When my children were very young we lived in the parsonage next to the church. I taught piano lessons in the afternoon and took my kids to a neighborhood babysitter before my students came. One day I was running a little late. I picked up…
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3 Myths About Joy
I’ve got joy like a fountain I’ve got joy like a fountain I’ve got joy like a fountain in my soul. The preschoolers in my music class love to sing this song. And when they do, I have no doubt that they have joy. But…
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The Secret to Finding More Joy
It was a gloomy, dreary Friday. The doorbell rang and a crew of carpet layers entered. Soon my house was in a state of chaos. The noise of old carpet being scraped off and new carpet being nailed down filled the air. Every room was…
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When You Struggle With Enough
When I was a little kid sitting in church listening to the pastor read the Bible, I loved it when Psalm 23 was one of the day’s lessons. I would look up at the big stained glass window of Jesus holding a little lamb. I…
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4 Ways to Have a More Productive (and Meaningful!) Year
Life is hectic and we all look for ways to make our days more productive and meaningful. One way I do this is through careful planning and strategizing. To accomplish this, I often made New Year’s resolutions at the end of each year. As…
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Feeling Overwhelmed? Build in Whitespace
The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of activity. I attended a writers’ retreat in Door County, WI where I walked in the woods, typed on my computer, and laughed and talked with writer friends. Then I visited my mother for a few days,…
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Feeling Overwhelmed? Remember Busy Doesn’t Equal Important
What is the most common answer you hear when you ask, “How are you?” Chances are it is, “Busy!” And usually whoever you ask will follow up that one-word answer with a long recitation of all the work projects, Little League games, dance recitals, church…
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3 Scriptures for Fellow Adrenaline Junkies
Are you an adrenaline junkie? Take this short quiz to find out. True or false: If you answered true to any of those statements, you might be an adrenaline junkie. The more times you said “true,” the greater the likelihood you are “hooked” on the…
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Three Steps to Come Out From Under the Pile of Shoulds
The pile of the things I “should” do is daunting. The “shoulds” overwhelm me. Today I should finish writing a chapter for my new book, finish a project for an organization I’m a part of, clean my disaster of a basement, harvest beans in my…