Wings of Thanksgiving
There is a scar on the wall of our garage. Few will ever see it, even fewer know its significance. It emerged slowly, like color bleeding through whitewash on the wall of an ancient building. As the wall continues to yield to the gentle impact of a small gate, the scar ... The Bible instructs us to “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thess. 5:16-18) and to trade worry for thanksgiving (Phil. 4:6), but the question is how?! Lent is a symbolic journey toward the Cross. For many today, that journey has become an opportunity to let go of certain foods, activities, or habits that distract us along the path. For others, it is a time to cling to disciplines that give life and draw us closer ... Ever since I was a teenager, I’ve had issues with food. I used food as a means of controlling something when I wasn’t in control of anything. By taking authority over what I put in my mouth (or didn’t) I disassociated myself from that which I could not control – my mother’s illness, ... I was raised in the 1960s during a time of great civil unrest. We were taught to not trust anyone over 30. That works great when you are 19, 20, 21 … but when you approach 31, 40, 50 …. You need a new belief system! Growing older is a party to be enjoyed. Here’s why: My brain and I have a special relationship. Of course we’ve been together a long time so we have grown close. We know each other well. My brain and I are in a constant state of arguing. We fight over every decision that needs making. Trying to decide what to have for dinner can end in an ... My husband and I had the honor of officiating our eldest son’s wedding this summer. After the ceremony, all one hundred guests gathered under an enormous tent in our front yard where tables laden with hundreds of sunflowers and cosmos, heaps of perfectly prepared barbecue, and ice cold root beers ... Jennifer Garner is my new hero. On the Ellen show, she faced rumors concerning her “baby bump” with confidence, poise, and style. Smiling triumphantly, she said, I do [have a bump]… I am not pregnant. I have had three kids and there is a bump. From now on ladies ... “Doing things differently” sounds so much better than change, doesn’t it? Most of us are not fans of change and we often resist it to the bitter end. But, if we take a few steps back and commit to “doing things differently”, it may not seem as painful. We often know that certain things ... Silence does not get much respect these days. We fill every moment with something and then we crave more hours in a day so we can fill those up too. The quiet moments that so many of us long for (in the car or working out if there’s time) are often made more productive or enjoyable with podcasts, ... Robert Greenleaf, in his book, Servant Leadership, tells of twelve ministers and twelve psychiatrists of all faiths who convened for a two-day off-the-record seminar on the word, healing. They asked these questions, “We are all healers, whether we are ministers or doctors. Why are we ... Dear Guilt and Shame, We’re done. I want you out. You’ve lied and manipulated long enough. This is the end. I am tired of being afraid. I’ve spent ten years worrying about what other people think, if they are thinking about me at all. I’m tired of deciding ... In our home, my husband, Gabe, has always been the head chef. This was a big problem for me when we were first married. My cooking skills were limited, at best. Gabe, having grown up in restaurants, waiting tables from the age of eight, working as a short-order cook and sous chef in a variety of environments, ... It’s hard to admit when we’ve done something wrong and hurt another person in the process. Really hard. In fact, it’s easier to point our finger at another source than to own up to our role in the matter. Have you ever noticed this tendency in yourself? You know you’ve got to apologize ...
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Stuck in Cynicism & Stoicism
Do You Want to be Made Whole?
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Hunger Always Wins: Feed Me
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Enjoying Growing Older
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Battling with My Brain
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Entering into God’s Joy Through Celebration
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Giving Up the Normal Life
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Doing Things Differently in the New Year
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Silence Without a Desert
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Selfish Motivation
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A Working Mother’s Manifesto
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It All Started With Bagels
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Why We Need the Courage to Admit When We’re Wrong
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