Decision-making - Joy to the Soul

15 Nov

Waiting for God to Give the Green Light?

Joy

8 Comments

Last summer, as Brady and I sat at a traffic light in Wilmington, NC nothing seemed unusual. I talked. He listened intently waiting for me to breathe. Then the light changed. As we made a left turn something took my breath away. We turned onto Grace Street. Going forward would...

16 Oct

Why Friendships Benefit from Boundaries

Joy

4 Comments

Lessons I've Learned (so far) Series

My friends and I often speak about our need for greater focus. So when I asked one for help with a project, she said, “No.” As she explained her commitments, I knew she was at full capacity. Normally, I’d be disappointed. But this time was different. I knew her “no”...

20 Sep

Would You Live In A Tiny House?

Joy

14 Comments

Living With Purpose

Would you live in a tiny house? It’s the question for buyers on the popular HGTV show, Tiny House Hunters. I’m a fan of House Hunters featuring traditional sized homes. So when the pint-sized version appeared a while back, I watched a few episodes. At first, I was underwhelmed. There...

23 Aug

The Art of Choosing Sides

Joy

10 Comments

Relationships

As I waited in line for a vanilla latte, I became the audience for two men debating recent headlines. I swiped at my phone’s screen to protest my audience participation. My only escape came as this question ran through my mind: In our politically partisan, socio-economic sliced and self-preservation society,...

12 Jul

The Significance of “I’m Sorry”

Joy

6 Comments

Uncategorized

Confession. I’m a talker. In my excitement, sometimes I interrupt the person I’m talking with. I know it’s rude. I want to cut off the microphone in my mind to hear the courtesy in my heart. I apologize for my social faux pas. But after so many times, ironically, my...

01 Feb

Next Step: Be Truthful

Joy

6 Comments

Affirmation, Next Step Series

You may be familiar with the game “Two Truths and A Lie.” It’s a familiar icebreaker where participants tell two facts and one falsehood about themselves. The game allows members of a group to get to know each other with a few laughs along the way. I don’t do well...

24 Jan

Next Step: Be Kind

Joy

4 Comments

Next Step Series

kīnd\ (adjective) – showing or growing out of gentleness or goodness of heart. As I look in the public square, it’s easy to see a kindness deficit. Tempers flare in our political atmosphere and divisions widen in our nation’s demographic. Surely there is hope. But, if we reject goodness in the...

17 Jan

Next Step: Be Teachable

Joy