Years ago, when our children were still small, I used to put a large glass jar on the kitchen counter at the beginning of November. Beside the jar, I would put a basket filled with strips of paper and a pen. Our thanksgiving exercise consisted of writing one thing we were grateful for every day and placing it in the jar. On Thanksgiving Day, as we made the one-hour drive from our home to Nana’s house, I would read the entries, and we would pray together, thanking God for his many Continue Reading
When Anxiety is a Focus Issue {The Atlanta Journal-Constitution}
We have all been around overly anxious people. Some have good reason to feel anxious. Facing unemployment or severe illness, concerns about basic needs, life and death may fill their minds and rob their peace. Others may experience extreme stress brought up by somebody else’s decisions. Likewise, many people suffer from a chemical imbalance in their brain caused by prolonged stress, chronic disease, or an immune system disorder, creating an afflux of erratic thoughts, fear, and Continue Reading
A Little Bit of Crazy {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP}
We all have a story—a story God has written on the pages of our lives so we can retell it to the benefit of others and to God’s glory. One of the first posts I wrote, way back in the day, was a tongue in cheek article about anxiety. I can tease about myself but for most people struggling with anxiety it’s no laughing matter. It’s debilitating. I gave a talk this summer in which I shared part of my story that had to do with panic and peace. Two words as far from each other as the east is Continue Reading
A Small Sparrow and “The Cure for Anxiety” {The Atlanta Journal Constitution}
It had been a long time since I heard God speak in such a clear, unmistakable way. It took me by surprise. Of all things He could have used to send me a message, He chose a bird. A plain, small backyard sparrow delivered a message that I will never forget. It was 2002 and I was home with a small baby and an unemployed husband. In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of 2001, my husband’s job was eliminated only three months after the birth of our firstborn. Our savings were draining fast, Continue Reading
