IF I SPEAK with flawless radio calls and polished announcements, with the confidence of captains and the precision of controllers, but don’t love, I’m nothing but worn-out aircraft brakes— screeching, smoking, and failing to stop the plane. If I know every manual, every procedure, every system and code, if I can read the weather, anticipate turbulence, and even believe with absolute certainty that a grounded aircraft will somehow be cleared to fly, but I don’t love, I’m nothi

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted; He saves the crushed in spirit.” ~ Psalm 34:18 There are seasons when strength feels like a rumor; something other people talk about, something you once knew but can’t quite remember how to reach. In those moments, the heart doesn’t merely ache; it breaks. The spirit doesn’t just bend; it feels crushed under the weight of grief, regret, disappointment, exhaustion. Don’t make the mistake of rushing past that reality. God doesn’t tell us

"God's healing is so perfect it doesn't matter what happens; we are His forever!" After visiting a friend with a life and death health situation and his family the other day, I  went home and started to pray about it. Almost immediately, I froze. I felt so small, and lost confidence for a moment. What do I know about the reasons he is in this health crisis? And no matter how much I want to help, what if my ignorance does more harm than good? But a scripture intercepted my thi

“It is wiser to do small things with great love than great things with little love.” G (unknown Many of our richest life moments happen in the quiet meanderings of every day—the kind words, the helping hand, the patient listening, a moment of laughter between friends or parents and their children. A text or photo shared with one who understands the meaning. A much-needed smile. A warm hug that says everything. I think we too often overlook those times, convinced they don’t r

If you are troubled today, or feel that your story isn’t completely "right," you are certainly not alone. But, you are in the presence of One who cares for you personally, not just as one of many. Know that your Creator is listening to you. Yes, YOU! “ You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.” —Psalm 56:8 There are moments in every life when loneliness settles in quietly—when we are convinced th

On Parents and Children You will show them how they should live, how to decide; how to act; what to say.   But they will live their own...

Shelter in The Shadow Psalm 91:9–11: "If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you;...

Our Only Real Help in Every  Trouble! Psalm 34:19 ~ “Good people do not escape all troubles—they have them too. But the Lord helps them in each and every one. God even protects them from accidents.” I smiled at them as I listened with my grandchildren during their bedtime storybook readings. One book titled, “We’re Going On A Bear Hunt (and we’re not afraid!) illustrated the young characters setting out to find a bear. Along the way they encountered a series of difficult prob

TO BE CHOSEN—it’s more than just being picked; it’s to be seen, known, and set apart for a purpose. We often think of being chosen in the...

STILL PADDLING Over the years, couples have often asked us, “What’s the secret to a long and happy marriage?” We never know quite how to...

WHEN THE MEANING FINDS YOU “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.” – Ecclesiastes 12:13 I recently...

Romans 14:8 (MSG): "What’s important in all this is that if you keep a holy day, keep it for God’s sake; if you eat meat, eat it to the...

Yesterday was Father’s Day. Just three days out from surgery, I was still groggy from anesthesia and the aftershocks of the trauma. It...

Three decades ago, the Steven Covey Institute was a central part of my Six Sigma corporate training. It was rooted in Covey’s...

AN ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION photographer took this snapshot on Spiller Field, also known as Ponce de Leon Park , home of the Atlanta...

Joy: Love’s Invincible Bodyguard One day, my grandmother asked me to visit her in the hospital. Her life was gently slipping away, and...

Whenever I am out-and-about in public venues, I look to make someone smile or laugh, and show them I "see" them. If I can make someone's...

On New Year’s Resolutions: WHETHER WE BELIEVE IT OR NOT, whether we know it or not, we are all, each, and as a group, living out a...

I'M THANKFUL FOR LAUGHTER and most of all friends who've shared it with me over the years. There's something timeless about that kind of joy — It's music, it's deeply healing; it's human — and it brings us closer than words ever could. I'm drawn to people who laugh well and often. But I sometimes treasure the peace of quiet moments, solitude, like drifting off by the fire. With any luck, tomorrow will bring more laughter. __________________________________ Copyright January 2

EACH LIFE tells a story. Only the One-who-causes-things-to-exist knows everything about them. Every story is His creation. Scholars have...