If someone whispered to me right now, There has to be more to life, I’d whisper back, You bet there is. If those words feel familiar, know this: You aren’t alone. We’ve all got pillows who’ve heard some version of those whispers. A couple of weeks ago, I spent a day with a group of women in Fond du Lac, WI. We talked about our lives—our hopes, fears, joys, and messes—and how we long to know God more. We want to experience everything he has for us on this side of heaven, embracing the surprises and joy that come from anticipating His 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
Mukluks for our Hearts
Here in Minnesota, we are peaking out from our frosty windows, finally emerging from our frozen tundra. The days of -20 degree weather, wind chill, and treacherous sidewalks are fading. The snow is clearing, and I even saw a guy in the grocery store wearing shorts when we hit +10 degrees. (It seemed a bit extreme.) No matter the season, we Midwesterners are experts at protecting ourselves from the elements. Remember those elementary school days? We’d spend half of recess just getting ready—pulling on pants under our dresses, Continue Reading
Once Upon a Time, She … What?
God, you know me so well. And my goodness, you sure are speaking to me today. I’m listening. That was my silent prayer as I sat in church not long ago, taking in every word and nudge. Because I believe you’ll relate, and maybe even find it helpful in your own faith walk, I’m sharing a few moments from that Sunday. A Theme That Drew Me In It started with the bulletin, carried through our community confession, and continued in a good conversation with Steve after church. The theme for the day? “From now on you will be catching 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
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
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 share anything besides tragedy at the top of the hour?” “Is it Continue Reading
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 forever.” (Exploring the Psalms, John Phillips) Truth so significant Continue Reading
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 forced layover. The next morning, he saw his traveling companions talking Continue Reading
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 we are loved by a Continue Reading
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 and poking fun at our own life Continue Reading
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 mouth—a sight that’s far from presentable! And then. My Continue Reading
Make a Bigger Circle
When there’s not enough room in the circle, we just make a bigger circle. Last week I visited the adorable small town known as Gnometown USA (AKA Dawson, MN). It’s been a long time since I’ve experienced a town that felt so much like a community. After speaking to two groups on Thursday, I got up Friday morning and headed for Gnometown Grounds, the local café, bakery and gift shop. That visit was a gift straight from the heavens. Emma, the café’s owner, was helping me pull together a collection of all-things-gnome that I wanted to Continue Reading
Farming Lessons
I learned it first in farming. Farmers and families coming together when the fields were ready for harvest and the rain was coming tomorrow as sure as the sun would come up. Trucks and combines moving across dusty gravel roads in single file and descending on someone’s farm to help them get their crop in. Then the John Deeres and Massey Fergusons caravanning to the next farm with ears tuned in to weather reports while turning on lights to break through the dusk, and men and women in overalls praying for just a couple more Continue Reading
Today. Change the Ending.
This has got to be the most extreme case of procrastination ever recorded. I mean, really. The “Plague of the Frogs” story in the Bible is almost too much to comprehend (Exodus 8). Check this out… Pharaoh is the new king in Egypt, and he really does not care for God’s people, the Israelites. He’s worried about the growing size of their group and potential strength. So, he “put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor.” (Exodus 1:11) Then Moses is born. (And if you haven’t read this guy’s story in a while, it’s a Continue Reading
We Can Do Something
A few mornings ago, I woke up overwhelmed. Still under the covers, with my eyes barely open, I felt weary and unsettled. My mind was rattled, and anxiety was high. My whole body felt sad. I woke up thinking about people who are going through such extreme tragedy in this season. I’m sure you’re feeling some of the same emotions. Hurricane devastation that is hard to fully imagine for those of us who aren’t experiencing it. People – human beings like you and I who have/had dreams and families and celebrations of joy – in places of war 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
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
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
Let’s Mute the Bullies
I don’t care much for bullies. They make us feel stupid. Wrong. Less-than. Right? We hear and read so much about the bullying that children and young people are experiencing these days, aren’t we? My heart hurts for their tender hearts when simply growing up is hard enough. The bullies that have tried to face me down didn’t show up in my childhood by trying to control the Maypole or the twirly-bird on the school playground. Nor did they show up in high school. I don’t remember one bully in my hometown. I’ve seen bullies in the Continue Reading
Donny Osmond, Words, and Dreams
What a great week! My new book was delivered into the hands of a very smart and gracious editor at 3:30 a.m. Saturday morning. Yippee! And then on Saturday night I dreamt about the book. Of course! My mind couldn’t shut off “all things book!” Here’s a recap of this very unsettling, but typical dream: Donny Osmond created a musical based on my book. (OK. Let’s just pause here for a moment. Really? Donny Osmond? And yes, he was wearing a purple tuxedo.) His music would provide the backdrop for the reading of my words. While I read, Continue Reading
No Distractions
Hey, hi! I’ve got fun news. I’m working on a new book! I’m so excited about this one. It’s due to the editor on Friday. Yikes! Our plan is to have it published by September, so I’ll have it available at my Fall speaking events. Oh, I’m just so excited for you to read it. I’ll share more details once the editor has finished her work. (My brain is full of writing words, writing words, and writing words. But I’m loving it.) In the meantime, would you pray for this book? Pray for the people who will read it – that they will be encouraged 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
- « Previous Page
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- …
- 7
- Next Page »