Did you know statistics reveal that 75-90% of all doctor visits are for stress-related illnesses? The pressures of life are constantly bearing down on us. We all face needs that can result in anxieties about our health, finances, safety, relationships, the future. While people try many things to bring peace to their lives, Jesus’ words in John 14:27 remain: “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” The peace of Christ is something we must invest in daily through…
Make a Difference in Someone’s Life Today
I was visiting my elderly Dad in the nursing home when out of the blue he said, “You should have won that Spanish award in high school.” I looked at him in stunned silence . . . His words felt like someone trying to pick at the scar and re-open a wound from long ago. “You remember that?” I finally said. “Of course,” he replied. “We all knew you were the top Spanish student senior year, yet I never understood why the award went to someone else.” I could only shake my head in disbelief and smile. If only I’d heard…
Overcoming Anxiety Before Surgery
“You’re not making me want to do this,” I uneasily laughed. The pre-op nurse stood before me reciting a litany of risks of surgery: from possible infection, to cardiac arrest . . . to death. For a split second, fear gripped my heart. This was elective surgery. Do I really want to go through with this? Let’s face it . . . surgery brings anxiety. The uncertainties, the unknowns, the disruption of routines, the fear of pain . . . The hidden things in our hearts that leave us teetering on the brink of fear often surface during this time….
Movie Review: Heaven Bound
Last week at the Montrose Christian Writers Conference, I had the joy of meeting Torry Martin, a faculty member this year. Torry is an award-winning actor, screenwriter, comedian, and author. Tuesday night we had a blast watching his latest movie, Heaven Bound. Not sure what to expect, I was eager to see just how funny this “Christian comedy” really is. I’m here to tell you it did not disappoint! Heaven Bound is laugh-out-loud funny and more! Ted and Josie Hoover are a married couple who seem to have it all. Ted is a top executive at the Mr. Mitzky Organic…
Growing Spiritual Fruit: Part 3
Beautiful butterflies flitted all around me, silently gliding through the air and softly landing on nearby plants and flowers. Not just a few butterflies, mind you, but more than 7,000 butterflies flying freely in a large five-story tropical conservatory. This spring I visited the Butterflies Are Blooming exhibition,[1] featuring more than 40 different species imported from the Far East and Central America. Seeing the kaleidoscope of colors, shapes, and patterns of these delicate creatures, and observing the various stages of their growth was truly breathtaking! …
