Category: Self-help/Encouragement
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Practicing the Fruits of the Spirit: A Book Reflection
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23, NIV I came across the book, Neuroscience and the Fruit of the Spirit, and the title intrigued me. Bryan Spoon edifies how our brain is literally wired towards God.…
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Harrowed by the Changing of the Seasons
“God said, ‘While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.’” Genesis 8:22 Today is the first day of Fall. Friends have already decorated their mantel pieces with pumpkins, scarecrows and cornucopias. Others already have sweaters and pretty scarves they are ready to wear. My…
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Grace Under Pressure
“Laughter is the most beautiful and beneficial therapy God ever granted humanity.” Chuck Swindoll I’m embarrassed to be sharing this story. Yet, here I go. I hope I don’t offend anyone. I like to try to pray or worship each day whether it’s for five minutes or an hour. Usually, I’m pretty self-disciplined about it,…
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What Does Your Self-talk Tell You?
The greatest obstacle for me has been the voice in my head that I call my obnoxious roommate. I wish someone would invent a tape recorder that we could attach to our brains to record everything we tell ourselves. We would realize how important it is to stop this negative self-talk. It means pushing back…
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Addressing a Challenge One Step at a Time
“The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.” —Confucius. Repelling down a mountain was not originally on my bucket list. I wanted to try, but I’m terrified of heights. Yet, somehow, I found myself glancing down a mountain cliff. Luckily, I was with people who had done it several times. They…
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Finding Joy in the Midst of Suffering
“Suffering, of course, can lead you in either of two directions: It can make you very bitter and close you down, or it can make you wise, compassionate, and utterly open, either because your heart has been softened, or perhaps because suffering makes you feel like you have nothing more to lose.” Richard Rohr It…
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Be Careful Not to Quell the Creativity
“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3 I don’t want to take the context away from this Gospel story by pulling just this verse out, but the phrase “become like little children” resonated with me. In the passage, Jesus uses…
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The Grace of God Among Our Imperfections
There was a day when I felt a supernatural peace. I was patient with my clients, my kids, and my husband. I practiced active listening and had deep conversations with friends and loved ones. I was not judgmental and when someone hurt my feelings, I didn’t overreact. I was patient and we discussed everything thoroughly.…
