I stumbled upon an old prayer journal yesterday. Of course, I opened it; I had to see what I’d been praying about 2 ½ years ago! Earlier in my faith journey I started writing out my prayers, not because I’m super spiritual, but honesty, because I’m not. I needed a way to keep my mind…

Hey Friend! I’m writing from the dermatologist’s office; I’m in the middle of Moh’s surgery to remove skin cancer from my forehead. And, despite the lone photo of a paddle boarder on a calm sea (an obvious attempt to settle anxious patients), the grey walls and sterile white furniture serve as a reminder that this…

Early this morning my neighbor knocked lightly, opened our door, and shouted a warm, “Hello!” Although the knock on the door was unexpected, her arrival didn’t fluster me; over the years, my neighbor has been in every room of my house. She even has a key! But, like all good relationships, it didn’t start that…

Not long ago I was enjoying a smooth flight when-BAM!-unexpected turbulence rocked the plane. Panic replaced peace—you could see it in the passenger’s eyes. Even when the flight settled down and people returned to their books, movies, and laptops, emotional turbulence lingered. Everyone seemed to share the same concern: are we going to be OK?…

She felt embarrassed the minute the words left her lips. Her well-put-together exterior–cute outfit, hair, and make-up–proclaimed,  “I have it all together” but her words and facial expression told us otherwise. Did I really just say that out loud?  she wondered. There was no need for embarrassment, though. Every woman around her table had experienced…

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cry.” The sweet gal sitting across from me wiped the tear from her cheek, embarrassed, and a little surprised her tears made an appearance at all. “I don’t want you to think I’m not trusting God,” she continued. After decades of working with women, I’ve noticed that many of…

Not long ago I ran into a gal who confessed, “Right now, in the midst of raising two small children and struggling to figure out how to keep our marriage happy, I’m desperate for some hope, and most of my friends are, too.” Hope. We all need it, don’t we? Lack of hope causes women (and…

That relationship. Yeah, that one. When you began the relationship, you didn’t sign up for heartache or headaches, did you? Oh sure, you know conflict is part of life. Everyone knows. What you didn’t know was how deeply the spouse, child, friend, coworker, or church would wound you. But here you are. The conflict happened.…

Hey Friend! In honor of the release of my latest book, Healthy Conflict, Peaceful Life: a Biblical Guide to Communicating Thoughts, Feelings, and Opinions with Grace, Truth, and Zero Regret we’re celebrating on the blog (cue confetti!!)  If you’re here from the P31 Encouragement for Today devotion–welcome! Since no celebration is complete without gifts, I’m…

Have you ever dreaded a hard conversation? Did you wonder, How do I even begin? Years ago, a friend and I planned to meet for lunch at a restaurant halfway between us, which was still a forty-minute drive. Moments before I reached the restaurant, I received a text: “Oops! Should have texted you earlier, but…

At Christmas people from every nation and every tongue will celebrate the birth of Jesus. They’ll attend church, sing songs, read scripture, light a candle. It’s only fitting. Christmas changed everything. Because of Christmas our sins can be forgiven. Because of Christmas we can have the hope of heaven. Because of Christmas we know what…

I grabbed my journal and started to write, “I’m thankful for…” But I stopped. Instead, I wrote “Thank you, God, for…” The small shift in focus made all the difference. When we celebrate a holiday like Thanksgiving (or even when we’re “counting our blessings” on a day not set aside to give thanks), our natural…

If I can figure it out by myself, I will. What? You, too? We’re the “get-‘er-done” type gals; women you can count on. We’re resourceful, responsible, and reliable. These qualities serve us well. Until they don’t. Some things can’t be figured out alone. Some things are too heavy to bear, some are too deep to…

I noticed something odd at the gym today. Every machine was occupied but no one was exercising. Not one. (and, no, this is not a post about health or fitness). What were all these people doing if they weren’t working out? Looking at their cell phones. I shook my head in disbelief. And then something…

Out of the mouths of babes… A couple of days ago our son texted a photo of a “secret message” sweet 4-year-old, Hallie, wrote to herself: “Trust in Jesus Christ.” It’s a message I needed to hear. We all do. If you’re like most Christians, you know you need to trust in Jesus Christ for…

Did you know recent studies show that less than 20% of us say we’re happy? I know. I know. I was shocked, too. Of course, I sensed personal peace, joy, and satisfaction were on the decline in recent years—you’ve probably sensed it, too. But, according to researchers, happiness has reached a five-decade low. Recently, author…

When I answered my phone I knew she’d been crying. “Mom, are you OK?” my heart skipped a beat as I asked. Her voice quivered in response, “My wallet was stolen.” “Are you sure? Could you have misplaced it?” “I’m sure. I’m here at Nordstrom Rack. I paused to chat with a friend and when…

Welcome Friend! You don’t want to be unloving, in fact, you want to be more loving–am I right? Sometimes, though we accidentally do things that, at first glance, don’t seem particularly unloving, but upon further reflection, actually are. Read on to find out about five surprising ways we’re accidentally unloving. (note: this is not just…

“What should I have done differently?” It was an odd question, mainly because it came from my mother–a terrific mom in every respect. Her question got me thinking: why do those who are the best moms worry most they are not? Mom guilt. It’s real. We know we’re not perfect, so we worry and we…

“I have a bad attitude.” Ever had this thought? That’s like asking if the Pope is catholic, isn’t it? We all struggle with bad attitudes from time to time. The question, though, is what to do about it. How do we change a bad attitude? The answer is surprisingly simple: We change our attitude when…

“It’s hard not to have regrets when you’re angry.” – Becca Jones I stood in the kitchen discussing my upcoming book with my daughter-in-law. Though the book won’t be released for months, the book is about how to handle conflict so we don’t hang our heads in regret, and think, why on earth did I…

The gal perched in front of me droned on about the sad state of her life. She expressed her complaints not so much in words, but in whines. She oozed negativity. Honestly, the more she talked, the less I wanted to hear. I tried to excuse myself–politely, of course. That’s what civil people do when…