The Titus 2:4 Project

One of my favorite creature comforts—one of the modern conveniences I truly appreciate—is our Roomba. I don’t enjoy vacuuming. I like to cook. I don’t mind doing laundry. I don’t even mind washing windows on occasion. But vacuuming? No, thank you. So when my husband agreed to buy a Roomba to chase away the dust bunnies in our home, I was elated. We call him Will . As in Will Smith… from the movie I, Robot. If you have a Roomba of your own, you know you named yours too. Just admit it. My husband is the boss of Will. He has the app on his phone. He set it up, controls the schedule, and manages the map. Will’s home base—his charger and bin—is near my desk, so I’m used to him running in and out of my office area throughout the day. He wakes up at 9 a.m. and goes to work, cleaning up after us. When he’s picked up all he can handle or starts running low on battery, he scurries back to his home to unload, rest, and recharge. Twice a day, he cleans up around the litter box, and three ti...

  I love that women today are feeling more empowered to do hard things. Whether it’s working toward a healthy lifestyle, seizing a career opportunity, facing parenting or relationship challenges, or even literally fighting for their very lives—women are stepping up to do the hard stuff. I also deeply appreciate how we are supporting and encouraging one another in these battles. There’s beauty in the way we rally together, lifting each other up in the fight. But I want to offer a loving word of caution to the many women I see standing confidently in their own strength:   Sister, you DON’T got this . As much as you might want to believe that you’re tough and can handle it all—you can’t. Not in your own strength. Not alone. Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” Apart from Him, we simply don’t have the strength we need to face the battles that inevitably come our way. So, while you’re gearing up to fight and your friends are cheering y...

In 2017, my husband surprised me with a fabulous trip to Europe for our 20th wedding anniversary. We spent three days in each, London, Paris and Germany, traveling between cities by rail. It was truly the trip of a lifetime and according to our fitness trackers, we walked more than 20 miles in those nine days.  Walking seemed safer for us. Maybe for everyone around us as well because most of the streets were narrow, cobblestone streets that often intersected with roundabouts. Roundabouts are helpful, I suppose. They mitigate stop lights and stop signs, but you have to be a confident driver to jump in or out when you have the opportunity...And we were not confident drivers in Europe. Street signs were a in foreign language and the steering wheel is on the right side of the car! These roundabouts were basically a free-for-all. No lines to mark lanes of traffic. No signs. Just say a prayer and hope for the best. The intersection at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris was the 'Mac Daddy' ...

Be my companion when I’m alone Be my compass that leads the way Be the colors of my rainbow Be my peace throughout the day Be my confidence when I’m scared Be my clarity when I’m confused Be my ransom when I’m captive Be my defense when I’m accused Be my friend when others fail Be my faith when I’m in doubt Be my guide when I am lost Be everything that I’m about Be my patience when I’m restless Be my strength when I am weak Be my joy when things go well Be my words when I can’t speak Be my rest when I am weary Be the wind beneath my wings Be my light when times are dark Be the song that my soul sings Be my healer when I am sick Be my youth as I grow older Be my high when I am low Be my warmth as days grow colder Be my sustenance when I hunger Be my dream when I’m asleep Be my up when I am down Be my comfort when I weep Be my rescue when I’m abandoned  Be the melody in my song Be my cushion when I fall Be my right when I am wrong Be my provider when I’m in need Be my love that I ado...

The trappings of life.... trappings is defined by  Dictionary.com  as: 'articles of equipment or dress, especially of an ornamental character.' I think 'trapping' is apropos, because these 'ornamental' things can certainly trap us.  For many of us, we are truly slaves to the trappings of life.  We become accidental slaves to the things we work to acquire.   It's a First World Problem.  But it's a problem. My friend Jenni once asked me, after hearing me comment that something was a 'First World Problem', what that phrase meant.  She said she'd heard it many times, but wasn't exactly sure what it meant. I explained that we, as beneficiaries of a privileged life, live in a 'first world' country.  Some, who live in underdeveloped countries, would be appalled at the things we fret about... missing a manicure appointment because you're on vacation in the Caribbean? Definitely a 'first world problem'.   First world problems a...

I know and love a lot of veterans. (Some of them pictured here.) I can only share my own observations because I’m not a veteran myself. I’m not one of the brave ones. I kept my butt squarely in one of the cheap seats - a seat that cost me nothing. But from the safety and comfort of my vantage point, here are a few things I find compelling. To be a veteran seems to be part of a brotherhood that transcends branch, age, race, religion, rank or sex; all united under one FLAG and one word: SERVICE.   Within the brotherhood, I have witnessed the friendly rivalry between branches and MOS (specialties). It’s sort of like siblings bullying each other. People within the brotherhood can tease each other - but if anyone on the outside of the brotherhood threatens or maligns a member, they all rise to the defense of the other.   There’s an humble respect for the elder generation and the wounded among veterans. A silent nod to the man in the wheelchair or the one wearing a Vietnam Veteran...