Last week we identified Camp Robber (Joy Robber) #1: Unrealistic Expectations. This week, Camp Robber #2: Unreasonable Questioning Here’s a situation that came up this week: A restructuring of a retreat at which I’d been asked to speak next…
Last fall when Bay and I took a Sabbath Day and drove up into the mountains, we stopped along the way to picnic. The entire time, we fought off cute-little-birds that tried to steal our food right off the…
This week’s blog looks back at last week’s bible verse of focus: Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but those who plan peace have joy (Proverbs 12:20). I zeroed in more on “personal peace.” Without…
I really dislike conflict. Of.Any.Kind. I’ve spent most of my life avoiding it. It’s been my mindset that conflict is bad, and it’s better to just walk away from engaging in any shade, or color, of discord. This comes…
I had a bit of a joy-jolt this week while contemplating Galatians 5:22 (where Paul lists for us the fruit of the Spirit). I totally get that joy (or any of the Spirit’s fruit) is a Gift of Grace.…
This week I read a blog in which the author described his mind as a junk drawer. I didn’t have to ask, “Really?” I understood. Then, I took a minute to look in my “proverbial junk drawer,” and yes,…
This past weekend I had the honor of speaking at a women’s brunch in West Texas. (Side note that has nothing to do with this blog: there’s a reason there are so many fun windmills spotted along the highways…
The question rolling around in my mind this past week was this: Can I still be filled with joy, and yet embrace the strong emotion of sorrow? It’s a valid question. In today’s world (even in today’s church world),…
It’s Easter Sunday. A favorite day. Meaningful. It’s not my intention to put a wet blanket on this glorious day of declaration that Christ is Risen – INDEED! In fact, it’s my hope that the following little “thought” makes…
This was last week’s #lessononjoy: “In Spite Of…” In spite of my shortcomings. In spite of my failures. In spite of my sin. In spite of my brokenness. In spite of my mess. In spite of my inability to…