To what greater inspiration and counsel can we turn than to the imperishable truth to be found in this treasure house, the Bible?Queen Elizabeth II In our last post, we looked at five lessons gleaned from the life of Queen Elizabeth, based on Bryan Kozlowski’s book, Long Live the Queen! and article “Life Lessons from the ... read more
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Someone Else is in Charge: Lessons from the Queen
I’m a fan of Queen Elizabeth II. As the longest-reigning monarch in history, she models calm, cool, and collectedness as she rules a nation. I admire her demeanor along with her strength and no-nonsense style. But I admire something else about her even more. Queen Elizabeth’s faith is the framework that guides her. As ... read more
Ripples of Love in the Ice Cream Shop
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.1 Corinthians 13:4 NIV Entering the ice cream parlor, my husband and I took our place in line and eagerly examined the menu of flavors. Indulging in an ice cream cone at the beach is high on my priority list. Something about the ... read more
A Trash Dumpster and Sacrificial Love
My husband and I needed items from Home Depot last week when we were working at the beach. Ready to go, I grabbed the small clutch containing only my keys, credit card, and phone. Then Hubby got sidetracked with business texts and phone calls. As I waited on the lanai, I grew impatient and decided to put the downtime to ... read more
TENDING YOUR SPIRITUAL GARDEN
Tending Your Spiritual Garden first appeared on Living by Design Ministries, an online ministry headed by Sarah Koontz. LBD offers free Bible studies around the globe in addition to producing sound Biblical-based content for its huge readership. I like the presentation of my article and hope you enjoy it! Read it ... read more
Now. The One You’re With. Do Good.
Three of life’s toughest questions are answered in the children’s book, The Three Questions. The main character is a young boy named Nikolai seeking solutions to: The best time to do things The most important one The right thing to do 1.when is the best time to do things? Nikolai’s friends — a heron, ... read more
Avoiding the Frustrated Lumberjack Syndrome
Stephen Covey, author of THE 7 HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE, uses a version of an old folktale to demonstrate the importance of renewal in Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw (R): A man walking through the forest came across a frustrated lumberjack. The lumberjack sweated and cursed as he labored in vain to cut down a tree. ... read more
Four Gears to Overcome Fear
After I made the turn onto the entrance ramp of I-75, I glanced into my side mirror. I saw lots of oncoming traffic barreling toward me. So many eighteen-wheelers speeding north this morning! My heart rate increased, and I reminded myself to breathe slowly and deeply. Safely on the freeway, but still jumpy, I opted to ... read more
WRITING MICROPOETRY IS QUICK, EASY, AND FUN
Seagulls soaring, circling, searching, swooping, until finally — dinner! Micropoetry is an umbrella term for various forms of short poetry. The only rule, really, is that it’s brief. Not only are micropoems quick, easy, and fun, composing them offers several benefits. five reasons to become a fan 1. Writing ... read more
Four Practices to Improve a Writer’s Creativity
I studied the cover of the slim book in my hand: Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art. I was intrigued. Not only by the title but also by the striking design. Likewise, the author. I knew Madeleine L’Engle only from her Newberry Medal-winning A Wrinkle in Time—a children’s science fantasy. I ... read more
