The hustle and bustle of the holidays often takes us off course of the most important gift that we can give.  A gift that doesn’t cost us any money and can give us so much in return.  A gift that is often overlooked yet so special. There are numerous gifts I can think of that meet many of the above criteria and are wonderful to receive.  We can give our time, and our service, we can give food from our table that otherwise may not have been appreciated.  However, there is one that sticks out in my mind as…

What is it that we do when we question the direction we should follow, do I or don’t I?  Often we think about the positive and negative consequences.  We might write down the pros and cons, and then evaluate the list.  Sometimes we might look at the alternatives as impossible.  What I have found is that when the direction is from Jesus, I am at peace.  The issues disappear and the solutions present themselves so long as I hand over control.   That doesn’t mean I don’t do anything.  It means that if I am prayerful and open…

Not everyone has the same idea of what makes a nice holiday, nor does everybody give thanks in the same way.  This message of giving thanks is something that I learned when I was very young.  It is one of the lessons that I am most grateful that I was able to see, experience, and understand.  Giving thanks for all.  For me, the key to having a successful gathering is to allow my guests to be themselves.  I am grateful for each individual worker, communicator, consumer, and watcher.  Being present with those who are in attendance and prayerful for those…

There’s no question I was a “hare” most of my life, and I would never have imagined that I would turn into a “tortoise”.  I have been a confident risk taker, quick to take action.  However, my overall journey of life is based on faith and is steady and consistent.  I’m patiently waiting for Jesus to guide my way. For much of my life, I thought the “tortoise” and the “hare” were mutually exclusive.  How is it possible to quickly make decisions and take action, and also be slow and methodical about your decisions?   Seemingly incompatible with each…