Courage Isn’t a Feeling – It’s an Action

Playing piano has always been my thing. Singing? Not so much. (I’m great at finding the harmony, but I’m definitely not solo material.) So, I surprised even myself when I stepped up to pinch-hit with a vocal solo some years back. Traveling with a girls’ choir from an Adult & Teen Challenge center in New York came with its own set of adventures—equal parts chaos, heartwarming moments, and downright fun.  As a staff member, I was one of the van drivers, the performance prep coach, and the

A Prayer for Hurting Hearts

A reminder from my heart to yours: In the chaos, conflict, disasters – when hearts hurt, and the noise and tragedies are overwhelming – we can still find Jesus. I don’t mean this as a cliché or an easy platitude that brushes past the pain; it’s a true and steady reminder that even in the deepest struggles, Jesus is with us. You and I have friends who are hurting. It might be for a million different reasons, but the impact is the same: hearts hurt. So. Let’s

Too Much Blah Blah Blah

A couple weeks ago I shared thoughts about the intense, tough news that is filling our air waves—and our responsibility to balance it with the good news. I’m still thinking about that. I’m reminded of a chapter I wrote in This is Livin’: Learning to Move from Messy Moments to Happy Places. The memory of sitting on a plane, listening to and writing about the overwhelming blah blah blah behind me is still fresh on my mind. And the Aha! lesson it left me with is still

Bring the News

“Tonight. Breaking news as we come on the air.” David Muir begins his ABC World News Tonight broadcast with that same sentence every weeknight. I feel his intensity in my bones, see the piercing focus in his eyes, hear the low hum of danger in his voice, and I can’t decide if I should shut off the TV, or brace for impact. Instead, I’ve just started talking back to him. “Yes, David. Something bad has happened and you’re going to tell us all about it.” “Can you

Capture the Snapshots

A new, colorful notebook seems to whisper, “Fill me with moments and ideas you don’t want to forget”—it’s hard to resist that invitation, isn’t it? There’s something about that cool, smooth feel of a clean sheet of white paper (narrow-ruled, not College-ruled), that sparks joy. Add a few different colors of ink, and those blank pages practically beg to be filled with thoughts, quotes, and memories—a handwritten time capsule waiting to happen. But journaling? It’s never really been my thing. Maybe it’s because the so-called “experts” say

Hope Comes in the Messiness

“This is a good life—my heart is glad, my soul is full of joy, and my body is at rest. Who could want for more? … You direct me on the path that leads to a beautiful life. As I walk with You, the pleasures are never-ending, and I know true joy and contentment.” David originally wrote those words as a personal, private meditation, known to us as Psalm 16:9-11. It became one of his “miktams”—a “golden meditation dealing with truth so significant it should be preserved

The Peace-Bringer’s Gift

Merry Christmas! Please take a minute to follow the link in my P.S. to a favorite Christmas note from a couple years ago. It’s a short essay called “Let Me Be the Person.” May it encourage your heart today! ❤️ “I’d like to teach the world to sing… in perfect harmony…” (Remember that ad jingle / song?) Fun fact here because inquiring minds want to know … That song began as a phrase on a napkin. An ad executive saw airport travelers angry and upset over a

What if you Choose…

An Instagram post by Pastor Derwin Gray, addressed to pastors, stopped me in my tracks. Here’s the quote: “Pastor, Lead like Jesus rose from the dead, preach like the Gospel is true, and pray like God still parts seas.” Oh my. There is power in those words, right?  Even if we aren’t pastors, that prayer can be our invocation as we move into our day. Consider how our daily choices, words and responses would shift! We’d face every conversation, messy moment, and disappointment with hope, knowing that

Embrace Life’s Good Things

Hi there! Just a quick note: If your women’s group is looking for a speaker who shares biblical messages with encouragement, stories, and a touch of humor, I’d love to be considered. Spring events are already popping up so let’s connect! Thanks!  A few moments that filled my heart over the past couple of weeks … My sisters and I spent a weekend celebrating the release of my new book, “Anticipate God’s Goodness: Letters of Encouragement to Ignite Your Spirit.” Most of our time was spent laughing

Why Bother?

Lean in and read some words of encouragement! And don’t miss my question at the end – I’d love to hear from you. Laugh lines and wrinkles? No problem—they’re proof I’ve truly lived. But this chin hair invasion creeping up my cheeks? Never thought I’d need to be plucking the sides of my face! Last week I pulled into the dentist’s parking lot and checked the visor mirror for a quick presentability scan. But then I thought, Why bother? She’s going to be looking straight into my

Meet Gaye

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Consider me a city girl with a Midwest small town heart. I’m not afraid to poke fun at my own mishaps, and I love laughing out loud 'til it hurts! As a speaker, author, blogger, and Chief Encourager, I bring you a breath of fresh air on this journey we call life!

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