“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” (Ps 18:2)
This last year has been quite a roller coaster ride. Last month marked one year since my mom fell and broke her kneecap. When the orthopedist told us an injury like hers could take up to six months to get better and a year to heal completely, I thought, That surely isn’t right. Continue reading “Embracing the Lessons of 2020”
“So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.” Rom 14:12
Early in the pandemic, I threw myself into work and other projects to stay busy, and now I’m feeling the fatigue. Every day feels like Groundhog Day.
I’ve let some things slip. Things like my Bible study time and eating habits. Has this happened to you? No? Is it just me? Continue reading “Finding the Pandemic Reset Button”
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Mt 11:29)
Back in January, I wrote about choosing the word “renew” word for 2020. According to Merriam Webster’s Dictionary, renew means “to make like new; restore to freshness, vigor, or perfection.”
I chose this word because I felt depleted. After years of nonstop busyness, from running my editing business to volunteering at church and for writing organizations, I knew I was heading for burnout. I wasn’t getting enough physical rest, but this sense of depletion felt deeper. I studied spiritual rest and discovered how it’s different than physical rest—it’s a rest for the soul and a time of drawing closer to God. Continue reading “The Process of Renewal”
“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety” (Ps 4:8).
In college, I studied all the time and went to bed by ten. I still remember one night when I stayed up to keep a friend company during the last hours of her shift working the front desk of our dorm. A couple of us joined her from ten to midnight. My friends were shocked, first of all, that I joined them, and second, that I stayed awake the entire time!
Like many of you, I’ve struggled at times with getting enough sleep. Insomnia has plagued me, while other times worry and anxiety kept me from falling asleep. Still other times, I stayed up late on purpose and then regretted it the next day.
Years ago, a neurologist told me how important a regular sleep schedule is to ward off migraines. On his advice, I tracked my sleep schedule, and I noticed a pattern: when I stayed up too late or slept too long, I had a migraine the next day. Unfortunately, I had many other migraine triggers as well, many of which were out of my control, but I could control my sleep schedule. Continue reading “Promoting Creativity Through a Good Night’s Sleep”
Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Ps 90:12 (NIV)
Due to the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) around the country, we are faced with continued quarantine and isolation. My calendar, which is usually filled to overflowing, is now clear except for a few work deadlines.
Rather than focusing on the negative, I’m looking for silver linings. I’ve become accustomed to finding lessons in everyday situations in order to write posts for this blog. This situation is so extraordinary that I know God has something for me to learn.
One message I’m hearing loud and clear is that I need to be more selective about how I spend my time. That includes taking better care of myself. My word for the year, renew, comes to mind. Continue reading “Renewal in the Time of COVID-19”