The comparison trap The only way to thrive in life is to be yourself—to flourish where you are right under the patch of grass God has placed you on. The dangerous mistake so many of us make is that we compare ourselves with others. Brennan Manning made the observation that "we are all cracked pots". In [...]
I am so thankful for my marriage. God has blessed our lives abundantly and we have enjoyed forty wonderful years of life together. One thing I am aware of is—the health of my relationship with Paul is integral to everything else I do. If our relationship is unstable every aspect of my life is in [...]
I love being with happy people! There is something so contagious about their joyful and fun filled lives. On the other hand, I avoid the company of miserable and bitter people. They are not pleasant to be around. Why? Because generally they are full of complaints, their countenance is dark and they exude an atmosphere [...]
I was standing at my kitchen sink washing dishes My mood was dark as I pondered a couple of mean spirited people in our church. "How could they be so critical?" I said to myself. We were pastoring a large church in Australia, working hard, doing our best, and all this couple could do was [...]
The moment my life changed! Jay's car! A big burly police officer was standing at my front door. I smiled at him, thinking he was there to collect money for the police force after the tragic events of 9/11. “Are you Mrs. Alexander?’ he asked respectfully. “Yes!” I responded quizzically. Then the [...]
Paul was in prison when he wrote Philippians I love the book of Philippians! It is full of encouragement and exhortation for our daily lives. What makes it such an exceptional epistle, in my view, is that when Paul wrote this letter it was from his prison cell where conditions were dismal and he was deprived [...]
Pain is awful – any kind! But, I think emotional pain is the worst kind of agony. When someone has intentionally hurt you the daily torture from that emotional wound can be unbearable. Adding to the pain and confusion are the questions that swirl around in your head. How could God allow this? Why are [...]
I don't know about you, but it is difficult for me to admit that I have had feelings of jealousy about someone. I never enjoy sharing those raw and barbaric parts of my nature. And yet, it is true to say that I have often envied people in my lifetime. The older I get the [...]
Many years ago I knew a lady who continually made excuses for herself and her husband. They were both professional people, but they had a number of personal issues. She would often say, "People need to learn to accept us as we are." The problem was that they had no intention of working on their [...]
I live on the Prairies in a little town in Ellendale, North Dakota, USA. Winter can be a brutal season with biting cold winds that slap you in the face at 50mph. But, whenever I see flocks of snow geese heading northward towards the Canadian tundra, I know that spring is on the heels of [...]
