Journal

Here's Never Give Up Hope I pull into the driveway, and I’m undone yet again at seeing my stunning camellia bush. This simple shrub that has weathered many storms, has taught me to hope, even when all seems lost.Almost 16 years ago, I put…

Here's Why am I so ungrateful at Christmas? Nothing highlights my need for gratitude more than Christmas. My expectations are high. It’s my birthday. It’s Jesus’ birthday. And I have spent months shopping for the perfect gifts for…

Here's A Word for the New Year Every January, I select a word to symbolize the new year- what I want to improve, to change, to become. Choosing a word helps me focus. I consider both where I am lacking and where God is stretching me. The…

Here's Finding Joy in the midst of suffering I write and speak primarily about suffering. I didn’t choose this topic- if it were up to me, I’d be an expert on effective parenting, or gourmet cooking, or physical fitness. Or wealth…

Here's When a jackhammer won’t wake your daughter As I enter my daughter's room, her alarm clock is blasting. It sounds like a jackhammer. Literally. I mean all 113 decibels of it. It is louder than a blaring car horn (110 decibels) but not…

Here's Do I Value Sustaining Grace? I walk into Bible study ready to talk about prayer. I’m not sure how honest I want to be. While I know there is inexpressible value in prayer, I've had my own struggles with it, especially when people…

Here's Is Discerning God’s Will as simple as a green light? I’m sitting at a stoplight holding my breath. If the light turns green before I take another breath, I’ll make decision A. If not, I’ll make decision B. If it doesn’t work out the…

Here's What if I throw a party and no one comes? My mom isn’t swayed by numbers.I am.Last week she mentions that people will miss her Bible study because of the snow. I sympathize. It’s hard to prepare a lesson all week only to find out…

Here's Talking Myself Through Suffering I can’t carry my plate to the table.Last month the plate posed no problems. But with post-polio, things can deteriorate rapidly. And they do.The doctors told me this would happen. But at the time, I…

Here's Me? Change the World? (maybe not today) I enter the crowded room and cringe. I’ve made a mistake.But it’s too late to run away.So I take my seat at the front.  I'm a panelist in a Q & A session run by my former MBA program. As…