Every Monday, I’ll post about discovering genuine hope and authentic answers for living a healthy life. — Purpose matters. It’s powerful. Directive. Encouraging. Hopeful. Steadying. Motivating. Engaging. Without purpose, we flounder. Question. Doubt. Disengage. Wander. Stop. Die. Tyler was a college freshman at Cedarville University and like so many others, unsure of what to do in the future. General education requirements were his course of study. Nothing excited him. He had no passion for anything, but other students did. This just added to the pressure he felt to figure things out. At yet another meeting with his advisor, Tyler wisely told him that he likes to draw. He didn’t think it was that important, but it … [Read more...]
The Impact of Personal Identity
May 7, 2012 by · Leave a Comment
Every Monday, I’ll post about discovering genuine hope and authentic answers for living a healthy life. — Sometimes an identity change makes an almost immediate difference in someone’s behavior. Sometimes it doesn’t. What’s the difference? My nephew, Andy, graduated from college last Saturday. One minute he was a college student. The next, he was a graduate. Identity controls behavior. Now he won’t be studying to take tests unless and until he begins graduate school. He will be going to work. He’ll need new skills and behaviors. Identity is our second core need. It’s surrounded, or sandwiched, by security and belonging. They’ll both greatly influence it. When they’re strong and healthy, identity will more … [Read more...]
About Miracle Gro and Personal Security
April 30, 2012 by · Leave a Comment
Every Monday, I’ll post about discovering genuine hope and authentic answers for living a healthy life. — Last night I saw a television ad for Miracle Gro. That, and finishing my preparations for tonight’s webinar about security, has me thinking. You might wish you could sprinkle some Miracle Gro on your children and have them wake up the next day secure in who they are and in others. “Get big, beautiful results like never before.” But, as appealing as that is, it’s not possible to miraculously grow children’s security. Children’s security needs to have deep roots so it weathers storms and droughts. This takes time and the right fertilizer. Children develop self-security when they’re taught right from wrong … [Read more...]
Honoring Charity’s Life, Family & Community
April 23, 2012 by · 3 Comments
My heart is heavy for friends who have lost their 22-year old daughter, Charity, to rapid, shocking cancer in the form of a brain tumor. Just headaches a week ago. With Jesus today. My heart is in my throat and I can hardly think straight. Tears cloud my vision. I can only imagine what her parents and young husband are going through. She also leaves behind an 8-month-old son, siblings, and many relatives and friends. Charity’s dad and I have 165 mutual Facebook friends. Therefore, I’ve seen probably hundreds of posts requesting prayer over the past three days as his friends reach out to their networks. Many people have updated us so he didn’t need to spend time or energy doing it. I sometimes joke that not all Facebook … [Read more...]
The Importance, and Influence, of Our Name
April 16, 2012 by · 8 Comments
Every Monday, I’ll post about discovering genuine hope and authentic answers for living a healthy life. — Last week, while at the homeschool convention in Memphis, I was reminded of the value of our names. We read in Isaiah 43:1 that we are called or summoned by name. Our name is important to us and can influence our identity. It can influence our security, too. And, our belonging. Would you believe our name can even influence our purpose and competence? If you’ve never told your children why you named them what you did, please share your story. Knowing is better than not knowing. Don’t assume the story wouldn’t bless them. It could increase their hope in their purpose and in their tomorrows. If you didn’t have a … [Read more...]
Hope Does Something Medication Can’t Do
April 9, 2012 by · Leave a Comment
Every Monday, I’ll post about discovering genuine hope and authentic answers for living a healthy life. — Last Monday, I wrote about the importance of genuine hope. Over the past week, I was reminded again of hope’s value. Several times a year, I’m privileged to meet with some of our heroes who have fought the enemy in Iraq and Afghanistan. Last week, after several days of meetings, one man confidently stated, “Hope does something medication can’t do.” I was thrilled for this soldier. From Monday to Friday, I saw him sit up straighter, accept more of our affirmations, doubt less, and accept more. He relayed statements about his future with more confidence. Eye contact became easier. He smiled naturally and much … [Read more...]
Genuine Hope: It’s Essential
April 2, 2012 by · 1 Comment
Every Monday, I’ll post about discovering genuine hope and authentic answers for living a healthy life. — Hope. It’s essential. Genuine hope is best. People are looking for it. Searching. Wondering. Some people find counterfeit hope. Things that don’t last: Power that fades. Positions that lose prominence. Possessions that no longer satisfy. People who don’t last: People who lie. Who disappoint. Who don’t follow through. Who can’t be relied upon even though they said they could. Some people find despair. They’re disappointed so often by counterfeit hope they relied on for awhile that they give up. They stop looking. Believing. Wondering. Hoping. Despair becomes their companion. Without hope, people … [Read more...]
Naming “Things” Empowers You
March 26, 2012 by · Leave a Comment
Every Monday, I’ll post about discovering genuine hope and authentic answers for living a healthy life. — Naming "Things" Empowers You Do you name things? You name your children, for sure, but what else? When I was young, I named my stuffed dog Shniglefritz. Don’t ask…. Friends of mine name their cars. Absolutely! I never have. Do you? Whether we do or we don’t has something to do with our personality and style. Did its color or make influence its name? A memory associated with your car? Nothing in particular? Names are powerful and empowering. What if we named our houses? Naming it something doesn’t make it true. But, it gives us something to aim for. If you named yours today, what name would fit? Be a … [Read more...]
Remember: Encourage a Cowgirl Today
March 19, 2012 by · Leave a Comment
Every Monday, I’ll post about discovering genuine hope and authentic answers for living a healthy life. — Fort Worth, where I live, is a unique city for several reasons. We’re the 16th largest city in America, but you’d never know it. It feels so much smaller. We probably have the only water garden in the world. You read that right – it’s a garden of water and not flowers and it’s amazing. Our downtown is named Sundance Square after the famous Sundance Kid. During the great cattle drives of the late 1800's, Fort Worth was one of the major stops on the legendary Chisholm Trail. Cowboys on the trail would drop their cattle off at the Stockyards up the road and then visit downtown Fort Worth for the saloons, gambling … [Read more...]
Five Core Needs for Healthy Living
March 12, 2012 by · 2 Comments
Every Monday, I’ll post about discovering genuine hope and authentic answers for living a healthy life. — Last Monday, I posted about not being as nature smart as some people are. While in Galveston the previous week, I had no need to step into the Gulf. Others would have done that immediately upon arriving. Because the post was about one of our intelligences, it was really better designed for Wednesdays, when that’s the theme. I got my days mixed up. Upon reflection, though, the post did fit Monday’s theme of “discovering genuine hope and authentic answers for living a healthy life.” We’ll more likely live a healthier, more fulfilled life, when we meet all five of our needs in healthy ways. The same is true for … [Read more...]
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