Alive and Active Life

You’ve experienced this, and so have I! You reach to someone in friendship, but there’s no reach back. Most of the time, that’s OK. But sometimes, when your heart is more deeply invested in a person, it’s painful when they don’t want to be a friend back. You just have to accept it. I think there are practical take-aways from this scenario as we consider our relationship with God. Be A Friend Back...

I’m guessing you’ve had at least one time in your life when you felt your relationship with God was good. Maybe not. But for myself, I’ve had several seasons where lots of things shifted, like seasons of the year. Truly, all relationships keep changing. So, it’s reasonable to expect your relationship with God to shift. Is that normal? Good or bad? This content explores how to stay healthy when you...

Easter week is here! As a result, people love to celebrate with joyful traditions, activities, reflections, and food. Since this week is the highest pinnacle of celebration for Jesus followers (perhaps second only to Christmas), we celebrate the amazing, simple reality – we have Jesus! NOTE: there’s a meaningful, FREE, easy-to-use Easter week devotional focus/activity at the bottom of this content...

It’s Not Too Late! SIGN UP for a fun, FREE, brief Easter Devotional Focus/Activity!   Easter Week Devotional Focus “Prepare For Easter” is – – Meaningful!   Brief!   Fun!   Refreshing!   Read or Listen!    FREE!    And it’s not too late to sign up. Starts Monday through Easter Sunday. Because this content is concise, quality material – busy people with full schedules can easily participate. You Ca...

I had my annual visit with my doctor. (Have you had yours?) We sometimes have conversations about long-term health. Apparently, I’m right on target for getting another year older! How about you? At some point this year, you will become another year older. So – Happy Birthday! Although you and I don’t have control over the inevitable aging process – we can make some good decisions.   What Does The...

“Prepare For Easter” Devotional Focus/Activity ! You can prepare your heart for Easter!    SIGN UP  to participate!   “Prepare For Easter” is – – Meaningful!   Brief!   Fun!   Refreshing!   Read or Listen!    FREE! Starts Monday through Easter Sunday. Because this content is concise, quality material – busy people with full schedules can easily participate. You Can Also Listen To This Content Sinc...

Do you have a mentor? When I was younger, I prayed for a mentor. God gave me – not one – but my three mentors. As God often does, He gave them in a much different way than I wanted. Yet, I have come to agree with Him – that His ways are higher than my ways and His thoughts are higher than my thoughts. (Is. 55:9) Interestingly, none of these three people really knew they had become my mentors. What...

I want you to stop and think about a recent crisis moment you’ve had. What happened? A crisis moment is where things change. Your path goes one way – or another. This is the exact moment you decide if you will be a “victim” or “victor!” So, which are you? Victim Or Victor To better understand this content, let’s begin with dictionary definitions for vict im : a person harmed , injured, deceived, c...

What a weird title for today’s content. But I promise – it’s straight out of Scripture! But what does “looking for donkeys” have to do with God’s timing? Sometimes “looking for donkeys” oddly describes life. But that’s not reason enough to designate a full article to it. So, what is reason enough? I’ll give you a clue. It has a lot to do with God’s timing. The Back Story To begin, let’s dive into...

So, did you accomplish your purpose today? Yesterday? Are you on-target with your life purpose? Think back to when you start your day: Before getting out of bed, multi-thoughts fire as you contemplate another new day. Getting dressed, life responsibilities already form in your brain. Downing breakfast, you focus on making progress today. You might jot “to do’s” in your planner so you don’t forget....

  One freezing early morning, I pushed back my curtain to see what the winter storm did to my yard overnight. My eyes struggled to focus in the flood of “sun-on-snow” brightness. Gradually adjusting, I saw something magical. It was like a story book scene. This piece of incredible winter art – in front of my eyes – reminded me – God’s dimension is real and very near. (If you live in an area where...

During the Olympics, relay races are run with a team of superbly trained athletes – and with a baton. In one critical moment, a race is often won or lost. What is that moment? It’s the moment when runners pass the baton . Races are lost or won based on speed, of course. Yet, an accurate baton placement secures the race. This element is drilled again and again by coaches. To pass the baton in a rac...

