Within Tolerance

“Be still my soul, the Lord is on your side” … “In the morning when I rise, give me Jesus.” Hovering between sleep and the first dawn of day, those songs made paths through my memory. To understand, you need the backstory. I don’t drive very often, and never when there’s a hint of poor … Read more

Learning from highlights of the past

I have a rule which I follow pretty diligently. Protect the first hour and last hour of the day – no televised news shows and no talk shows. They plant seeds of negativity that have to be weeded out before the roots take hold. If you’re into gardening you know how pesky those insidious little … Read more

The Serving Leader by Kenneth R. Jennings, John Stahl-Wert – Book Summary

Have you ever read a book that so overwhelmingly captured your heart you didn’t want it to end? That’s how I felt when I came to the end of The Serving Leader. Written in the style of a novel, this book teaches like a textbook that’s so interesting you can’t put it down. Each chapter … Read more

Seeking stillness – finding your quiet place

In the secret, in the quiet place. In the stillness you are there …. That song was playing in my mind as I woke up this morning. “In the secret in the quite hour I wait, only for you because I want to know you more.” Do you have a place where you can be … Read more

The search for significance begins with one puzzle piece.

I’m missing a tradition today. For several years in a row, we spent the night of Christmas rapt in the comfort of friendship, chattering away over good food and catching up on life. The highlight of the evening was dumping a puzzle on the table and working together to create what it was meant to be. … Read more

Wired for Authenticity – book review

Lately I’ve been reading and hearing about authenticity. I don’t mean on occasion or now and then. I mean every day. So when I saw the title of this book I was intrigued. Wired for Authenticity, really? This book is full of lessons on the truth of how to live your life in authenticity. You … Read more

What? Enjoy work?!?! TGIF Right?

Just on the off chance you haven’t noticed, it’s Friday everyone.  OK! Everybody UP! Rise and Shine! Have you heard someone say something like this? I have. Just recently, in fact.  “What do you mean, enjoy my job? Work isn’t supposed to be fun.  That’s why they call it work. Work is what you endure … Read more

Strategic placement of worry in acts of faith

Yesterday I mentioned that we would visit with Joshua today. I sort of copped out on the end of the story of Gideon.  You have to know how it all turned out, before I tell you the really cool story about Joshua.  Gideon had gone from an arm of 32,000 men to 300. God told Gideon … Read more

The Ultimate Comfort Zone

We are a blanket family. I’m literally mesmerized by stores where walls breathe thick towels, floors are spongy with throw rugs, and blankets spill off shelves. Blankets, though, entice me and even though my family laughs at me over it, they are all blanket people too. Walk into my house, it doesn’t have to be … Read more

Refining Grace