This is personal. I’ve lived the Fridays. I’ve waited through the Saturdays. I’ve felt the hope of Sunday. I bet you have too. I never tire of sharing this note. It’s truth. It’s encouragement. It’s hope. Please read it and then share it with two people you care about. People who need an extra dose of HOPE this week. ❤️❤️❤️ Hi. Scoot your chair a little closer. And if you’re in a comfy armchair and scooting isn‘t an option… lean in. Imagine that I’m talking softly - almost whispering. The kind of whisper a mama uses to soothe her Continue Reading
Personal Note: Red-Letter Days Ahead!
It’s my birthday today—January 1—and there are only 31 more years until I’m 100! I did the math (with a bit of internet help, of course). That’s 11,323 days still waiting to be lived. Days filled with moments to be noticed and savored. A whole bunch of potential red-letter days. Oh, my. When you think about it like that, there are so many good moments, days, and years still ahead. And although I can often skate into optimism pretty quickly, I know there are going to be days it feels more like I’m wearing mukluks, trudging through nine Continue Reading
A Promise for Today
God has something good for you in today. This little community we’ve created here? It’s meant to be a soft place for your spirit. A breath of fresh air. A dose of encouragement when your heart needs it most. And sometimes, encouragement shows up simply as this: an honest nod that life can feel heavy. I wish I could peek into your world today, to understand what your days are holding. Maybe someone you love is hurting, and you’re carrying the weight of it through sleepless nights. Maybe you’re spending more time in a Continue Reading
Psst….Got a Little Something for You!
You were on my mind when I created this. I’ve just finished a brand-new freebie called Reignite Your Spirit: A Jumpstart to Anticipating God’s Goodness, and I wanted you to have it right away … …before the laundry buzzes, the microwave beeps, and your to-do list notices you’ve been ignoring it. Because here’s the deal. Encouragement for your heart and nourishment for your soul matter just as much as anything else on your list. This short, hope-filled guide is for the days when your spirit feels a little sluggish and your to-do Continue Reading
Turning Down the Worry Volume
I have a love / not-so-much love relationship with certain verses in the Bible. I love the ones that remind me God knows my name. That He loves me. That He’s faithful — always. And then there are the others. The ones that gently (or not-so-gently) tug away my perceived right to whine, grumble, and fret. Like Matthew 6:34: …do not worry about tomorrow… Now part of me wishes Matthew had slipped in a little footnote: “Do not worry about tomorrow … unless things are extra messy right now and you're one stubbed toe away from Continue Reading
Healing From Life’s Deepest Hurts
My friend has written a powerful book. One that brings healing, encouragement, and a deep dose of hope. And I want you to know about it. Life’s deepest hurts can lead us to believe that nothing will be right again. That the pain won’t go away, and there’s no more hope. If you’ve ever been there, or if you’re there now, you are not alone. My friend Kim Haar knows all about deep hurts. And she wrote a book about it: In this raw and compassionate book, licensed counselor Kimberly Haar pulls back the curtain on her own devastating Continue Reading
Bologna, Butter, and the Beauty of Ordinary
My sisters and I spent last week walking the beach, lathering up with sunscreen like it was our part-time job, and letting the rhythm of the waves do their slow-down, soul-soothing work. One afternoon, while we were sunk low in our little beach chairs, feet buried in warm sand, sun visors tilted at just the right angle, Julie turned to me and said, “Wouldn't a bologna sandwich taste good right now?” I hadn’t thought about bologna sandwiches in years. But just like that, I was transported back to sitting on a towel spread across Continue Reading
Stuck in Aisle 7
Last week, I wrote about wandering in Aisle 7, remembering that God meets us in our circling, providing for every need. Forty years of tunics and sandals that never wore out in the desert? That’s something. (My favorite sweater barely survives one season without pilling.) Well, maybe you’re still wandering in Aisle 7. Or … perhaps you’ve traded the clingy hangers and fluorescent lights of the clothing section for crowded shelves and squeaky grocery carts. You’re not wandering this time, though. You’re stuck. Parked. Staring at the same Continue Reading
Choose Your Noise Wisely
"If you're allergic to this medication, do not take this medication." (TV ad) “Remove child before folding stroller." (Instructions) "Caution: Hot coffee is hot." (Sign) Good grief. It's scary that we need these messages, isn't it? Somewhere along the line, common sense was apparently set aside. Did you know that we receive between 4,000 - 10,000 advertising messages alone in a single day? That's just mind-boggling! And that's just ads! Then there are emails, social media notifications, text messages, billboards, TV commercials, Continue Reading
It’s Time to Plow
Growing up in a small farming community, my sisters and I knew we had really started to “get older” when dad let us plow the field with his beloved John Deere tractor. Getting the field planted depended on that plowing—turning up the soil and breaking up the weed roots. Timing was everything. Weather-watching was all-consuming. Rainstorms weren’t helpful. You’d work all night if the conditions were right. You couldn’t waste a moment. Plowing brought farming to a whole new level for my sisters and me. We would actually drive the tractor Continue Reading
Finding Hope in “Ugh” Moments
“Mama said there’d be days like this, there’d be days like this, my mama said.” The Shirelles pop group reminded us of this 60+ years ago. Thousands of years ago, Jesus told us the same thing: “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.” (John 16:33) Even though we know that “ugh” days are part of life, they still mess with us, right? This morning I’m working through recent “days like this.” I thought I’d share some of the key promises and perspectives I’m inviting into them, because … You’ve been here too, Continue Reading
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 one standing in the back of the room, Continue Reading
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 reach out to those friends. Remind them that Jesus is right there with Continue Reading
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” Continue Reading
Let’s Be Chin Lifters
I was walking past the graham crackers in the grocery store when the elderly woman in the blue wool coat pushing a grocery cart rushed up to me. “Where are the paper towels?” Her sense of urgency really caught my attention. It came through her voice and her eyes. Panic. Anxiety. Lots of it. “My husband had an ‘accident.’ He’s sitting in the car. He’s so embarrassed. We’re on our way to a quartet reunion and they’re waiting for us.” Oh my. Can’t you just imagine all the emotions her trembling heart was experiencing in those Continue Reading
Show Up. Speak Up.
