Holy Spirit brought a story to my mind recently. It’s one I shared when I consulted with business leaders. It goes like this. “A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top. Rather, it persists in trying to find …
Some of you may know the story of Gideon, or at least the victory of Gideon. He is the first person listed in Hebrews 11, which describes heroes of faith in the Bible. People like Gideon, Joshua, Jacob, Noah, Moses, Rahab and many more. Gideon lived around the 12th Century BC. Gideon was the son of Joash from the tribe …
It is winter in Pennsylvania. One of my favorite things is to sit inside and watch a beautiful snowfall. To see the world transformed right before my eyes. I love going outside in the snow: walking, playing with the dogs, even sledding. I just don’t want to be outside for long during a storm. I’d rather watch from the comfort of …
My normal walking route at home coils and climbs through a rural landscape. The three-mile round trip is one I’ve walked hundreds of times. I could do it with my eyes closed, although not a good idea for obvious reasons. I know every rise and fall, twist and turn. The landscape is familiar. I don’t need to rely on anyone …
It may be obvious if you are a regular follower of Simply J.O.Y. that the last weeks have had too many moments that have been, let’s say, emotional. Or challenging. Or testing. Or just not a lot of fun. I truly believe that I am in a season of growth and learning and that the enemy is desperately trying …
The weather is finally warming up which means I get to do one of my favorite activities – hiking. I am blessed to live in an area with mountains, state parks, and easy access to the Appalachian Trail. So, the opportunities to hike are endless. And, lucky for me, several of my friends and my husband love to …
A year ago this week, I wrote my first blog for Simply J.O.Y. (Jesus Over You). It was a step of faith that was taken in nervous obedience to a calling that had been on my heart for a long time. The enemy worked hard to stop me; burying me in doubt, insecurity, and fear to ensure …
God gives me inspiration from unexpected places and this week’s inspiration came from a dear friend who said, “You need to write a blog about curve balls.” Normally, I wouldn’t be writing a blog with a baseball metaphor because my knowledge about the sport is basic at best. I can’t recognize a fast ball from a curve …
I like to think of myself as a participatory worshipper. I’m the one who can’t stand still during worship. Slow song? I’m swaying. Faster tempo? I’m clapping or bouncing my knees – I’m working up to jumping in place. Often, my hands are raised in various positions as I honor my Lord. Maybe it’s my …
As I write this blog, it is election day. If you are at all like me, one of the biggest benefits of election day is that the nasty, divisive ads will finally be off the television. Your phone will stop ringing with recorded messages from candidates. And your mailbox will be free from glossy flyers …