time

Convenient is no match for Compassion

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The phone rings and I hesitate as caller ID flashes into view. I don’t have to press ‘answer’. I already know the question. My eyes wander back to the screen where the half-written email waits patiently for the return of my attention. Reaching for the phone now. “This isn’t a convenient time,” I thought. “Say, no. You have to say no.” There’s a laundry hamper brimming with active wear – after all we are busy people. And our fridge is stocked well for a feast, as long as it’s made …

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15 minutes is nothing . . . or everything

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Sometime around 4:00 am I woke up and realized I hadn’t heard my opportunity clock that goes off at 3:43. Oh no. 15 minutes of my morning routine lost! And I can’t get it back. But it’s only 15 minutes … that made me think about what can happen in 15 minutes. I live in Michigan. What do they say about weather in Michigan? “If you don’t like the weather, wait 15 minutes.  It will change.” When we’re trying to lose weight, what does the nutritionist say about gauging hunger? …

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Every strand makes a difference

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A few days ago, I asked, “Ever have a day when everything went right?” And of course we all agreed, that hardly ever happens. So we get infatuated with the days when things settle down to a productive hum. I was in that zone awhile back, a feeling all sorts of confident, I tackled some long overdue reorganizing and detailing. I should have listened to that tiny voice in my ear, but I didn’t. I decided it was time to move the little TV Tyler used to have his video …

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The 3 Gaps by Hyrum Smith – Book Summary

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When I picked up this book and began reading, I learned, within two pages, something I had never thought of before. Ask anyone what their long term goals are and, almost always, one of them will be, to make a difference. What I found out in the first few pages of this book, is that we make a difference by not giving up; by refusing to quit. Regardless of current conditions, tragedies of the past, or skepticism of the future, Hyrum Smith writes with convincing clarity, that we can have …

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When God says the timing is right . . . and then it happens

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We’ve been through two weeks of advent readings now.  I hope you’ve enjoyed the tour so far. One thing that’s caught my attention over the last 14 days is the travel back and forth between the Old Testament and the New Testament and making connections between what was promised and what was fulfilled. Did any of you find that fascinating? The theme this week is appropriately, hope. When I am immersed in the truths of scripture, I am continually assured that what God promised thousands of years in advance, will …

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Today I am thankful for the gift of time

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I know. We hear all these trite clichés about time, don’t we? “You have all the time in the world.” or “Time is fleeting.” or “Take your time.” or “On your death bed you will never wish you’d spent more time at the office.” Benjamin Franklin said “Lost time is never found again.” What do we believe about time? Do we really believe that time is a non-renewable resource? There are 86,400 seconds in a day. I find it curious that I remember that fact, when I’ve forgotten so many …

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F-A-I-T-H

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Yesterday I posted some thoughts on change. Not to get stuck on a topic, but change is so pervasive, so let’s visit it again – then move on to something else. Sometimes change is exciting! Anticipation of shifting what is happening now to make room for something new can be enticing and motivating. A chapter closes, a chapter with an unknown plot opens.  Or maybe change is scary! What if I this new ‘thing’ isn’t what I expected? What if it doesn’t work out? What am I going to do if I can’t find my …

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Encourage or Inspire?

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OK everybody up! Rise and shine! Good Morning ♪♫•*¨ To You ¸•♫¸.•.¸ Have you ever thought about our English language and wondered why we have so many words that mean the same thing but sometimes aren’t used interchangeably? Have you seen a thesaurus? OK – so maybe I’m the only one who wakes up in the morning wondering about the difference between encouragement and inspiration. OK … I hear you already. What got me started on that? Someone wrote to me yesterday, “I’ve noticed you are an encourager. Does anyone …

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The Promise

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Whoa! Has anyone else noticed the extreme number of last minute offers flooding your inbox? Many of them appeal to my sense of pride an ambition promising that if I sign up with them, all my plans will succeed. The tug is there. Who doesn’t want to be successful? Who isn’t on a mission to make this month better than last month? Answer:  We all want that, of course we do.  But here’s a shocker – reading a book and buying into one more program isn’t the answer. I’m speaking …

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Where does the time go?

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I’m a Facebook Fan, in fact, I’m a social media fan and it doesn’t matter if it’s a popular service or obscure.  I probably have an account there. Admittedly there are many flaws in social media; there’s the good, the great, and the ugly, but it’s the same with everything else.  I prefer to use social media for all the good qualities it adds to our world. Social media is thousands of years old. When Moses carved the 10 commandments in stone, it was a medium of that time, but …

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Refining Grace