After I married Larry, I made some surprising discoveries. I hadn’t realized that I am particular about my stuff until my things became our things. I learned that we used the same words but different dictionaries. Words like: “saving, spending, celebrating and soon.”

The business of becoming one was dicier than we had imagined. Our preconceived ideas of roles and expectations also brought challenges. I had unconsciously assumed all good men were like Daddy, and he thought all women were like his mother. We expected the other to fall into those roles, but soon discovered we weren’t my parents or his. We had to discover what worked best for the two in our marriage. (Read More)

What can hinder an accomplished basketball player from making a simple game winning free throw? Pressure. What can hinder us from being all that we can be or rob us from enjoying our journey in life? Pressure.

What pressures are you dealing with that are weighing on you and affecting the quality of your life and relationships? These two steps can make a difference in handling them.

Discover the underlying source.

The real pressure usually comes from potential implications of what is going on, more than the obvious situation. The underlying source is discovered through reflection: asking why this is so weighty, and illumination: the Holy Spirit revealing my deep personal issues (Proverbs 20:5; Psalms 42:11; 139:23). (Read More)

“Tomorrow’s September 11^th.”

“I know. I hope we don’t get any weird calls.”

“What do you mean?”

“Did you know that our center answered the flight attendant’s call that day?”

My daughter works for American Airlines. She was imagining what it would be like to receive a call from someone on a plane hijacked by terrorists on a suicide mission. The thought sobered us both.

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“I don’t know even one person in my new city to call.” The realization only deepened my loneliness. I had moved across the country as a single woman to join a ministry team of strangers. As I continued to unpack boxes, Psalm 23:1 rallied my thoughts. “Because the Lord is my shepherd, I have everything I need.”

“Lord, if I need to talk with someone, You are able to provide someone—even in a new city.” I immediately felt better and forgot my loneliness. Minutes later the phone rang. A friend I had worked with in Boston was calling long distance to say hi. His call reminded me, my Shepherd knew my needs. (Read More)