The Secret Inside

Last night it was my privilege to be a part of a panel discussion on the topic of Toxic Relationships.  Next to me sat a beautiful, accomplished young woman who was known and respected by the audience.  As she sat quietly appearing completely composed, I could feel the nervous energy pouring off her.  When it…

The Lost Art of Intimacy

Intimacy, the bonding of two people, is becoming a missing ingredient in our marriages.  Check out these six truths about marital intimacy. 1.  Despite the Hollywood hype, romance and intimacy are not synonymous. We love romance!  The excitement, the thrill of being pursued, the anticipation, the sweaty palms, the nervous stomach.  Our emotions our sensitized…

Grab Opportunity by the Mane

We all remember Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter, and his passionate love for the dangerous creatures of nature.  From the time he was a boy, he was fascinated by rescuing crocodiles and snakes and all manner of a dangerous creatures.  As an adult, Irwin built his career by dazzling audiences with his fearless handling of…

Playing It Safe is Risky

How often do we settle for less than amazing because amazing takes us outside our comfort zone? I vividly remember the summer my mother enrolled me in swimming lessons.  I can still smell the chlorine, feel the roughness of the concrete pool deck under my legs, and the pull of my rubber swim cap against…

Guaranteed Uncertainty

I recently learned our local zoo varies the diet of big cats to mimic life in the wild; some days they get meat, other days just the bones and cartilage and one day each cycle – they don’t get fed at all.   Why?  Because the diet more closely resembles their natural diet in the wild.…

Lion in the Snow – Blogger Note

Do you know the surest way to find a lion?  Write about defeating them.   So yes, dear readers, I found one.  Not only did I FALL into the pit, but I let that big cat get a couple of pounds of flesh before I could scramble out of the pit and run away screaming like…

The Art of Reframing

When life is going the way we expect, the way we planned, it is easy celebrate the goodness of God.  We sing songs under our breath.  We greet the world with a joyous smile.  It is, however, in the midst of a season of prosperity where we often begin to quietly congratulate ourselves on the…

Chapter 3 – Unlearning Your Fears

Last week, we confirmed again NOTHING is too big for God.  He is the odds only favorite for every situation-every circumstance.  In times of crisis, most of us will make a bold statement like “God is able” or “God can do anything,” but do we really believe it?  The answer for me is a bold,…

Chapter 2 – Lion in the Snow

Chapter 1 of our study ends with the author listing seven “lion-chasing” skills we all need to master: Defying odds Facing fears Reframing problems Embracing uncertainty Taking risks Seizing opportunities Looking foolish During our study, we will break down these skills and see how we can apply them to our own life. Our hero, Benaiah…