I knew today was going to be a tough one. I needed my full armor of God, all the Fruit of the Spirit, and a guard over my mouth. I had prayed for every crevice to be filled with the Holy Spirit; for the Holy Spirit to lead me, embolden me, and hush me if necessary. So, I dug into God’s Word.

Last week I wrote about that old saying, “Don’t let your talent write a check your character can’t cash.” I thought I was probably finished with it, but I’ve kept thinking about it this week, especially as I’ve thought about my own years in ministry and some of the conversations I now get to have with leaders.

Renowned advice columnist Ann Landers is said to have received some 10,000 letters per month. When asked about the most common problem in her readers’ lives, she answered, “The one problem above all others seems to be fear. People are afraid of losing their health, their wealth, and their loved ones. People are afraid of life itself.”

Why are we on earth? Why do we exist? What are we doing here? These are questions that people often ask. So many have rejected the very idea of God that they have absolutely no idea of the answers to these questions.

The story of Jericho in Joshua 6 is familiar. Yet, no matter how many times we have heard it, when we slip our feet into the sandals of the Israelites, we can learn something new. Our age and our situation can lend a new perspective on following God when it doesn’t make sense.

I don't know about you, but there is just something special about watching your children and grandchildren do something they love. In the last few days, we have watched one granddaughter play in a softball tournament and another granddaughter's chorus concert. They both love their respective activities, and you can tell it by the enthusiasm and joy while they are performing.

William Arthur Ward said, “Curiosity is the wick in the candle of learning.” If you want to learn something new, then ask questions, right?

Have you done the single most important thing you can ever do on this earth? Have you trusted your immortal soul to Christ for His salvation? What act could possibly compare in importance to securing heaven for your soul?

Sometimes my best ideas come after the fact. My genius thoughts for articles, crafts, or gifts come after the holiday or occasion has passed.

Have you ever had your heart hurt? I'm not talking about a medical hurt, but an emotional hurt. One of the hardest things for me to navigate, and even understand, is emotional hurt.

Dr. M. Scott Peck, psychiatrist, said, “Alcoholism is a genetic, inherited disorder.” I believe he was right. When I taught nursing students, I would sometimes poll my students as to how many had at least one alcoholic in their families. Every hand would invariably be raised.

Romans 8:28 faithfully reminds us that God will work all things together for good for those who love Him. Not some things. All things. The good, the bad, and even the hard things.

I don't know about you, but it is so hard for me to get motivated when I am struggling. I almost feel like I don't even know where to start - even the smallest tasks. It seems I go through seasons when struggles can make me feel like I can't hear God, so I question everything.

Have you ever heard the saying "you have the weight of the world on your shoulders?" Lately I have not felt like I have the weight of the world, but I have felt like I have the weight of my personal world on my heart. I have really struggled the last month or so with my emotions and feelings

Psychiatrist, Dr. M. Scott Peck, said, “We live in a profoundly mysterious universe.” Wise people know the truth of this statement. Foolish people think they know a great deal. They do not.

In 2025, our pastor (my beloved) encouraged our whole church to do something big for God in 2026. He is quite a dreamer, so I had no idea how deep, wide, near, or far that would be. He prayed for direction. I prayed for him to be directed.

Some of you are probably not old enough to remember Paul Harvey. He was a famous radio broadcaster and commentator. I can remember hearing him on the radio and seeing him on the news. He always signed off the same way: "And now you know...the rest of the story."

By the time you read this, my beloved and I will be back in the Lower 48 or maybe even our treasured Bluegrass. We have been in Tok, Alaska for two weeks on a mission/vision trip. As we prepped for our trip, I asked the Lord to speak to me along the way. Boy, He did! It started at security in the airport.

Have you ever had those moments where you just KNEW God placed the right person, at the right time, in your path?

Eating a bagel this morning, I pondered how many times Jesus, gave, broke, and shared bread. 

The Apostle Paul told his Philippian friends, “He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:6). This means that God is working in the lives of all His children (Christians), though we often fail to recognize it, especially when it involves adversity.

With scissors in hand, I stared in the mirror. My bangs had been driving me crazy for too long.

Do you ever feel like you are on the clock? It seems like there is a time for everything in our day. We set an alarm for a time to get up. We have a time for breakfast, school or work start times, quitting time, bedtime, and my list could go on and on.

My sister, Teri, is like medicine – a balm for the soul. I needed a good dose, so I threw my toothbrush and pajamas in a bag, then headed 252 miles to Bowling Green for a day. Totally worth it. There’s a long time of hugging when we get together. Then we start talking as fast as we can to catch up.

Last week was one of my granddaughters' birthdays. She asked for a "blob" kit, which I purchased. It is basically just what it says - a blob of clay to transform as you see fit.