depression

Awful or Awesome?

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Yesterday at the end of a full and productive week, I was eager for the weekend. You know. Put work on the shelf, get into a book, take a long walk, watch a Hallmark movie. After hours of concentrated work with substantial progress I had that winning feeling. An hour later, I was overcome. The project that every ounce of energy had been poured into has to be reworked, and now instead of three weeks, I have one. There’s a big difference between being overcome and being an overcomer. Looking …

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Joy: Buried Treasure

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It was the night of bright lights and bling. New Years Eve – everywhere we looked there was glitter and sparkle and shine. Every particle of air held excitement and ice melted from sheer energy. There were smiles and hugs and the air was electric with celebration! No matter if 2016 was a good year to hang onto with tenacious enthusiasm or one that we couldn’t wait to vanish into history, the beginning of a new year sparks hope. Parties and celebrations ignite happiness and flame the atmosphere with joy. …

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It all happens between the bookends

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Are you a peace seeker? I already know you said yes. We want peace in the world, peace in our communities, peace in our relationships and peace for our own hearts. But when we’re suffocating under anxiety, there is no peace. Where can we find peace? Here’s a clue. It doesn’t come from within when we are overwhelmed by “What-if” producing anxiety. There’s this verse in Proverbs 12:25  that spells it out pretty clearly: “Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad.” Not …

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Do you ever feel soaked up, wrung out, and run-over tired?

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Last night at approximately 7:30 I said something I rarely say. I’m tired. Well, I didn’t actually say it out loud, but I texted it to my husband who was up north at our cabin while I was at church with a passel of kids. Rarely do I admit that I’m tired, but then it’s rare that I get to that point. Last night was it! It was a God moment. Do you ever have those? Something isn’t right and you recognize it as a symptom of something else, a …

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You are now entering the mission field!

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Can we start over at the gateway to summer?  In June, didn’t we all feel like we were on a mission to enjoy the days of summer?  How successfully did that mission progress? The countdown has begun. Mom’s everywhere are on the fence with this one.  On one side, the return to structure, a time to wake and a time to sleep. On the other side, the return to structure, a time to wake and a time to sleep. See the dilemma?  These days preceding the start of school are …

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What we own

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Have you ever had a blue day… maybe not dark blue, but not the sunny sky blue that lights up the sky and feels like summer. It’s more like the gray blue that’s tinged with sadness and mutes all joy.  It’s not unusual for blue days to slither through places we visit multiple times in a week:  the gas station, grocery, other stores, church, workplace, restaurants and other places where people meet and greet.  It’s common to hear complaints, see people in subtle conflict, or witness unforgiving anger.  After while, …

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It's Today!

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“I hoped and prayed … and it didn’t happen.”  I read those words from a friend and instantly felt the draining emotion of that message. I prayed so hard and nothing.  Anyone who has built up hope, worked toward something, and lived in anticipation of it knows the empty feeling left behind when the result is nothing.  I’ve been there; have you ever felt the unsettled, discontent of unfilled hope.  Even if you are a “glass is more than half full’ person, it feels like the glass has been pierced …

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F.A.I.T.H.

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When you woke up this morning, what was the first thing on your mind? I mean besides hearing the squelch and sizzle of steaming hot water through coffee. Before I opened my eyes today my mind was searching for that word I chose to build my life around for the next 364 days. Yes! I found it!  My #oneword365 is DISCERNMENT.  Reality check! To strengthen muscles and tendons, requires more than obsessive thought. It takes exercise, practice, and nutrition bundled with lots of planning and thought.  To build strength and stamina …

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Excavation of ThanksLiving

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Yesterday was ThanksLiving Day. We can give thanks or we can just make it a way we live – in finding ways to be thankful even when we have to drag in the excavation crew to clear away the shambles and shine a light on fresh perspective. It’s possible, even probable when we have the right tools. Here’s one of them. Ready crew? Have you ever had a decision to make and set up a piece of paper with a line drawn down the center so you could list Pros …

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OK! Everybody Up! Rise and Shine!

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Oh boy! Oh JOY! Oh no! Yes, you read that right. I woke up so early yesterday – not jolted awake because of a storm – not due to a nagging restless feeling – no signs of insomnia – just awake and ready for daylight, that didn’t peek out from under its covers for a couple hours. Good morning, good day, get up and get started … and the result?  It went something like this: OK!  Everybody Up!    Rise and Shine!  Good Morning  to You  Good Morning to You …

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Refining Grace