Anx·i·e·ty: a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome. "My heart is racing like crazy!" *** Let's chat about anxiety, ok? We all feel anxious from time to time. Public speaking, a difficult exam, an interview, trying something for the first time, and a visit to the doctor are just a few examples of what can make people feel some nervousness. While I don't struggle much with anxiety myself, quite a few people that I love do. I have friends that have panic attacks and cannot explain why. Friends of mine often feel anxious when there does not seem to be a logical reason for the anxiety. I suppose you know people like this, too. Do you ever notice you feel anxious more than others? Does your anxiety interfere ... View Post

Let's chat about your life's purpose. Do you know what it is? I am sure you have heard the sayings, "Do what you love" and "Follow your passions," but that is not always as simple as it sounds. There are those people who knew at ten years old they wanted to make a difference in the lives of children or help people become healthier, or seek justice for others, or reduce poverty in the world. However, there are those of us who didn't know back then what our calling was. Many of us still ask ourselves, "What am I supposed to do with my life?" For us, the answer may develop over time. We can have several different callings, some large and some small. *** The degree to which you listen to and act on your callings determines how satisfied you are with your life. But, what if you ... View Post

Let's chat about Christmas traditions~ The holidays always seem to evoke feelings of nostalgia, don't they?  We remember past Christmases, favorite gifts, unique traditions, holiday foods, and the like, and we have a sentimental longing for those times. We recall that year we surprised someone with a special gift that we couldn't wait to see them unwrap. These remembrances make us smile. Typically, people bring favored traditions that they had as children into their adulthood, and then into the families of their own.  With fondness, I recall how after all the Christmas decorations had been brought down from the attic; my mom would get out this beautiful, aged creche. It belonged to my grandmother when she was young and was very special to her; therefore, was dear to my mother. My ... View Post

Have you ever wondered why you are so afraid when something bad happens? A sudden illness, a broken appliance or car, a lost job, enormous medical bills, or the death of a loved one can come at us like a hurricane, and we are at a loss. We panic. We feel afraid. Mark 4:35-41 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him.  A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died ... View Post