many women fall into the pit of thinking if they were just good enough, their husband wouldn’t have strayed. The most common lie is, “If I was just prettier, sexier, sweeter, etc. This is a difficult lie to dislodge because we live in a …
Good Intentions, Gone Bad
Amy looked at Kay blinking back tears. “I had no idea you felt that way.” “I didn’t want to hurt your feelings, but I couldn’t let you continue to run over me.” Amy felt her defenses rising up but Kay quickly added, “I know that was not your intention, you are a natural helper. It’s just that you need to …
Illuminate
Illuminate: To light up. This word has been on my mind. Working with women in pain means I spend a lot of time hearing about dark places. My heart has always been to illuminate those places with the heart of God. To give hope where hopelessness reigns and to offer peace in a place of despair. I want to be …
New Year, New Website!
Typically, I jump into the new year exited about a new start and all of the potential that lies ahead. This year began very different as I crawled into 2018 and missed the first week due to the flu. I have yet to feel like I am caught up. Slowly the piles are getting smaller,(comma) and I see much potential …
When Christmas Isn’t Merry
‘Tis just days before Christmas and all through the house is a feeling of loneliness having been betrayed by my spouse. No stockings are hung and the chimney is bare, I am home yet wishing I was any where but there. Every channel is airing some cheery holiday show, If feels like everyone’s going somewhere I can’t go. I try …
Toxic Secrets
Secrets can be a fun way to surprise someone we love. They can be appropriate between close friends or married couples when they build intimacy and deepen the relationship. Like that secret pet name than only two lovebirds share. But then there are secrets intended to hide a shameful act or crime. They are often demanded or coerced because someone …
Trapped in a World Wide Web
Billions of bits of information fly across social media every second. The internet, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Snap Chat, and on and on it goes. Site after site dedicated to “con-necting” people online. On the surface it seems like harmless fun and a great tool when friends and family want to share their lives. After more than ten years, though, …
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