If joy is the feeling that we get when someone is glad to be with us, How come so many of us don’t feel joy in situations with people who supposedly love us? When we learn all about this “joy” stuff, why do some of us start looking around and wondering where all the people are that can be glad to be with us so we can feel joy. Many of us assume that no one is ever glad to be with us and that must be the reason why we don’t feel joy. But I think we might need to consider turni

I often hike on the weekends either alone, with friends or as part of my Nature’s Therapy Hiking Club where I can do some life coaching while out in nature! It seems that every time I get out in nature, the Lord shares some lesson with me. This weekend I hiked in the fog in the Roan Highlands. (top photo) I’ve been there before on a sunny day, so I knew what it “could have been”. But I also have learned to look past that. Here’s my Trail Lesson #1: I moved to North Carolina a

Bad things happen. They happen to everyone. Some people seem to crumble under the weight of “bad things” in their lives while others manage to let things go quickly and easily and don’t appear to be affected by the very same “bad things”. If you’re in the 2nd category, you probably don’t even know why you are this way. If you’re in the 1st category, you wish you knew their secret. As a category 2 person myself, I think I’ve figured it out and I want everyone to learn this sec

Reading in Nehemiah I couldn’t help but notice that the word “repaired” was repeated over and over again in Chapter 3. This passage is all about how Nehemiah found the walls of Jerusalem in ruin and was inspired by God to have them rebuilt. Often when I think of “walls” I think of the walls that I’ve put up around my own heart to protect me. My walls have been used in the past to keep everyone out… including those I love, and even for some time, to keep God out too. I’ve spen