“Thy Kingdom come.” It’s a phrase I’ve repeated 1000s of times in the Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:2-4). From personal devotional times to the chorus of prayer in worship services, my lips have uttered these words. Many a time I’ve prayed this prayer at 3:00am when all is quiet but my mind is not. The words comfort…
integrated living
How to Plan a Personal Retreat
Q: The missing piece in many of our lives? A: Chunks of time spent alone with God. Intentional prayer. Many of us have some moments in the mornings for quiet time, a bit of time in the evening, or grab a few minutes in the afternoon when the house is quiet. (SPECIAL offer at…
Emerging out of the Christian Bubble
I don’t remember making the choice to be in the Bubble. I just remember looking up and finding myself reclining comfortably in the Christian bubble. I listened to Christian music, read Christian novels, subscribed to Christian blogs, attended Christian conferences, and wore Christian jewelry. I had become a valuable consumer of all things Christian. Don’t…
Courage
Choose one word to be your theme for the year. My word for 2014 is courage. The dictionary defines courage as the “quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear; bravery.” Why courage?? It’s not likely that I’ll need the courage to face an occupied lion’s…
Top 10 Posts of 2013
Hello, Friends! Here we are at the conclusion of another year. Much has happened…good and bad, the expected and the unexpected, with joy and with sadness. Through it all, I continue to marvel at God’s amazing grace. Even when stumbling and trying to find my way, the Lord is present and His Spirit guides. Thank…
The People in Your World: Decor or Story?
Once upon a time, I shared this plot with parents of teens… “We hope to encourage our sons and daughters to move beyond the ‘decoration’ mindset. Many teens place themselves in the center of universe. Everything revolves around them. Everyone is present to serve their purposes. People, things, places exist as decor in their own…
Complicated Life of Secrets
We are so very complicated. Our lives include secret layers and compartments about which we tell no one. Check out this desk that lots of secrets… What compartments are hidden away in your life? Secrets require much effort to remain hidden. They create a most complicated life! Sometimes we spend so much energy keeping ourselves…
What is your Soul Motive? Live an Integrated Life!
May I invite you to join me on a new journey?? We have a profound spiritual Call upon our lives. It requires an integrated life. It’s found in the gospels: “Love the Lord your God with all of your heart and with all of your soul and with all of your strength and with all of…
How to Find the Perfect Christmas Gifts
Shockingly… I saw #ChristmasWishList on Twitter several times yesterday!! It’s only August! The hairs on the back of my neck rose. My heart started to race… How did Christmas become so stressful? As a follower of Jesus, I long for Christmas to focus on His birth. I love the worship celebrations and fellowship that honor the…
Are you living in compartments?
Integrated living reduces stress and isolation. When we allow one of the “compartments” of life to expand and to become a walled fortress, we create unhealthy isolation. Even church can become a walled fortress. As believers in Jesus, our faith is our core and should motivate our choices and practices. Be sure to look beyond…
