These prayers and blogs are about letting go of things that weigh us down and keep us from J.O.Y.
When she was little, my daughter had a blanket that she carried with her everywhere. The buttery yellow blanket with her name embroidered on it was a gift from a dear friend. She would hold one corner of the blanket in her right hand as she sucked her thumb. Over time, that corner would become dirty, and lose …
Autumn is by far my favorite time of year. I love everything about it. The cooler temperatures, the spectacular colors that blanket the ridges around my home. Football games, mums, and fall festivals. I love the crispness in the air when I hike or walk; it invigorates me in a way no other season does. I even love wrapping up …
Walk Forward For many, a new year means resolutions. Promises of changes to be made, habits to be broken, behaviors to be embraced. But I look at New Years a little differently. I don’t make resolutions; instead I spend a little time reflecting on the past year and think about my hopes for the new …
For years, I’ve read and listened to people preach and talk about forgiveness. It is a popular topic of sermons and small group studies. According to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible, the word “forgive” is in the Bible 53 times. The concept of grace—unmerited favor—is woven throughout the entirety of Scripture. We know when we …
I am blessed to be writing this week’s blog from the deck of a mountain cabin we are renting in Banner Elk, North Carolina. It is our second year renting this beautiful home and I never tire of the view. No matter how many times I look out at the mountains, God’s majesty always takes …
Last week I shared what I planned to leave behind in 2021. As promised, this week I am sharing the commitments I made to myself for 2022. In Pennsylvania, we observe daylight savings time. That means that every March, we “spring forward” an hour. That’s a euphemism for we lose an hour of sleep but …
Had I started this blog in January, it would have made perfect sense that this is my first post. But plans don’t always work out. God’s timing, however, always does. I think it fitting my first blog is saying good-bye to those things I don’t want to carry into this new chapter of my life. …