This is one of the most beautiful prayers I’ve ever read… "You keep us waiting. You, the God of all time, want us to wait for the right time in which to discover who we are, where we must go, who will be with us, and what we must do. So thank you…for the waiting time. You keep us loving. You, the God whose name is love, want us to be like you – To love the loveless and the unlovely and the unlovable; To love without jealousy, or design or threat; And, most difficult of all, to love ourselves. So thank you…for Continue Reading
Facebook and prayers
I've begun using Facebook as part of my daily prayers. A child is in ICU. A grandmother is living her final days. A cousin has been in a tragic accident. Whatever the need, I love seeing how others respond to the posting, “Will you pray?” “Yes...Praying.,..Done…Caring…Right now…” I pray for people I don’t even know…because a friend asked. My friend Jacki manages our church’s prayer list each week. It’s amazing when you think about it. A few dozen people committed to praying for each person on that list. It must make God Continue Reading
Consequences
We can’t hide anything from God. It’s easy to forget that, isn’t it? Every once in awhile I think that if I I mess up and don’t talk to God about it, He won’t find out. That’s just plain silly. Why do we do that? I guess it’s like a little kid who has taken a cookie when his mother said “No.” If he runs and hides behind his bunk bed to eat it, he assumes his mom won’t find out. And then everything will be OK. But God is God. Nothing gets past him. He knows everything. So here’s what I’ve learned… When I have sinned, I need to Continue Reading
Wow. And I thought I have bad days.
I just finished reading the Book of Job. Again…Wow. I whine and complain about a frustration with a client. Or a disappointing comment from a friend. Or a schedule that is interrupted by the unexpected—usually by people. And then I read about Job. “This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil…He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.” Job doesn’t sound like someone who needed to be taught a good lesson. But here is what he dealt with… His oxen and donkeys were attacked and killed by Continue Reading
God has called you by name
This has been a week of asking some pretty big questions! …How am I getting to know God better? …How am I standing in the gap for my Girlfriends and their needs? I am grateful for these questions that God has put on my heart, and… …when I start asking myself these questions, it is easy to feel discouraged. (“Sigh. Shouldn’t I be better / more ‘spiritual’ by now?”) Good grief. We’re always trying to measure up to a standard that “they” set, aren’t we? So today I’m finding encouragement in this verse: “Fear not, for I have Continue Reading
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 Continue Reading
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. Continue Reading
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 head (Matthew 10:30) He knows every single time that a sparrow falls from its nest to the Continue Reading
Help is available!
We want life to be a little easier, right? Well, I know someone who can help! On Fridays, my posting will introduce you to a tool, website, friend, or inspirational resource that will help make your life’s journey a bit easier. Today’s resource is a successful business woman and Girlfriend! Let me introduce you to my friend, Organized Audrey. This is a woman who can help “transform your life, not just your space!” She is all about keeping things simple and organized. The best part? You don’t have to invest big bucks or big chunks Continue Reading
Why do I pray?
Why do I pray? To worship God? To ask for guidance? For healing? To be obedient? To see God’s miracles? To bless others? For my own needs? Yes… And… Jesus says, “Come to me…” (Matthew 11:28) Oswald Chambers, in My Utmost for His Highest (June 11th), writes: “Personal contact with Jesus alters everything. Be stupid enough to come and commit yourself to what he says. The attitude of coming is that the will resolutely lets go of everything and deliberately commits all to Him.” Why do I pray? Because Jesus said, “Come to Continue Reading
I Follow Him
What does it mean to follow Jesus? I’m still discovering how the answer shows up in daily life…life has a way of giving us cues, doesn’t it? We believe we’re on the right track – our heart is right with God – we are living in obedience. And then something hiccups in our mind or our heart…and we know that our “following” has joined hands with “but I still need to take care of some things.” We know that following Jesus is more than reading the Bible and praying, going to church, or even accepting him as our Redeemer, Savior, and Continue Reading
I Will Give you Rest
The months, weeks, and days between July 10, 2003 and April 12, 2005 had an imbalance of sadness and happiness, and weariness and rest for my sisters and me. We experienced dad’s brain hemorrhage, his home-going, mom’s heart attack and strokes, the sale of their home in Climax, and mom’s move to St. Paul, leaving the place they’d lived in for 50+ years. The dates of those events are no longer just squares on a calendar. They represent moments that changed our lives. There were, of course, also times of joy and good things happening Continue Reading
I’m Lost…Now What?
