Hard Things Can Be Scary

Hard Things Can Be Scary

Do you ever shy away from tough challenges for fear that you might fail? For years my first husband, Michael, asked me to climb Mt. Yonah with him. Every time he asked, my answer was the same. “No way. It’s too tough.” It was several years after he died when I finally tackled this mountain (literally) for the first time. Covered in sweat and breathing…

Help! I’m Stressed and Worried.

Help! I’m Stressed and Worried.

This morning before rolling out of bed, I picked up my phone to scroll Facebook. The first five posts were all sharing about different people who died from COVID. Life right now is hard. As a counselor, I meet with people who are hurting on a regular basis; in addition to my clients, my family and friends are struggling. Helping others is especially challenging as…

God, Are You Listening?

God, Are You Listening?

Ever prayed for something over and over and over again only to feel like no one is listening? Most of the Old Testament prophets spoke the word of the Lord to the people, but Habakkuk spoke to God on behalf of the people. He felt like God wasn’t listening. In 2:3, God tells Habakkuk, “If it seems slow, wait for it.” God tells us when…

In The Market with Janet Parshall

In The Market with Janet Parshall

Only 2 more weeks, and grace-based counseling will be available. I received my copy in the mail yesterday, and I am thrilled! God is already doing more than I ever could have asked or imagined. Rick (co-author) and I met with our publicist at Moody Publishing yesterday and she told me that Janet Parshall wants to interview me on her nationally syndicated radio show, In…

Letting Go of Shame

Letting Go of Shame

Shame. We’ve all felt it at some point, but did you know shame was one of the first emotions after the Fall? In Genesis 3, Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate the fruit and that their eyes were opened. They knew that they were naked – they became self-conscious of their own weakness, their own vulnerability. What did they do? They hid in shame….

Living with Fear and Not in Fear

I was recently asked to review the book, She Writes for Him: Stories of Living Hope, and I came across a quote that I can’t shake. Carole Leathem writes, “Learn to live with fear, not in fear.” I can’t tell you how many times I have talked with people who believe all fear is bad. While anxiety can be crippling for some, a little anxiety…