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Are you in trouble?
When something happens in life that is unsettling, we are not our best. This blog extends “numbers” to call. For instance we often need support when we are in sorrow, feel betrayed, are anxious, have made a big mistake, feel guilty and scared, or simply wanting God’s help. The READ MORE
Just in case . . .
Many years back, before becoming a chaplain, a friend called saying, “I have end stage carcinoma.” My heart went out to her. Following prayers said for her healing, she assured me, “I want to go.” She was in her 50’s; somehow, I held my tongue. Carol explored various religions, yet READ MORE
A medley of truth for troubled hearts — or frightening thoughts
Difficult times come to all of us. Notice how differently you feel after reading the short passages I have typed below. It is like entering a "different space." There is a reason for that. Please enter a comment below if you would like my thoughts as to why this is READ MORE
Can you relate?
An exasperating experience happened last week while working with an offshore tech about a software problem. Upon calling for help, the cue was looping; I couldn’t get a person. Then upon reaching one, he could not find my account. Forty-five minutes had passed! People talk about “losing their religion. “Rankled, READ MORE
Is this our biggest challenge?
For decades ours has been a “death denial society.” We pretend death isn’t viable for us. It’s “Out of sight, out of mind.” We live on the edge of denial, with death seeming to be something that happens to others. Attending funerals can present elements of inner angst that some READ MORE
A little trip to the ditch . . .
When our son, Ted, was six years old, he was intrigued with the Bible story of Peter walking on water. With childlike faith he headed for the irrigation ditch to give it a try. But born in the space-age Ted knew something about backup systems. He wore his galoshes. When READ MORE
Give yourself a Valentine
There seems to be a powerful inner aversion to loving and appreciating ourselves, at least for many of us. We wrap ourselves up in “Almighty Work” with goals for owning lovely homes, impressive cars, garments of every shape and color. This is all well and good, as long as the READ MORE
On taking time for the “fun” things of life
A “Serendipity” serves to describe an unexpected moment of happiness or felt pleasure. These come, surprising us with laughter, or an uplift. They can easily be missed, as serendipities call for stopping what we are doing to delight in them. Gary and I experienced a surprising happenstance while on vacation READ MORE
The power is ours!
Did you know that positive thinking positively changes the chemistry of our bodies? We learn about this through a field of medicine called psychoneuroimmunology*, an aspect of medicine that deals with what is taking place in the mind, the will, and the emotions of a person. This long word indicates READ MORE
We are all needy when it come to this . . .
Years ago while driving down the road in my vintage wine-colored Monte Carlo—favorite of all my cars—I realized the meaning of “unconditional love.” At the time, I had been married to my husband Gary for 30 years. He is not one who easily says, “I love you.” Yet, he is READ MORE
Faith, like muscle, requires exercise
After 911, Stacey Randall wrote, “A Loving Tribute,” a poem in which Jesus is saying, “I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.” We all remember the stories of how among the few who survived that terrifying time in the stairwell of the North Tower had a sense READ MORE
There is an ‘opium for the people.’
There is an ‘opium for the people’ And, it is not what you think. Life Hurts. Yes, but believe it or not our bodies have built-in properties that help us with the pain. Most of us know something about endorphins and have experienced “endorphin flows” through back rubs, soaking baths, READ MORE
A Medley of Truth
In 1662, Basil Pascal, a French mathematician, physicist, inventor, philosopher, theologian, wrote, “There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of each man which cannot be satisfied by any created thing, but only by God the Creator made known through Jesus Christ.” Forget all you have ever heard about READ MORE
Let’s live in the now—and enjoy the moment
Christmas is over. We have done our scrambling, the hurrying and scurrying for finding those “just right gifts” for each on our lists. Once in a while we hear of someone purchasing a gift for themselves. That’s kosher. But there is usually an embarrassed little laugh that comes with the telling READ MORE
How to handle our anger and fear
Last week, while watching national news the coverage was upsetting. What was shown seemed unbelievable. Even ominous—as I pondered it. I felt helpless while watching our national capitol sieged and under attack on January 6, 2021. I sat praying while feeling numb and rocked back. Then anger and grief were READ MORE
My dream for the New Year
Thoughts of Hazel, one of my heroes, comes to mind. She had her 89th birthday soon after our meeting. Still chewing on life, as if a piece of gristle, Hazel could put many to flight with her questions and ideas. It did not take long to learn the secret of READ MORE
People who have truly lived
You may or may not know who they are . . . average every-day individuals who have traversed through life doing what they can out of love of life, love of God, love of their children—love of others—without concern for gaining recognition. I can’t help but think of my husband, READ MORE
What makes a church vital?
