It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. (Gal 5:1)
As we celebrate Independence Day here in the US, I’m reminded of my own journey to independence. A week after I turned eighteen, I attended my first day of college. I longed for independence, but I was afraid of it too—of the responsibility and all the unknowns. Continue reading “Freedom from Fear”
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”
The righteous man walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him. (Prov 20:7 NKJV)
When I was a teenager, my dad and I didn’t always get along. Our disagreements were the typical father/teenage daughter variety. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned something—we’re more alike than we are different. Not only do we look alike, but we think alike and sometimes even act alike. Continue reading “A Father’s Love”
And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so. (Gen 1:24)
Hi, friends! Lilly Doggins here. My mom and I had so many adventures during quarantine that she said I could tell you more about them!
When it started getting hot outside, Mom gave me a bath. And then, horror of horrors, she cut my hair. With scissors. Where was Ms. Connie, my groomer, when I needed her? I never thought I’d miss being groomed, but boy, did I! I didn’t think Mom would ever finish. I had to sit down to rest a few times. I looked like a mess when she got done, but I was so much cooler. I’m actually glad Mom cut my hair. Thankfully, it happened only once. At the end of May, Mom let me go to Ms. Connie’s again, and now I look like the pretty girl Mom always says I am. Continue reading “More of Lilly’s Quarantine Adventures”
And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity (Col. 3:14).
As 2020 approached, I was filled with hope and anticipation for what the new decade would bring. I read articles about twenty-twenty vision, clarity, and goal setting. I sought advice for how to make 2020 the best decade ever. I brainstormed about long-term goals to determine where I saw myself and my business now and in another ten years. The future was bright and promising.
Now, we are halfway through 2020, and most would agree that that the problems we’re facing are unprecedented. From the COVID-19 to quarantine to the senseless death of George Floyd to rioting and looting, we’ve faced tremendous upheaval. My heart breaks for Floyd’s family, for those who face racial injustice on a daily basis, for the families of those who’ve died from COVID-19, and for those who’ve lost their businesses due to the virus or the rioting or both. Continue reading “2020: The Year of Chaos”