“You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’” (John 3:7) The birth metaphor is more than a metaphor. Yes, the process of birth is a beautiful picture of God’s grace
Read moreAuthor: Janet Beagle
The Battle is not Yours: God’s Lesson in a Dusty Mess
“Even good change has its challenges,” I wrote in my last post about moving into a new home. And amidst those challenges, God tapped me on the shoulder to remind me He was not tied
Read moreYou Can Still Get There From Here
Last week I moved from my rented apartment of 14 years to my very first home. The move was less than a mile away, but change for me – even good change – does not
Read moreWinter’s Promise. A Lesson.
It’s hard to imagine spring right now when most of the country has been experiencing record cold. My breath spouts a smoky halo and my hand sticks to the metal buckle of my dog’s collar
Read moreGiving Between the Giving
I was standing in the checkout line. It’s a familiar scene this time of year. The ever-growing lines at the cash registers. Carts dodging this way and that. Towering armloads weaving down aisles. Bags of
Read moreForeboding-less Joy: A Gratitude Experiment
Imagine this scene. It’s Christmas Eve. Dad and mom are driving with their kids along snow-covered roads. Everyone is excited for the holiday. Someone starts singing a Christmas carol and they all join in. The
Read moreTo Catch a Leaf
It seems easy. The leaf spiraling toward the ground, I mean. It drifts from a branch someplace above. Perhaps billowing slightly in a puff of air, shifting to the left and right, rocking, but mostly
Read moreAn Ode to Car Shopping (And Some Life Lessons, Too)
When you’re a single female, car shopping is not a bad way to spend a Friday night. The moment you walk through the door, you’re approached by at least three guys (it’s almost always guys).
Read moreWilderness Adventure
I have this image from a favorite childhood book. It was an adventure novel of two men, braving the wilderness and struggling to survive against daunting odds. It was the type of rough-hewn, straight-talking, no-holds-barred
Read moreThe Battle for Encouragement
I was walking through the parking lot on a lunchtime walk when a handsome young man in fatigues stopped me to nervously ask for directions to the ROTC office. I pointed him in the right
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