It was comical to watch. Even now, many years later, I chuckle when I replay those moments in my brain while I remember the excruciating discomfort my sister was experiencing. It's the time when my youngest sister Lori was trying to sell health and cleaning products from the booth at the county fair (better known, very fondly, as the Fertile Fair). The back story: In addition to teaching and farming, mom and dad had a successful direct sales business. Mom really managed the business, and she invited, encouraged, expected my sisters Continue Reading
Get Up and Go!
I am spending two weeks at one of my favorite Happy Places -- the Minnesota State Fair. For a whole bunch of hours every day, I'm part of a small team that responds to all the feedback from fair guests (AKA complaints and kudos). I love it so much. Here's what's capturing my attention when I walk through the fairgrounds: The 300+ acres are filled with women, men, and young adults and kids who had a dream, and decided to go after it. Every day, regular people like you and me haul their products, animals, or food, to give their dream Continue Reading
Hope and Melodramas
I think melodramas were the impetus behind daytime soaps and reality TV. Think about it. Going back a whole lot of years, those stage plays offered what captures our attention today when we peek into the living rooms of families in “real life” situations, right? The emotional scenes, over the top situations, and characters who draw us in with facial expressions and whispers. Intense drama. A plot that doesn’t remotely seem possible. A villain. Heroine. Emotional baggage that needs to be delivered by cargo ship. We desperately long Continue Reading
Wearing My Yellow Boots
Today I choose life. Have you ever had a phrase – words of encouragement from a friend, words from a book, or words that God places on your heart – and you just know that you need to pay attention to them? You can almost feel the message behind the words? That’s how those words felt this morning. Today I choose life. Along with the words came the nudge: live like it then. Live like you’re choosing life. It’s a rainy day here, so when you look out the window you see a lot of gray. And clouds. Nothing too bright. And yet … With Continue Reading
He Knows Where You’re Going
Hey, hi! It’s been an exciting week here. I finished writing my new book and now it’s in the talented hands of the designers! Yippee! I’m excited about this book—the stories, the Bible messages, the encouragement—and am looking forward to telling you more about it. And … writing can be hard! You’ve probably experienced something like this: You’ve stayed focused on a project for a while. Maybe it’s writing, or lots of time cooking, balancing a frustrating checkbook, riding in a car, too many meetings scheduled, or even visiting Continue Reading
It’s Never Too Messy or Too Late
Do you ever wonder if your mess is too big? If relationships are too broken? If it’s too late? Wondering if God could ever transform your heart or change your life? I bet most of us have been there. When my own not-so-good choices and hurts and tough situations threaten my belief that God is still bigger than all of the messes, I remember Peter. Peter. He was passionate. Expressive. Emotional. And at times, a real mess. Not perfect. Not proper. Not the pretty box tied up with a pretty bow who has it all figured out. And he’s Continue Reading
This is Personal for Me
This is personal. I’ve been in the places described below. The Fridays and the Saturdays. That Sunday. And I bet you have too. I’ll never tire of sharing this note. It is truth. Encouraging. It brings hope. Please read it and then share it with two people you care about. People who need an extra dose of HOPE this week. ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ Hi. Scoot your chair a little closer. And if you’re sitting in a comfy arm chair and scooting isn‘t an option, lean in a little closer. Imagine that I’m talking softly - almost whispering. The kind of Continue Reading
Cheerleading and Game Plans
God is good. And life can be hard. A favorite part of my high school years was cheerleading. I loved my school, my friends, the sports, the camaraderie and enthusiasm, and the whole small-town vibe of everybody showing up and cheering for our Climax Vikings hometown team. And … I know this. When life is hard, some cheerleader shouting and jumping up and down while yelling “Let’s go! You’ve got this!” is going to become annoying very quickly. You’ll probably just want to grab her pom poms and cut those little colorful streamers into Continue Reading
God is in This Moment
Where are you today? At home? At work? Shoveling? Walking the beach? Holding the hand of someone you love in the hospital room? In bed, wishing for the energy to get up? Pull in closer … there are some words of encouragement for you here. God is in every moment. Wherever you are, God is there. God is in this moment is a phrase I’m learning to whisper frequently throughout the day. Whether it’s a good moment or a horrible moment, God’s presence never leaves. He is there. I whispered it while I was out walking. Although the Continue Reading
He’s Got You Covered
Ever had one of those moments when life’s issues seem really, really big? Overwhelming, insurmountable, terrifying? And at the same time, you’re feeling really, really small? Unnoticed, insignificant, forgotten? When you’re feeling lost and unimportant, how can you know that God can still find you…that He hasn’t forgotten about you? You remember this. God can handle the BIG stuff … “Ah, Lord God, it is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.” Continue Reading
- 1
- 2
- 3
- …
- 7
- Next Page »