“You’re Out!”

I am not here to call myself or you a failure for falling short because falling short does not make us failures. This isn’t what this is. Rather, this is a moment to be real—honest. To call myself out when I mess up. And we all mess up! There is not one of us that has not made a mistake, done something, or said something we wished we hadn’t. This happened to me recently.

Are You Prepared?

Have you ever felt like that? You thought you were prepared, but then WHAM! Something unforeseen happens and it can leave you feeling like you are fighting a losing battle. Is this that season for you?…Unlike a hurricane that is detected by high tech equipment enabling us to plan accordingly, in life, there is no such radar that allows us to predict when and where the storms will hit. And they can leave us feeling unprepared to face a battle we never saw coming. But what if you’ve been unknowingly preparing all your life?

Shelter Me

I think for a long time I was confused. I believed that if I could shelter my kids, or myself from any pain, that we could escape it. Avoid it. See the storm, but be unaffected by it. Anyone else? But that is not reality, is it? Reality is, we all face painful experiences

Another Year Older (And Hopefully Wiser!)

The usually packed mall was empty. Super weird. It felt like we were living in an apocalyptic movie! I know you all have your stories that ring very similar to mine. We, along with the rest of the world, waited with bated breath for the next bad report, the other shoe to drop, the closure of another state. It seemed the world had come to a standstill. But as we all know, whether in quarantine or not, life marches on.

Now More Than Ever

So what is it you need now more than ever? Do you need hope more than you did in the past? Face to face social interaction with people other than the ones who share your address? Maybe your “need now more than ever” is peace. Strength? Does it vary from day to day like me?

Fan The Flame

Timothy, at this time was leading what today we would call a mega-church and was coming under some harsh criticism so Paul, from jail and facing a death sentence for his faith, writes to encourage Timothy. Fan the flame. I imagine Timothy was feeling a lot of despair, yet, he is instructed to fan the flame! How exactly is he supposed to do that? How are we?

Strength For Today

It’s one thing to know what’s coming, I can brace myself, prepare myself and pray specifically for that. But to not know? Just thinking about all the endless possibilities of what may or may not happen is exhausting! That’s when God reins in my thoughts, slowing me down and gently reminds me that He provides me strength for today.

Laughter Is The Best Medicine

When I laugh, not only is it good for my soul, but I find myself in a better mood generally. I see the beauty in the budding trees around my home. The green of the grass. The blue of the skies. When my soul is lifted, I speak kinder to people. When I feel better, I can share the humor with others and maybe brighten their day. The ripple effect, ya know?

For Such A Time As This

We may have to do the whole “social-distancing” thing, but we have such advanced technology, and we’re certainly a creative people, so use your imagination!… When we encourage others, we can actually encourage ourselves! Uplift others with your gifts—for such a time as this. Get creative!

Fight The Good Fight!

What is the good fight? Most likely going bumper to bumper with another driver at the mall would not fall in the “good fight” category. So what does? Getting up and moving on after a major disappointment, facing your depression, getting help for that addiction, seeking professional counsel to save your marriage and your family, just to name a few, you can fill in the blank.

	Teresa Lyn Barton on Do You Know?
	Wendi Rader on Do You Know?
	Teresa Lyn Barton on Be Loved
	Patty on Be Loved
	Teresa Lyn Barton on Stalemate