Only two remained. As I sat on my old antique porch glider, I watched as two hummingbirds fought over the lone feeder, hanging just outside my den window. Just a few days before, I had
Read moreTag: encouragement
Gratitude with Grief
For many that I love and respect, it’s been a year of tragedy and loss. Some of my dearest friends or family find themselves in a deep season of grief as Thanksgiving rolls around. My
Read moreSeven Leadership Lessons from Deborah and Barak
Although Deborah held several roles atypical for a woman in Israel’s patriarchal society, she did not back down from her responsibilities. God called her. She obeyed. Her straightforward response served her and others well throughout
Read morePopcorn at Pirate’s World
A trip to the theme park Pirate’s World was every teenager’s dream. . When in my freshman year of high school, we took a class trip, I was elated—and yes, we were “studying.” I’m not
Read moreDestined To Lead
Prophesied messiah, or prejudged leader? “John. Peter. Paul. Come, follow me.” I imagine Jesus’s smile as he reached out his hand to each man. But, did they drop everything and run to Him? What about
Read moreLife Lessons from a Tough Cookie
“I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10 NLT). “Will you please
Read moreThankfulness and all the Colorful Flavors of Fall
Thankful for all the flavors? While the abundance of fall and my favorite season’s harvest means more to me than picking apples in North Carolina, baking pumpkin pies, or roasting huge turkeys, I smile with
Read moreFall Back, Not Under
Germany and its World War I Allies began the practice on April 30, 1916, to conserve energy and daylight. America soon followed suit. When I was a child, I relished the extra daylight hours Daylight
Read moreWaiting…Not Patiently
I placed the order…and then waited. What else could I do? What I did do was mark my calendar four weeks into the future. I wouldn’t get impatient until then. Since deliveries of most things
Read moreGrace Giver
Elizabeth Keckley was a slave in Missouri before the Civil War. Keckley’s greatest desire was purchasing freedom for herself and her son. Her owner told her that if she could raise $1,200, she could have
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