The Grief Recovery Handbook, by John W. James and Russell Friedman, is an instruction guide for overcoming grief and saying goodbye to the grieved relationship. Their theory is that incomplete relationships cause continued grief and suffering to the griever. If the reader follows the steps outlined in their handbook, the…
Things are hard before they become easy. Moving on with life after a disappointment doesn’t mean healing has happened- it simply means enough time has passed that we have learned to mask the pain. We often go on with our lives as if nothing had ever happened- as if our…
Over ten years ago I was introduced to essential oils. This introduction occurred shortly after the start of popular essential oil company doTerra, and many people in my community became affiliates in this multi-level marketing company. I was intrigued at the safe and natural health benefit claims that I heard,…
The book of Daniel begins with a plundering of God’s temple and the captivity of Daniel and his comrades- Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, especially Daniel, gain respect from the king. At the end of Daniel chapter 2, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were appointed to be in charge of…
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things. Philippians 4:8 One of the most misleading things we as believers can tell ourselves is that the things we…
Graduation is often a time for bittersweet endings and exciting beginnings. Whether it’s high school, college, or something entirely different, graduation is meant to celebrate accomplishments and recognize individuals for what they have achieved. Regardless of their life journey, a graduation is landmark in a person’s life that they will…
A few weeks ago, my family and I hiked a common trail on the Kenai Peninsula, known for it’s spectacular views. Unlike myself, my family are not hiking fans. The prospect of walking through the woods for hours just to turn around and go back to the beginning doesn’t appeal…
The young boy screamed and writhed under the hold of his mom, trying to get away and begging her to stop. She simply tightened her hold on his arm and continued the process of cleaning his wound. Despite the pain she was causing, the mom knew that the process was…
My church is currently going through a sermon series entitled, “The Church- Complete in Christ.” Every week we have been addressing what it means to be a part of God’s church, becoming complete in Christ and producing disciples that are complete in Him. Our most recent topic was, “Measures- Being…
When you look at a person, any person, remember that everyone has a story. Everyone has gone through something that has changed them. -Lisa Arends When an onion grows, it produces layers around it’s core in order to protect itself. When animals or insects eat into the onion, they first…