Have you ever received a gift from someone that became a super special treasure – but the giver didn’t know it, and neither did you? That’s what we’re going to talk about today. I didn’t realized how special a gift I received would be over the years after it was given to me. But to this day, I really like “The Fan!” The Fan Let me tell you the story of the fan. Way back when I was a young adult, s...

I’m not sure what comes to your mind when you ponder the title of this article. I suppose those words are not commonly spoken. In my own history, I can think of times I certainly have behaved. I also recall some times I have not. Hopefully the times I have behaved are becoming my norm as I work hard to know God better. Anyway, I’d like to delve into this unusual statement – “I have behaved.” Did y...

A calm strength! Does that describe you? Although you may not believe me, it can describe you. If I asked you – “does your life have any stress” – what would you answer? Similarly, if you rated yourself on a scale of panic in problems, where would you mark yourself? How would you rate your approach to each day? So, I ask again: do you have calm strength? Since we have lots of questions. let’s begi...

Without any warning, something hits you hard – and you realize it’s challenging to manage a life loss! Sometimes, you feel you’re drowning in sadness . . . cut off from good things . . . observing others’ joy at a distant like a dream . . . wanting so badly for “normal” again . . . just  wanting hope to return. Yet, you still face your loss. So, how do you “turn the corner” in a loss? Turn The Cor...

Have you noticed the talking points of world news recently? Wars, rumors of war, famines, earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, tornados, forest fires, floods, demonstrations in the streets, military muscles flexing, political unrest, various discriminations, mounting deceptions, despair. And more! Wow. What a state our world is in. Is it even possible to contemplate good plans for hope and a future?...

I’ve often thought about well-known people and how they became “famous.” The Queen of England, various presidents, Mother Teresa, Benjamin Franklin, and even Jesus’ mother – Mary. What did they focused on? How did they spent their time? What experiences forged their character? Each person must learn how to become. So, are you becoming you? Becoming You There is no greater privilege and challenge t...

The end of one year morphs into a new one by the simple passing of time. Days slip by all year, but when the passing of days ends one thing and begins another, it is noteworthy . Like dots on a graph that connect to form a line, your life line is formed by connecting dots of days. Therefore, it’s critical to live between the dots in a way that exemplifies the noble character of Jesus. Live Between...

Ready or not – Christmas week is here! Time to enjoy each moment. May I make a suggestion? Take it all in! Your preparations come together in a call. It’s a call for a life response to a beautiful Baby!  This is the fourth and final in a series to prepare your heart for Christmas. Each week we light another candle in our hearts  as a statement of preparation. (Notice each additional week’s article...

Christmas is almost here! Whether you tend to prepare ahead – each week leading to Christmas – or you dare to load all the stress into days before, including shopping on Christmas Eve, it’s time to remember Emmanuel in your hustle and bustle. This is the third in a series to prepare your heart for Christmas. Each week we light another candle in our hearts  as a statement of preparation. (Notice ea...

We’re in a series to help prepare your heart for Christmas. Each week we light another candle in our hearts as a statement of preparation for Christmas. (Notice each additional week’s article in this series has another candle lit in the main featured image.) This is the second article in the series. With Christmas closing in, it’s time to consider your right hand . Right Hand In Advent #1 article...

You prepare for Christmas in so many ways. But how do you prepare your heart? Advent The Christmas Advent Season has been richly celebrated for many years. Historically, an advent marks the arrival of a notable person or event. Often, a wreath with candles has been used during Christmas Advent, lighting a new candle on each of four weeks leading up to Christmas Day. Even if you choose not to use a...

  As I’ve been preparing for a mostly traditional Thanksgiving meal, I’m reminded how much planning and preparation goes into special celebrations we treasure. These are added onto regular, daily activities and responsibilities. So, managing everything during holiday seasons is critical. Additionally, focus on the many reasons to be “thankful while busy” keeps you centered. Thankful While Busy In...

Sometimes I wonder about prayer. How to pray most effectively. Do my prayers make a difference? Similarly, I wonder how to deepen relationship with God. In our physical, visible, daily reality – going after invisible qualities can be hard to define. Do you ever wonder about how to deepen your relationship with God? Or do you wonder about prayer? Do You Wonder About Prayer ? Scripture teaches to ha...