Have you ever been mad at your church? Maybe someone hurt you. Maybe it was what someone said or did or maybe didn’t say or do. Maybe it was the way a situation was handled.
There are lots of ways a church can hurt you.
Why Yes Equals No
Have you ever had to tell someone “no”? It’s never an enjoyable experience. You feel like you are letting someone down or disappointing them.
The reactions you receive from a “yes” and a “no” are just as opposite as your answer. When you say “yes” you become someone’s hero for the day. When you say “no” the sadness is just as visible as the “yes’s” excitement and gratitude. Seeing the look on your child’s face to a “no” requires nerves of steel to hold the line.
The Art of Getting Back Up Again
God is so good to us! We are constantly getting fresh starts. We typically think of fresh starts at the beginning of each year. But we get way more than just one a year.
We get a fresh start every month. If you are paid monthly you’re thankful for the new beginning. You may have messed up with your budget last month, but you get another chance to get it right this month.
How I Decide What to Read
5 Filters for Making Your Reading List
Every year when I publish My Top 10 Book Reads for the year I get lots of requests for how I pick which books to read.
So I thought I would shed a little light on my process to help you put together your reading list for the year.
My Top Book Reads of 2017
At the end of each year I like to review the books I’ve read and pick the 10 best. I’ve been doing this for awhile now, but I wasn’t sure just how long. Curiosity got the best of me so I went back and checked. I’ve been compiling a yearly reading list for the last 17 years!
I enjoyed opening those lists and reviewing the titles. Each book brought back memories of what was going on in my life while I was reading it. No doubt books mark a season and prepare you for the next one.
The God I Wish You Knew
Have you ever heard someone talk about God in a way that you knew wasn’t God? They said something like… “I can’t believe in a God who would ______” or “I can’t believe in a God who hates ______.”
The first thought that crosses my mind is, “You’re right that’s not God.”
Never Forget This When You Meet Someone
Why You're Always on a Job Interview
Do you remember your last job interview? You dressed to impress. Your teeth had never been whiter and you smiled so much your cheeks hurt. You read up on every question they could ask and memorized thoughtful responses. You listened for the question behind the question. You were warm, charming, and funny.
You were so amazing your potential employer would have been crazy not to hire you!
A Gratitude Experiment
Making Thanksgiving Last
I know Thanksgiving is over with, but does it have to be? What if we could extend the attitude of gratitude that we love about Thanksgiving all year long?
People often tell me their favorite holiday is Thanksgiving because it isn’t commercialized like the other ones. They love having a day to reflect on the many things they have to be thankful for.
Jesus on Happiness
Did you know Jesus gave a sermon on happiness? That may come as a surprise to you because sometimes his followers can be critical and judgmental.
You may also be thinking, “If Jesus gave a sermon on happiness why haven’t I ever heard of it?”
The Happy God
Who is the happiest person you know? Why do you think they are so happy?
I hope that the most joyful and happy people you know are Christians, but that isn’t always the case. Some Christians really struggle with being happy. They can’t laugh. They don’t smile. It’s almost like they think it’s a sin to be happy.
