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Encouragement for every season of lifeMessy Hospitality
"I'M SO ANGRY AT YOU"! My son's yell echoed up from the lower level and bounced around the walls of the living room. My husband and I shared a glance before he made a beeline for the stairs and the gaggle of kids downstairs while I glanced around the adults gathered...
Confident to Lead
Do you lack confidence to lead? It is normal to have feelings of inadequacy, concerns of competence, and worries about overcommitting when contemplating a leadership role. Fear is the basis for these concerns, feelings, and thoughts. Although you know that fear is...
Wooden Mary and the Eighty-Eight Gifts
Every year I say I’m going to get my Christmas shopping done before December. This year, for the first time, I actually bought a few gifts before Thanksgiving. But here it is almost Christmas, and I still sit at my computer, searching Amazon for the perfect gift for a...
Bye-Bye Bah Humbug
You remember Ebenezer Scrooge, the famous character in Charles Dicken's classic novel, "A Christmas Carol", right? His most famous line about celebrating Christmas was, "Bah, Humbug!" In other words, he was so busy working and making money that he simply didn't have...
Quick and Easy Crowd-Pleasing Appetizers
It’s almost Christmas, and New Year’s Eve is right around the corner. Perhaps there’s a party coming up to which you’ve been asked to bring an appetizer to share. It’s possible you are a bit worn out from all the fa la la, so what can you make that’s quick and easy...
Speaking Life
At a recent conference, a woman I admire stated that she had fasted from speaking negatively about anyone for several weeks. As she was talking, I felt Jesus nudge me and say, “How about your taking up this challenge?” This really terrified me. I often worry about...
The Great Coffee Charade
According to a recent Gallup poll, 64% of Americans drink coffee. That may be true for most of America, but in my little corner of the world I’d say it’s closer to 95%. Actually, I’m not sure I have ANY friends who don’t drink coffee. Personally, I love the whole...
Unexpected Christmas Savings
Back in the days when I was still a classroom teacher, my fellow educators used to give me a lot of good-natured ribbing over my choice to eat school lunch a couple days a week. My laughing rebuke reminded all present I was a college coach’s daughter and sometimes hot...
My Husband’s Ministry
After praying about an opportunity, my first instinct was to text or call some of my dear, insightful lady friends about a decision in seeking this additional fit in my life. But in my spirit, I felt a halt. “Talk to your husband; ask his opinion and seek his...
When Words Hurt
Sometimes words hurt – even though the intent is the exact opposite. I found myself in a situation recently, where someone I look up to corrected me – at church, right before worship. While they did it in a loving way, and I thanked them for the feedback and said I...
