Have you ever heard of someone struggling with an illness? Personally, I consider myself living with an autoimmune condition, rather than struggling with it. I, along with 23.5 million other Americans, face the following common challenges of living with an autoimmune condition: Like many chronic illnesses, an autoimmune condition continues or occurs again and again […]
Writing No Matter What
If you have ever tried to write, you have likely experienced writer’s block at some point. You may be familiar with some of the internal and external causes of this troubling condition, as well as how to push past them so you can come up with creative ideas, precise words, and original work. But are […]
Brokenness Isn’t All Bad
“Oh no…the wedding!” The words came out as quickly as I had I fallen on the tile floor in my home. What good could come from a bride breaking her wrist ten days before her wedding? Many assured me that everything would be okay—and they were right. I walked down the aisle just seven days […]
A Merry Mouth
I know it’s only January, but I already miss hearing “Merry Christmas.” This cheerful greeting brings a smile to people’s faces, even if they are shivering from winter’s cold weather or frustrated from waiting in long lines at a store. These two simple words remind us that we have an incredible reason to rejoice. I […]
Letter Writing–Much More Than a Day or a Profession
Did you know there is a Compliment Day (January 24), an International Joke Day (July 1), and even an Ask a Stupid Question Day (September 28)? Well, I used to ask why we have days for all these random things until recently, when I discovered a day designated for something that mattered to me. December […]
What is Written
The most powerful spoken and written messages consist of select words, ordered in a particular way. Too many words can bore the audience. Wrong or misplaced words can lead to confusion and miscommunication. But just the right words can transform lives. While writing a report recently, it occurred to me that less is sometimes better. […]
Encourage and Strengthen Each Other
When was the last time you struggled with something in your soul? Perhaps you wrestled with self-doubt or discouragement following a mistake or a series of disappointments. Maybe fear threatened you to not dare move forward in faith. From time to time, we all struggle with conflicting emotions, thoughts, and wills. Fortunately, we don’t have […]
Fight For, Not Against, Each Other
No matter how mature, we all face conflicts in our relationship with our spouse or someone else we love. Our level of maturity does affect how we handle the conflict. With God’s help, we can fight for—not against—each other. The following suggestions urge us to fight in an honorable way. Keep Talking For many people, […]
Writing for You and Your Audience
Do you write in secret? Perhaps you have journaled for as long as you can remember but have never shared your writing with anyone else. Did you know that you can write effectively for both you and an audience? Many individuals write for themselves—and that’s great! Writing can help you remember important information, process difficult […]
Connecting with Your Audience
Congratulations on securing a speaking engagement! Now it’s time to think about your audience. The following suggestions will help you connect with the individuals who need to hear your message. Get to know your audience prior to the event. Are you speaking to just women or men and women? Do some research to find out […]
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