Recently, I read the newsletter of a Phoenix pastor that intrigues, plus brings a chuckle. Ken Page of Orangewood Presbyterian Church in Phoenix writes, “I once asked my Sunday School teacher what heaven would be like, and she replied that ‘Heaven will be a lot like church, but it will READ MORE
“What are you doing for Christmas?”
When a woman asked me that question yesterday I was nonplused. Other than it being a day to savor all kinds of memories, open some packages from loved ones and cherish thoughts of family and friends, we have no other plans. Going “out to eat” is skippable; does not appeal READ MORE
‘All I want for Christmas’ is to stop hurting so much
When the woman who said this told her story I understood. Yes. I could understand her statement of her foremost “want,” but wasn’t ready for what she said next, “Where’s Jesus when we hurt? Her life pain was increased by the pandemic—now Christmas is around the corner. Countless people are READ MORE
Utilizing neglected power
The power to focus is something with which the aging process surely does a dance. In the past, while listening to a televised sermon, a strange thing happened. An overlay of sound came across nearly drowning out the pastor's voice. By some technical blooper, two events were coming across at READ MORE
Election Day survival skills
Scripture describes a time when Jesus is asleep in the boat while the disciples are in a panic. A storm is threatening to capsize them. The disciples called to the Lord saying, “Master, master, we perish.” Jesus arose from sleep and called for all to calm down, putting a stop READ MORE
God – a commander? Or, a loving Father?
No ocean vacations this year. Today, it takes visiting past memories to recall standing at the ocean’s edge watching the sun give its evening salute. One evening come to mind most easily. We were at Cannon Beach, Oregon. Each night of our vacation Gary and I made a beach trek READ MORE
Afraid of dying? (I was)
I had a hard time staying alive between the ages of 13-35. First, I had encephalitis with very high temperatures for days with sleeping sickness. Then at age 18, I started forming blood clots in my legs and abdomen. There were many episodes of these clots breaking loose and travelling READ MORE
Prayer – a wondrous mystery
While attempting to learn more about prayer, I have made a concerted effort to draw from others their perceptions of prayer. I am receiving three types of comments: 1) those claiming prayer to be a challenging yet rewarding experience; 2) those stating prayer to be too intimate a subject for READ MORE
Categories
- afterlife – what's ahead for us
- Aging-Later Years Benefits and Helps
- alive–full of joy
- An Essential Element For Raising a Child
- Anxiety
- Building Faith
- Can God Help Us With Our Losses?
- can I be close to God
- can we trust the Bible to be true
- caring more about others
- communication in marriage
- constipation
- death to bring heaven
- deliverance from alcohol
- deliverance from drugs
- dementia
- Does God Answer Prayer?
- does God care?
- dreams
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- drug addiction – reversed
- Eternity – what will it be like?
- Facing Eternity
- faith
- faith building
- feeling lost
- finding God
- Finding God's blessing
- finding joy in life
- Finding One's True Self
- Forgiveness
- full of life–eternal
- getting more out of life
- global warming
- globl warming
- God is with us everywhere
- God wants to heal us
- guilt
- guilt – is it false guilt?
- Handling Life's Pain
- healing a child's pain
- Healing Emotional Pain and Emotional Growth
- healing false gult
- healing life's pain
- help with grief
- helping others
- Helping our children
- helping the wounded other
- Helping your child
- helping your child communicate
- hope and comfort
- how can I get closer to God
- how can I hope?
- how to be blessed by God
- is Jesus real?
- is Jesus really coming again?
- It's about love
- Jesus' return to earth
- learning from nature
- Learning to Hear God's Voice
- Life Adjustments After Loss
- living the dream
- loneliness
- marriage
- Meaning and Purpose in Life
- Meaning of life
- memory loss
- mental illness
- our presence holds strength
- power of a grandparent's love
- power of grandparents
- prayer
- purpose for living
- purpose in living
- rest for the soul
- school shootings
- see yourself as a flame
- tear help us heal
- trusting God
- Uncategorized
- What does "Good Friday " mean?
- what is ahead for us?
- what is ahead?
- what is truth
- what satisfies one's heart?
- what stopped my smoking
- Why God Made Us
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