Planning for the 2020 Holidays: Remember What’s Most Important

Today is the first day of fall and already I am planning for the holidays. I’m not one of those people who starts watching Christmas movies in July or has all their gifts wrapped by Labor Day. I am thinking ahead and planning early because our Christmas will look different […]

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What Helps Me When 2020 Kicks My Butt

For me yesterday, for all intents and purposes, was fall. Yep, it’s still warm and sticky here in central Illinois and very, very few trees have started to turn into their magnificent fall wardrobe. But for me the page has turned—two of the kids left Saturday to go back to […]

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Two Questions to Help You Live Purposefully in This Pandemic

During the ongoing pandemic my schedule has been severely pruned. At times it felt like I’m not doing much for God or anyone else. It has taken me quite a while to figure out and adjust to my new normal. Doing life one day at a time was all I […]

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Two Lists that Help Me Find Joy in the Midst of the Negative

This summer I’ve been making two lists. The first list I actually started in the spring. It is a sad list of what I didn’t get to do as a result of the pandemic. The second list I started after I finally accepted the reality of our new normal—at least […]

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Who Else Needs a Little Peace and Joy?

With everything going on in the world lately, I find myself often unsettled and needing God’s peace and comfort more and more. I also find myself wondering where do I go to find it? God has shown me a couple of ways to return to His joy and peace. ~Be […]

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6 Simple Attitudes and Actions to Stay Close with Those You Love When They Choose a Different New Normal

Gene and I went to Lowe’s a couple of weekends ago. It was a mish-mosh of some people wearing masks and others walking around like they had never heard of the coronavirus. This weekend we went to our niece and nephew’s high school graduation party. My sister did a great […]

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Virtual Bible Study–Week 9–Relationships 2.0–When the Rules Are No More

Virtual Bible Study—Relationships 2.0 Week 9 Discussion Guide   Scriptures: 2 Timothy 1:3; 2:7 John 16:33 Deuteronomy 31:8 Psalm 28:7 Isaiah 46:4; 64:4 2 Chronicles 16:9 Romans 8:31 Philippians 2:15   How are you experiencing this bumping into each other in regards to differing beliefs and choices in moving forward […]

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Virtual Bible Study Week 8–God Has Us Every Step of the Way

Virtual Bible Study—Week 8 God will provide. Discussion Guide Scripture: Exodus 16 Isaiah 43:18-19 Philippians 2:14-15   Have you thought of this time as a reset? I know some of you have. How has God reset you or your family or your work or any area of your life for […]

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Virtual Bible Study Week 7–Life Moving Forward

  Rewrite Scripture: Isaiah 43:18-19   While I realize this group was brought together by the virus, let’s do something today other than think about life in it. Let’s talk about life coming out of it. How will we make this time not be a loss but time of gain? […]

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Virtual Bible Study–Week 6–Doing Relationships Well in the Midst of a Pandemic

  The past few weeks have been a challenge in many ways and especially in our relationships. Many of us have lots of time with the same people while desperately missing others. And as such, we have not been the best version of ourselves. We don’t have access to the […]

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