Take the mercy, accept the help

My friend Kelli is working through significant business issues. My friend Jacki faithfully sends our church family’s “God Answers Knee-Mail” prayer letter each week. My friend Mary is struggling with some very disappointing news. And of course, there are the friends with serious health issues and family needs. In each situation, I have been asked to join these Girlfriends in prayer… And I have. And… I am sensing the need to pray more compassionately, more focused, and more intentionally for these requests. To really step in and

Getting to know him

It took one phone call to know I wanted to get to know Steve better. I made notes after that call—writing down what he was reading (“The Russia House”), his interests (baseball, jazz, philosophy, and books), and what was important to him (his faith, family, and social justice). More notes were made after he picked me up for our first date – his life experiences, lessons learned, friendships that were important to him. My sister’s first impressions were quickly scribbled on a scrap of paper—Steve seemed kind,

My prayer

Dear God, It is way too easy to be a Christian on the “outside,” without living like one on the inside. It can be easy to go through the motions–doing the “right” things, saying the “right” things, while You and I are distant. I know that nothing is more important than my relationship with you. Thank you for reminding me of that this weekend. Please give me the courage to daily pray, “Search me, O God, and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts.

Your own gifted form and sacred soul

Oh, I’m so excited to share this Friday’s “chocolate” (AKA life resource) with you! Parker Palmer’s book, Let Your Life Speak, was a life-changer for me. He reminds me that my life matters. That my life has meaning. Purpose. Read the quoted words below. Think on them.  Accept them. “She did not show up as raw material to be shaped into whatever image the world might want her to take. She arrived with her own gifted form, with the shape of her own sacred soul. Biblical faith

Visiting Dental Heaven

When Jennifer went to work last Friday, she probably thought it would be a regular workday. As a dental hygienist, she would check people’s teeth and get them ready to see the Endodontist. She didn’t know that on this ordinary Friday, she would create an extraordinary Friday for someone else. My mom was having a root canal. And she was anxious and afraid. That combination doesn’t always set up a great environment for the endodontics team! Jennifer greeted mom and helped her into the dental chair. I liked her right away. She

Freedom in Being

So many books. So little time. My books were starting to accumulate in little stacks on my office floor. It was time to send some of them to another home. (Ooftah. It’s like saying good-bye to friends. Who wants to do that?) But something refreshing happened as I forced myself to evaluate which books would garner space on my bookshelves and continue to bring me joy, expand my thinking, or make me laugh. I started to feel lighter. As I looked at my “So sorry, you need

Freedom is not free

Dear God, As I think about this July 4th week, I am so grateful for the men and women who give so much for our personal freedoms. Those who fight for us in places that don’t have swimming pools and picnics and air conditioning. Those who protect our country here in the States. Those who care for our armed forces who are injured. And so many others who have stepped up to serve. I am reminded today that my personal freedoms are mine to enjoy BECAUSE someone

Pray – Work – Trust

It’s Friday. My “chocolate” for today – my resource/reminder for helping you live life more fully and with more fun–comes from a wood sign I saw in the kitchen at Camp Shetek last weekend. Great words to live by! Pray Hard.    Work Hard.    Trust God.  

Hair color changes

I met a really fun and friendly lady named Dorothy at a retreat last weekend. She is enjoying life and celebrating the details! Dorothy was wearing a beautiful cobalt blue blouse. When I complimented her on it, she said, “Well, my hair color changed this month and I had to find something to match it. I usually mix different hair colors, but this month I ran out of all of them. So I just mixed what was left of everything I had. Now my hair color changes

God is BIG

If we are depending on someone to take care of our most important needs, cares, and hurts, we want to make sure they’re up for the task. Right? So let’s take a quick look/reminder at who God is, and why we can trust Him… He made the sea (think about that for a minute!) and his hands formed the land (Psalms 95:5) He decides how many stars will hang in the sky, and calls them by name (Psalms 147:4) He knows how many hairs are on your

Meet Gaye

#5

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!

Would you like a little
inspiration from me every day?
Follow me on Facebook and Instagram to see live videos and posts regularly!

You are Extraordinarily Significant!