Hey, friends. Thank you for stopping by. My writing journey has been a long one, and I'm thankful I stayed on the path where God has taken me. If you are a reader, thank you so much. As an author, I appreciate you more than I can say. If you're a writer and you've been penning words a long time or just a little while, trust God with your journey. He knows what's ahead.
Wednesday, May 24, 2023
No Fear of Bad News
Wednesday, November 9, 2022
Hope from a Thankful Heart
Saturday, October 1, 2022
Anxiety and a Pair of Jeans
Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace
of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts
and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Shopping for jeans raises my anxiety.
After a hot summer, I’m ready for the cool air of autumn.
With the change in temperature comes the need for new jeans, part of my
standard retirement uniform. I’ve worn out the ones I bought a few years ago, so
I gathered my courage (because I need that to try on pants) and went to the
store where I bought my last pair. The bins and racks oozed with denim, but
every pair I looked at either had pre-ripped holes (I’m too old for those) or
buttons instead of a zipper, again, too old. No classic jeans existed. As my
anxiety rose and my frustration with it, my daughter, who came to the store separate
from me, saw me and creeped up on me and scared the beejeebers out of me (of
course we laughed about it—later.)
The whole shopping experience made my anxiety go through the
ceiling. I vowed to wear my thread-bare jeans and forget shopping. Then Kohl’s
dinged my inbox with a 40% off coupon. Could I try one more time? Yes, I did,
and I came home with a pair of classic “mom” jeans and a cute Peanuts t-shirt. I’m
thankful that despite my anxiety, I tried one more time.
I laugh now about the ridiculousness of trying to find a
pair of jeans, but the anxiety I’ve dealt with throughout my life isn’t funny. The
truth is, being anxious leaves me exhausted. I’m so thankful Paul addresses it
in these verses. God understands. He reminds us to stop and pray, ponder on
thankfulness, and He’ll pour peace into our hearts and minds. Without doubt, I
know this to be true.
Full disclosure: I have a medical issue that causes anxiety
and with the help of medicine, I am much better. But I also know that without
God, I’d be in a heap of trouble. My go to is prayer, always. I’m so grateful I
can talk to God about everything, including a frustrating shopping trip. Philippians
4:6-7 is one of the verses I cling to—to get me through life.
Pray first, always.
Wednesday, January 26, 2022
Let Go and Let God
Wednesday, November 10, 2021
Interrupt Anxiety
Saturday, June 26, 2021
Practice Joy While You Wait
Psalm 27:13-14
I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord.
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve gotten better at waiting—sort
of.
As a child, my mom signed me up for the Dr. Suess book club.
I remember being so happy when the wait ended each month, and I had a shiny new
book in my hands. I’m sure I wondered every day if a book would come in the
mail. When my little package would finally arrive, I’d read the books over and
over until the mail carrier delivered the next batch.
As a momma-to-be, I waited for Sara to arrive. The closer to
the due date the more anxious I was to meet my baby. I was the same with Maggie
and Hannah, the waiting was the worst.
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned to take a book to the
doctor’s office, people watch in line at the store, and order with Amazon Prime
(so I don’t have to wait.) But when I’m working on a project—a book
or devotion that’s sent out to be considered for publication, the waiting can
be excruciating.
But I’ve chosen to apply a nugget of wisdom I learned from Michelle
Medlock Adams at a recent virtual conference. She said we can have joy as we
wait, and the joy in waiting stems from knowing God is sovereign, he’s at work
even as I wait. Whatever results from my efforts, God has my best interest in
mind.
To practice joy as I wait isn’t easy. My anxiety peaks and the
what-ifs dance in my mind. But when I focus on God and the joy of being his
child, instead of myself, the waiting is easier.
David, who wrote this psalm, waited. And he reminds me to
take heart and be strong—to find the joy. Gratitude produces joy as I anticipate an
outcome. I’m thankful for the opportunity, grateful for the possibility, and
joy filled because I know God has this.
Saturday, June 19, 2021
The Assurance of God
Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer
and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the
peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your
hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
John 16:33
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this
world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the
world.”
I am the most peaceful—when I’m by the water, listening
to the waves lap.
We spent a couple of days at Lake Erie. I could sit and
listen to the water race to shore and lap back out all day. There is something
about the sound and the motion that covers me with calm. Perhaps the lull or
the push and pull, or maybe the overwhelming feeling that God is in control, and
I don’t need to worry about one little thing—because the crashing waves
remind me of the incredible power of God and his love for us.
As I sat by the lake, on a huge rock at Marblehead State Park,
I closed my eyes and my mind painted a picture of the Father who loves me. I
imagined him reaching over and giving me a hug. At that point, I understood, a
little more, the peace that surpasses my comprehension—the peace I feel in times of
trouble. Only then did I get a glimpse of Jesus’ gift of calm.
In John 16, Jesus preps his disciples, the twelve he chose,
to understand his future. He laid out God’s plan and assured them that whatever
happened to him, he was with God. He revealed to them their future, too. They
would all go to their own homes, their villages, back to their work, and he’d
be with his Father in heaven. Even as Jesus assured these men, who traveled and
taught with him for three years, that they’d experience peace, he reminded them
they’d have trouble.
The presence of trouble doesn’t mean we are without the
assurance of God.
