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Read Jan's biography.
August 2008 - Just the Right One
Every once in a while the thought crosses my mind that somewhere out there is “just the right one”. At this stage in my life, with my nest empty, this thought is most often in reference to finding just the right friend.
July 2008 - It's All About the Maintenance
It may not seem that maintenance is a very spiritual concept, but if we look at what the Bible teaches through that lens, it suddenly becomes a foundational truth to explore. It takes more than just a green thumb to grow a beautiful garden; it takes dedication, planning, passion, personal investment, trial and error, and gobs of elbow grease! Likewise, it takes more than simple desire to build a strong and lovely faith; it takes dedication, planning, passion, personal investment, trial and error, and gobs of elbow grease!
June 2008 - Fathers: Forgive Them
So in honor of my father whom I deeply respect and who still drives me crazy at times, I’d like to share one of the life lessons he and my heavenly Father, together, taught me about “finding myself”.
May 2008 - The Matron of Macomb
Nina and I used to walk at Lakeside Mall three days a week. We would do one lap together, and then she would sit in the pit by Sears while I did the second lap alone, and she would rejoin me for the third lap. We would chat amiably as we walked, and I enjoyed her company immensely. I was inspired by her passion for life, intelligence and inquisitive mind, positive outlook, and sense of humor. I found myself hanging on her every word to discern her “secret”. I wanted to be like her “when I grew up”, because at the time, I was in my late forties, and Nina was in her early nineties.
April 2008 - The Soul Whisperer - Part 4 As a Matter of Fact
April showers bring May flowers, and those showers fall on the just and the unjust alike (Matthew 5:45). We can learn a lot about life from observing nature, the handiwork of our Creator, because what is true in the physical world is often true in the spiritual realm as well. Just as rain falls randomly on everything and everyone, good and bad things happen at random to all of us, whether we are good or bad ourselves. It’s a “matter of fact”. How we handle the fierce storms we all encounter depends on our life perspective and how well we soak up the showers of blessings that fall equally on us all.
March 2008 - The Soul Whisperer - Part 3 The God Code
My husband and I couldn’t wait to see “National Treasure: Book of Secrets” when it arrived in movie theaters in December. We thoroughly enjoyed the first “National Treasure” movie based on the era of the founding fathers, and this second one, built around the Lincoln Assassination, was equally enjoyable, though a tad predictable. In both movies the high adventure and relationships that developed revolved around deciphering secret codes hidden in historical documents and artifacts that, when interpreted correctly, lead to vast treasuries of ancient gold concealed in elaborately booby-trapped caverns “right under their noses”. It made me think: What if we were to approach God’s Word as treasure hunters, intent on deciphering His code to unlock the riches He has in store for us?
February 2008 - Solomon and His Many Nagging Wives
As wise as Solomon was, he just didn’t “get it” when it came to women. I was frustrated when I wrote this, so forgive me if it seems brutally truthful, but my goal was to figure out my own situation, and hopefully encourage others to explore the dynamics of marriage and initiate discussion that is both gracious and honest. Of course, you may enjoy this itty bitty scolding for men more than your husband, but don’t get too comfortable, since the Bible study notes that follow are designed for women to encourage the mutual accountability we all need to strive for in our marriages.
January 2008 - The Soul Whisperer – Part 2 Soulprints
It’s not an easy task to find the delicate balance of truth that is God’s fingerprint of love, so it is important to be thoughtful and disciplined in our search for it instead of being impulsive and reactionary. It is also important to remember that differing points of view are inevitable, invaluable, and essential to the truth-finding process. Unchallenged points of view lead to apathy, dangerous unaccountability, and spiritual laziness. We are fast approaching the most spiritually significant celebration time in the calendar year for Christians, and how we handle the stress and setting the tone for holidays is important. Hopefully we do a good job of positively influencing those around us and glorifying God in the process...
