Living Real

Does anything say “spring” better than these?    

Our grandson, Nicholas, turns 11 this year. His one wish, for a birthday present, is water, bottled water. Nicholas has seen how much people on the streets of Knoxville on hot summer days. He knows what it is like to be thirsty and hot. All on his own, he decided to use his birthday for [...]

“Enter His gates with THANKSGIVING,” the Psalmist says. Could it be so simple that worship begins with giving thanks? How do you do that?

Do you notice things around you? Take a moment and give it a try.                      

When we went on our cruise in December, I didn’t know what to expect. We had gone “deep sea” fishing in the Gulf of Mexico once and on a dolphin cruise once. When we headed out to sea through Charleston Harbor, it seemed that the water grew rougher with each passing moment. After dinner that [...]

Today I’m indulging in some me-time. As in, introspection and at moments some very real pity-partying. I’ve been challenged today to become more. The challenger noted that I don’t let people see the real me. This person also said that many times I come across as “demanding.” Wow. I guess I do come across as [...]

It’s not a miracle, unless you put the flight of man up there with miraculous. What do you see here?  

– from 2009 As I write this, I am 48 years old. I am an adult. A mother. A grandmother. A wife. A businesswoman. An employee. And I am a wounded child. I shared something really important with my mother the other day. Something I really wanted to see excitement in her face about. Something [...]

I have alluded to this in previous posts. This is what I shared at church: “I waited patiently for the Lord to help me and He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid [...]

Thanking God for gifts I don’t usually take the time to consider, this week’s installment on my Joy Dare journey. 69.  the story of Mrs. Zebedee (James’ & John’s mom) seen in a new way 70.  summer shirt worn in January 71.  a weather day: started in 70s with windows open, changed to 60s with [...]

Jeremiah spoke the words God  gave him to speak and it landed him in hot water. Well, actually, in no water. Only mud. Mire. Yuck. Even though Jeremiah spoke the words of God, the officials of the Temple didn’t like them. The king gave up the fight to help him and let the officials have [...]