Relationships. Ugh. I’m certain in the Garden of Eden they were—like everything else—perfect. But in their post-curse condition, I believe they’re the single-most-used character-refining tool in God’s tool chest. Why do we pick the friends we pick? The spouse we choose?
Blue-Collar Praise; White-Knuckle Prayers
I wish I’d kept better records of the doctors I’ve seen and the number of tests run on my various physical symptoms. Until the Spring of 1996, I was as healthy as any young mom—a sniffle or flu bug once or twice a year. But when one particular virus lingered long enough to keep me (the associate pastor’s wife) from …
Making Lemonade
You’ve probably heard the old adage, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” Well, I’m convinced God has a cosmic-sized juicer with a sugarcane sprinkler from the crystal sea. He makes the sweetest lemonade from the most bitter life lemons! We just need to pay attention. I stopped at the produce market last weekend and purchased three items. Watermelons were …
There All Along
Is there a person in your house that always finds the lost item? Everyone else may have looked for the ketchup in the refrigerator and can’t find it—but this person opens the door and snags it from behind the soy sauce. Perhaps you hear, “Honey, I can’t find my black belt!” So you smile, nudge aside your beloved, shove over …
Not the Norm
Do you know what I hate most about moving to a new house? The screwed up schedule for weeks at a time. I like routine; and when we move, my routine is interrupted by packing, phone calls, more packing, loading, more packing, unloading and then unpacking! Argh! Weeks can turn into months before I re-establish a consistent daily schedule, and …
Salvation Shindig
If I host a Tupperware party, will you come? Howsa bout Pampered Chef? Jewelry maybe? Candles, cosmetics, baskets and more; the list of house-party hoopla grows as fast as marketers’ brains can spin. The finance community has begun to employ similar tactics with their informational lunches and dessert meetings. Financial planners often invite a group of folks to watch a …
