Someone needs to hear this message today.
If you are in a wrestling match with fear, this is for you.
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Posted on 8.10.2015 by Jody Noland
Posted on 8.07.2015 by Jody Noland
Imagine not having a way to communicate with your family. No cellphone. No ability to text. No Internet access. Not even any paper for letter writing.
Imagine being in the midst of war. Thinking of the ones you love. Praying for them. Bombs going off around you. IED’s exploding. Imagine watching brothers being severely wounded and doing your best to save them. Some making it. Some not. Imagine praying for God to protect you and to get you home safely when your mission is completed. Just imagine.
Posted on 7.31.2015 by Jody Noland
Writing letters. It seems so passé. So old school. Something done by our parents or grandparents.
Why write a letter…on paper…when we can send a text, write a birthday greeting on Facebook, or tag someone on Instagram? Those methods of communicating are so immediate and so efficient. And instant communication can be so gratifying. To us.
Why would anyone waste the time writing a letter?
Because the written word matters forever. Especially to the recipient.
Posted on 7.24.2015 by Jody Noland
Most people would not consider a hike that began at 3am as “fun.”
Well…”fun” might not be the best way to describe the experience.
“One of the highlights of my life” would be more accurate.
Posted on 7.17.2015 by Jody Noland
Do you have the pitter patter of little feet in your life? Children? Grandchildren? Nieces and nephews?
What a joy! And what a responsibility.
When you have the opportunity to tuck them into bed at night, do you say prayers with them? There’s nothing quite so pure and beautiful as hearing a little child pray.
As Jesus said: “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” (Mark 10:14)
Posted on 7.10.2015 by Jody Noland
Are you going through a difficult season of life right now?
Wondering if circumstances will ever improve or that big, hairy, audacious prayer will ever be answered?
Are you losing heart?
Then please join me in a simple exercise. I’ve found this to be wonderful reminder of the truth that it is “darkest before the dawn.”
Posted on 7.03.2015 by Jody Noland
Do you ever feel worn out…over the hill…or just plain beaten up?
Have you ever been told that you’re too old to be competitive?
Do people in skinny jeans treat you as though you are irrelevant or invisible?
In our youth-obsessed culture, it’s easy to feel as though our value deceases as we age.
Perhaps, in the eyes of the world, that’s true.
But as children of God, we are cherished and valued no matter what our age or condition.
Think about the beauty of the patina of silver.
Posted on 6.26.2015 by Jody Noland
The midpoint for 2015 is rapidly approaching. For reflective types like me, it’s a perfect time to press the “pause button.” To think about lessons learned. To thank God for prayers answered and yet unanswered. To assess my progress (or lack thereof) toward my 2015 goals.
Among the most rewarding...and unexpected... experiences for me in 2015 has been helping pediatric hospice patients write letters to those they love before they were “promoted” to Heaven. Wow! Talk about convincing me that this work matters.
Posted on 6.19.2015 by Jody Noland
Father’s Day is approaching. And whether your father is living or deceased there are lessons to be learned from his life. For some, the insights are extremely positive. For others, the memories are more painful, frequently bracketed with “the last thing I want to be is like my dad.”
What life lessons have you learned from your father? Have you ever written them down? If not, I urge you to take a few minutes this weekend and do so. As a counselor once drilled in my head “God wastes nothing.” That includes both our joy and our pain…assuming we are willing students.
Posted on 6.12.2015 by Jody Noland
Father’s Day is coming once again. And with it, comes a wonderful opportunity for anyone blessed to have a living father, father-in-law or husband. Think of it as a time to “eulogize the living.”
We’ve all been to funerals. Heard beautiful eulogies from friends and family about the impact the dearly departed made with their life.