One of the greatest gifts I have been given is being taught by my pastor that God means for us to live with joy. I spent a lot of years allowing my disappointment with life to be my focus. To some degree, I behaved as a victim of my circumstances rather than as a victor... Continue Reading →
I’ve been thinking of the words to a hymn: “Trust and obey / For there’s no other way / To be happy in Jesus / But to trust and obey.” Christians should be happy, but the song tells us that we can’t be unless we trust and obey. I’ve been working on the trust part... Continue Reading →
This summer, I have had to learn to ‘let myself off the hook.’ My to-do list constantly exceeds my capacity to accomplish tasks, and I had to make a choice: I could be upset and stressed out about what I wasn’t getting done, or I could find peace with what I was able to do.... Continue Reading →
When writing my last post, I stumbled upon Colossians 3:16-17. Immediately I knew I hadn't found it by accident. I felt like it should be my new motto, that I should memorize it and post it on a wall somewhere. I don’t believe in having a “life verse” because if we are taking in God’s... Continue Reading →
Two thousand twenty-one has arrived, but I’m not happy about it. As much as everyone seems to agree that 2020 was a bad year, the arrival of January 2021 has only filled me with dread. I know that living with fear or dread is not how I am called to live in Christ, “For I... Continue Reading →
This year has felt like one long test of faith. If I were being graded on it, I would certainly fail. You can’t fake God into giving you a D. I know that my faith has grown over the past two decades of life, but I am far from trusting God as I ought to.... Continue Reading →
Just when it felt like life might return to normal, my state’s governor took measures to close down churches and businesses, again. This week, I felt the anxiety and discouragement wash over me. I don’t think that I have ever been so concerned for my community or the future of my country. Uncertainty seems to... Continue Reading →
My family has gone puppy-crazy. If you’ve been following the blog, you know that in February, my parents’ beloved standard poodle, Quigley, died. He was such a joy to the whole extended family, but especially to my parents. A couple of weeks ago, the decision was made that it was time for them to get... Continue Reading →
I spent a lot of my adult life trying to figure out whether my difficulty developing meaningful friendships has to do with my personality or my life situation. I have concluded that there are a lot of complex factors. Add a pandemic, and it is possible that I have never been more annoying and out-of-touch.... Continue Reading →
