The Gift of Conflict in Marriage
My husband Tom and I were driving our well-worn path to Wilmington when the revelation came. Irritation is a pivotal part of marriage. I’d keep the thought to myself until I took time to tease it out fully. Frequently irritation shows up when we’re in ...
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Why We Need Heroes
We need heroes. People who've overcome adversity and led meaningful lives are examples for us. Heroes remind us of our potential and inspire us to live exemplary lives regardless of the odds. A few weeks ago, my friend Ellen and I took one of our ...
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My Best Life is God’s Purpose
Dawn One of my oft repeated prayers is, “Lord, show me my purpose.” How can I encourage people and help them on their faith journey? I’d guess most folks want to make a difference in the world. But what does it mean to fulfill my ...
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Making Peace With My Age
I beg, pray for sleep in the gray murky heaviness. In the middle of the night, the good, the positive, the Truth are absent. Intrusive thoughts bombard me. Sixty-eight? Doubts come. What have I done with my life? Shortcomings play on repeat; ways I could’ve ...
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The Essential Practice of Hospitality
I sat in the massage chair and pushed buttons while my pedicure was underway. Thomas is a pro. With his head down, he chatted as if there were no plastic, cloth and linguistic barriers between us. He patiently repeated when I couldn’t hear. “What have ...
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I’m Angry About Our World
"I'm so angry!" My chest pounded and my words were stern. Tom had just informed me that a party we’d planned to attend was cancelled. I’m not an angry person, so I surprised myself with my strong feelings. The occasion was to have been a ...
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Tips for Organizing Your Home
Oh hi there; you don’t recognize me? I’m Myra the organizer, wearing a different cap today while I help you improve your home. I launched a home organizing and staging business in 2003. I continue to work with clients, though not as often since I ...
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Is Jesus a Good Role Model?
We didn't want our vacation to end, so we all met at a par-3 course before we headed back home. The guys played and we girls drove the golf carts with the kids. (I like to call myself girl.) I can't say I was thrilled ...
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How Expectations Can Bring Disappointment
Would you be surprised to hear that my favorite moments from our lovely, cool mountain retreat were spent watching Cat trucks move dirt? Sounds crazy, huh? It might make more sense if I told you our eighteen-month-old grandson sat on my lap and intently watched ...
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How Do Christians Dream Big?
Christian influencers often exhort believers to dream big and go after their passions. Do you ever feel left out or inadequate because you haven’t stated an overarching vision for your life? Do you feel less significant to God or the world if you’re not driven ...
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What to do When You Have the Blues
What do you do when you’re weighed down with heaviness and sadness? I asked myself this question last week. Why was I carrying such weight inside? I suspected a couple of conversations triggered my feelings. One, with my neighbor friends, veered into the topic of ...
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Bread and the Kingdom– the Secret Ingredient
Have you ever opened your front door and been engulfed in a mouth-watering aroma from the oven? I often experienced this as a young girl after school. Mama would bake immense loaves of bread that bulged from their pans, begging to be sliced. Nothing smells ...
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