The map was providing the directions. The road signs should have been supporting the map. They weren’t. We were lost. Steve and I were traveling through Iowa, and we weren't where we wanted to be, or where we thought we should be. And because we didn’t know where we were, we weren’t sure how to get back on track! So what do we trust? The map? Signs? Common sense? Each other? After a short, “frustrated” conversation (Oh, you know what I mean!)…we wound our way through the countryside until we reached a familiar Continue Reading
Living and Laughing Out Loud
I love this picture! It reminds me of giggles, laughter, and unbridled joy! It’s the life God wants us to live! How cool is that? What’s keeping you from living and laughing out loud today? Hurts? Disappointments? Worries? Yes, there is darkness in our world…sickness and sadness are realities. And sometimes there are no easy answers. But God came to give us a life of peace, hope, and joy…in the midst of our tougher days. John 10:10 “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (Note that He doesn’t Continue Reading
God, Help My Unbelief
God, I don’t understand random acts of violence. I don’t understand people shooting other people because they disagree. I don’t understand children bullying other children. I don’t understand cancer. These things make me angry. And sad. I know you are Trustworthy. And I know I should and can trust you. Today it is harder to do that. God, please forgive me for my lack of trust. Please forgive me for my unbelief. For those in our country today who lost loved ones in the senseless shooting in Arizona, For Continue Reading
Psalm 23: God is my Shepherd, so Nothing Shall I Want
Today I celebrated the life and legacy of my friend Ann’s mom. Angeline Yelich was loved very much. Her husband, children, and grandchildren shared stories, laughter, and many tears as they reflected on who she was. During the Funeral Mass we sang the 23rd Psalm. The words were a little different from the versions I’m used to, and they were just perfect for the day. Perhaps you are weary, sad, or feeling lost. May these words bring you comfort. God is my shepherd, so nothing shall I want, I rest in the meadows of Continue Reading
Where is God when it Hurts?
Where is God when your heart is breaking? When you’ve been unemployed for 14 months and despair is setting in? When illness has taken over your body and there is no cure? He’s right there. Sitting next to you. Holding your hand. Feeling your pain. God doesn’t leave us when times are tough. Our pain and sadness don’t chase Him away. Nor do they imply that He has left us. Joshua 1:9 “…Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” John 14:27 Continue Reading
From Fear to Faith
It is unfortunate, but true. Fear is a traveling companion for many of us. The fear of losing our job. The fear that someone will discover that we’re not really as good as they think we are. The paralyzing fear of man. Of making mistakes. Of not being good enough. I have been learning a lot from Max Lucado’s book, Fearless: Imagine Your Life without Fear. As Lucado takes us through a journey of the list of fears that might keep us up at night (e.g., the fear of disappointing God, overwhelming challenges, not mattering, and Continue Reading
Meet my Aunt Idelle – She’s Living with Purpose!
“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalms 118:24) She’s 83. She lives in an apartment for senior citizens. She’s got more life than the energizer bunny. Meet my aunt, Idelle (Nornes) Bagne. Nothing is keeping Aunt Idelle from getting the most out of every moment she takes a breath. She’s still serving, teaching, serving, laughing, serving, and helping. Did I say serving? Here’s her weekly schedule: ~~ She volunteers at the hospital for the terminally ill on Monday mornings. ~~ She leads Continue Reading
Honoring our Faith Traditions
Last week my friend and I had a delightful conversation about our faiths. She is preparing for Passover, with all the rituals, dietary commitments, and readings that she and her Jewish family participate in. I am looking forward to Maunday Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday, with their pageantry, emotions, and reminders of God’s faithfulness. There are some differences in our beliefs. But the same core elements—traditions—are included. Our focus is on God the Deliverer. The Word is central to our worship. And we usually share Continue Reading
Making One Good Decision
My intentions are good. My business objectives are clear. Get my three high-value activities taken care of to ensure I’m focusing on the things that matter most. Those things that will move my business forward. And yet, the distractions are endless. Emails are calling my name. The phone is ringing with urgent (not most important) questions. My to-do list spirals in my head like a roller coaster. I’m sprinting on a mental treadmill that’s not getting me anywhere. I know what work to do—the right choice is clear—and yet I keep Continue Reading
God and my Tweets
So everyone is all a-buzz (or all a-tweet?) about Twitter. “You need to get on Twitter!” “Twitter is amazing!” “You need to be on Twitter if you have your own business.” I just keep wondering where I’d find the time to tweet, blog, advise, teach, write, play, read, coach…and, oh yea, talk with my husband! Here’s the other hesitation I have about tweeting: are people really interested in my one sentence comment about my life? The funny thing is, they are. Since I’ve been contemplating moving out of my comfort zone and into Continue Reading
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 6
- 7
- 8
