For God did not send His son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.    John 3:17

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I believe God is always working for our good. So, when I end up in a difficult situation, I always ask myself what sharp edges do I have that need to be smoothed away.

The answer is always in how the issue rubs me the wrong way. If I can identify that, and make the necessary changes, that rubbing always files away my jagged edges.

My, oh my! There has been some serious friction going on in my life! Continue reading →

I was ready to be sought out by those who did not ask, to be found by those who did not seek me. I said, “Here I am, here I am”…     Isaiah 65:1

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As those of you who have been reading my blog since November know, I’ve been struggling with being back at work. For months, I’ve been a disaster and couldn’t see past the mess in front of me.

Now that I’ve settle in, I’m learning that, in any hardship, God always leaves little gifts along the way. The shame is when we don’t life our eyes to see them. Continue reading →

“When someone strikes you on [your] right cheek, turn the other to him as well.”     Matthew 5:39

This scripture passages is a tough one for me. I’m all about keeping things even and balanced. If someone does something kind for me, I don’t rest until I’ve reciprocated. If someone insults me or does me harm, I shake their dust from my shoes and walk away (Matt. 10:14). I’m far more into passages like Luke 6:31, “Do unto others as you would have them do to you.” Continue reading →

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you…”     John 14:27

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We are all in the thick of the end-of-school madness. Every mom out there is overloaded, and overwhelmed. Hanging on by our fingernails, we’re just trying to get through.

We can’t even begin to imagine that God could grant us peace in the midst of this crazy time. But I’ve learned over and over again, never underestimate Him, or His awesome power. Continue reading →

I’m thrilled to announce that I have seven devotions published in the spring edition of These Days devotional. I would like to thank Pastor Mary Lindberg and her team for this amazing  opportunity.

Here is a quick excerpt of one of those devotions:

A Golden Moment

Does not wisdom call, and does not understanding raise her voice?    Proverbs 8:1

My oldest son has become all things “teenager.” As he pushes me further away to establish his independence, I find I’m drawing nearer to God in my dependence.

Recently, the friction from that push and pull lit us both on fire. In the midst of the heated argument, I felt prompted to tell him: “This is new territory for me too! I don’t know how to handle this, and it’s killing me!” Continue reading →

Published on CatholicMom.com

Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, commits sin.        James 4:17

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My nine-year-old daughter, Jocelyn, has hands that get so dry, they crack and bleed. I feel her pain; the same thing happened to me when I was young.

I soon learned to apply lotion to my hands every time I washed them, even when they didn’t seem dry. It eventually became a habit, and the issue no longer exists for me.

I’ve been trying to teach Jocelyn this proactive approach. But when her hands aren’t dry, she thinks it isn’t necessary. Of course, within a matter of days, her hands end up cracked and bleeding once again.

I finally got so frustrated, I found myself saying, “You know the answer. You’re the only one who’s in charge of your choices. If you don’t make the choice to fix it, I can’t help you.” It sounds a bit harsh, but I think it’s the same truth God speaks to us. Continue reading →

I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.    Isaiah 41:10

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There have been a few rough patches for Jocelyn this school year. With some complicated dynamics between her third-grade classmates, unfortunately, she’s gotten caught in the ensuing drama. Continue reading →