Isn’t that the way of the world? We all experience problems,
obstacles, and doubts. Yet, Jesus offers peace. As his followers, we have the
same assurance as the disciples. A peace planted in our hearts by God.
Seek his peace.
Saturday, April 17, 2021
Anxiety is a Beast
Philippians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
“Life is better when you cry a little, laugh a lot, and
are thankful for everything you’ve got.”
As one who lives with anxiety, I cling to Philippians 4:6.
When I look back over my life, anxiety raised its hand way too
often. In school, I was the kid who wanted to hide when we read aloud in class.
I’d just as soon fade into the brick wall as wait to be called on for the
kickball team. I wasn’t just shy (although I was shy) I was terrified of
attention.
That was my anxiety. The beast has a unique way of manifesting
itself in all of us. Most of us feel anxious in certain situations due to
stress. Some anxiety is normal.
As an adult, my anxiety reared its head as panic attacks. In my
forties, I returned to college to finish my Bachelor’s degree, but I absorbed
more information, at one time, than my brain could handle. To get technical—the
serotonin didn’t hang out long enough for the process. The doctor figured out
the problem and recommended medication. To me the meds are no different than if
I was diabetic and had to take insulin. I need them.
But along with the medication, I have another healer in my pocket.
Prayer. When I seek God’s attention and pour out all that I’m thankful for—the
anxiety dissipates. Yes, I cry and laugh. Laughter is wonderful, tears
sometimes help, but the best antidote for anxiety is gratitude. I can sit and
talk to my heavenly Father about all the wonders of spring. As I observe my
flowers, I say thank you. When I think of my loved ones, I pray thanks. When I
consider Jesus’ sacrifice for me, I bow in appreciation.
God created the science behind the meds which help my anxiety, and
he’s given me joy and peace in place of fear.
Replace anxiety with gratitude.
Click to tweet: Anxiety is a Beast
Wednesday, February 10, 2021
Good Morning!
Thursday, September 10, 2020
Fiction Book Review: Callie (Ladies of Garfield book 1) and Terri (Ladies of Garfield book 2) by Sharon Srock
Book Description:
Callie
She can’t escape the mistakes of her past…
Callie Stillman has done everything she can to bury the memories of a tiny,
baby-sized coffin. She lives life one day at a time, basking in the love of a
good man and doting on her grandchildren. Until she crosses paths with a little
girl who is obviously in trouble—but tries to hide it.
They can’t trust anyone…
Iris and Samantha Evans are living on borrowed time. Deserted, orphaned,
betrayed, and deceived, they need rescuing in the worst way.
He’s praying for a miracle…
Steve Evans had his life changed by God. A reformed drug addict, he’s searching
for the family he abandoned ten years ago…
When Callie can no longer ignore the signs that Iris needs help, her
interference sends four people on a collision course that will force her to
face the past she’d rather forget.
Terri
She’s always longed for more…
Running a thriving daycare keeps Terri Hayes busy. Add a new foster daughter to
the mix and Terri shouldn’t have time to want more—but she does. At
twenty-nine, her biological clock is ticking away. When a busted pipe floods
her home, she finds temporary sanctuary in a basement apartment—one that just
happens to be owned by her long-time crush, single dad Steve Evans.
Is he ready to date again?
Steve is widower, a father of two teenaged girls, and a successful writer. His
life is full, but he wouldn’t mind exploring a romance with Terri. But when
lines of communication get crossed, the budding relationship grounds to a halt.
Two matchmakers to the rescue…
Iris and Samantha Evans want a stepmother and have set their sights on Terri.
Their matchmaking includes equal parts prayer and deception. Will their
scheming result in the wedding of their dreams, or will the harsh confrontation
between Steve and the parents of Terri’s foster child be an obstacle they can’t
overcome?
My
Review:
Sharon Srock writes books with heart. Callie is a woman troubled by an instance
that she thinks was her fault. Iris and Sam need a mentor. In this heartfelt book,
Sharon weaves a beautiful story. Inspirational and entertaining, she takes the
reader on a soul searching journey, with characters who live authentic lives. I
went on to read book 2 in the series,
Terri, where the story continues. I enjoyed Terri's story as much as
Callie's. I loved the threads of faith and hope that ran through both books. If
you enjoy good inspirational fiction, you'll love these. There are more in the
series I hope to read soon. I purchased my own copies of each book. My opinions
are my own.
Saturday, August 8, 2020
Training for the Race

Physical training is valuable.
Godly training looks different for each person.
Just as Tim made a habit of running every day to prepare for the race, we work to make a habit of learning more about Jesus and praying as we run with God.
Saturday, April 18, 2020
The Man Had Enemies
Be merciful to me, my God,
for my enemies are in hot pursuit;
all day long they press their attack.
My adversaries pursue me all day long;
in their pride many are attacking me.
In God, whose word I praise—
in God I trust and am not afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?
Psalm57:1 Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020
Bow Down
Saturday, March 21, 2020
Help for the Anxious

We wait in hope for the Lord;
he is our help and our shield.
In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.
May your unfailing love be with us, Lord,
even as we put our hope in you.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Wednesday, March 18, 2020
Do Not Fret
Saturday, January 18, 2020
Take my Fear
So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Remember being afraid of the dark?
I've had a lot of worries in my life, most of which never happened. -Mark Twain
Saturday, June 22, 2019
Anxiety in the Deep
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

