Several years ago, I remember someone asking me if it was possible for suffering to be a blessing. At the time, I thought they were crazy. After walking through many paths of suffering, I’ve decided that yes, suffering can be a blessing. The Psalmist writes in Psalm 73 about how God held onto him in his darkest hours and about how he experienced the nearness…
Last month, my cousin asked me, “Girl, don’t you ever just relax?” I’ve thought about his statement so much over the past several weeks. The truth is, my life is GO, GO, GO. While I tend to enjoy the busy pace, it is important to take time to slow down. I began to think about when I “just relax” and it usually involves hiking (which…
This week is National Suicide Prevention Week and today is World Suicide Prevention Day; unfortunately, many people believe the myth that if you talk with someone about suicide, you plant an idea in their mind. The opposite is true. If someone is thinking about suicide, talking about it could spare his life. In 2009, there were 36,909 suicides in the U.S. (100.8 suicides per day; 1 suicide…
Last week, my mother-in-law called me crying. I was worried something was wrong. She began to talk to me about how she would never drive again (doctor’s orders), and my heart hurt for her. Then she told me that she didn’t want to sell her car. She told me she wanted to give it to me. I didn’t understand at first. I began to explain…
Now that Tears to Joy has been published, I want to offer my family and friends a chance to buy it prior to the release date of November 20. This is why I am hosting a pre-release party Friday, October 5 at the Bridge Church. I will be available to sign copies of the book and to answer questions as we celebrate what God has…
We’ve all heard it said, “Dreams really do come true.” Well in this case, it did! I have shared before on my blog about my childhood dream to be an author. I’d come home from school and write stories just for fun. Ok, so maybe that sounds kind of nerdy, but I believe God put a burning desire in my heart to write at a…