Journal

No News About The Biggest News

Resized2_2016_01_23_Be_PreparedThose of us who live in modern, industrialized nations are blessed with the great benefits of technology. Take prediction of the weather, for example.

I live in Northern Virginia. As you likely know, this and other parts of the United States are undergoing historic blizzard conditions. Though most of us are trying to shovel ourselves out of 24+ inches, the snow came as no surprise to us. Thanks to the technology of sophisticated radars and other weather equipment, meteorologists informed us well in advance that we would be severely hit by this winter storm. With at least three days of advance warning, we were not caught off-guard. Every prudent person stocked up on groceries and other essentials in preparation to ride out the storm. We also did what we needed to do in anticipation of being snowed in for several days—purchased salt and snow shovels, rescheduled doctors’ appointments, rearranged flights to get back to our respective residences prior to the storm, to name just a few.

How wonderful to plan in advance!

But as I thought about the many advantages of anticipating being snowed in for several days, I couldn’t help but [Read More]

Are You Pursuing What Matters Most?

2016 target with bar chart background, 3d renderYesterday marked the second week of the new year.  Just like last year, but likely coming even faster, another Christmas will be here and you’ll be facing the start of another new year. So what will be different in your life in 2016? What are your goals? Where will your priorities lie? And are you pursuing what matters most? Because if you aren’t intentional, nothing will change. But life is far too precious to be lived this way. So I want to encourage you to not simply go through the motions of life. To live, rather than simply exist. [Read More]

Our Christmas Trees Are Decorated, But Are Our Hearts?

Advent or christmas wreath with four red wax candles on wooden background.Today, December 1st, marks the first day of the Advent season. It is a time to reflect anew on the unspeakable wonder of God becoming incarnate, Emmanuel—God with us. Why did God condescend to become a helpless babe in a feeding trough in Bethlehem? Why did He trade the glories of Heaven for ignominy? Because there was no other way by which sinners, who were enemies of God, could be saved from the inescapable and deserving condemnation of His eternal wrath. [Read More]

FOMO: Is It Unwittingly Robbing You?

Most of us have heard of it. FOMO, or the fear of missing out, is a phenomenon that’s thriving in our culture. A relentless task master, it drives us to constantly check our social media feed because we want to be in the know. Better yet, we just can’t afford to miss out on what’s happening. It sucks our time as we satisfy our seemingly endless curiosities about the status of others—who’s doing what, with whom, and, of course, where. For many, the start of a new day begins with the habitual reach for the mobile device in order to catch what’s happening, or heaven forbid, what was missed while away. Then as though it were a duty, we continually check our news feed throughout the day. The truth of the matter, however, is that many of us have no clue that we’re addicted to this silent thief and invisible drug. [Read More]

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"Living Backward is an excellent discipleship tool.
I appreciate how the author does not shy away
from sharing her failures as well as successes
in a way that is easily relatable." —Tanya Mathieu
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​"​Living Backward inundates the reader with wisdom,
love and truth — ​encouraging us to begin to listen to the
echoes of God’s voice in our souls — calling us forth to the
purposes He uniquely created us for​." —T. Davis; C. Pride