[Jeanette-Marie Mirich] Encounter
A whisper of air struck my cheek and I turned to see the guard standing beside me.
“Is this your favorite painting here?” he asked.
[Sara Davison] Throwing the Covers off Our Heads
The temptation to stay in bed with the covers over our heads is strong. For many of us, we’ve lived with government recommendations—even, in some cases, demands—that we actually do stay in our homes. Shielding ourselves by staying home, turning off the news, engaging in safe, warm, cozy activities and light books and entertainment in an attempt to block out or forget about all that is going on is an understandable desire.
[Jeanette-Marie Mirich] The Helmet
My father thought sideways. It happens. Probably stemmed from the shrapnel imbedded in his head at a hillside in Italy.
[Alyssa Roat] 3 Ways to Foster Integrity
How far are you willing to go to pursue your goals? Goals are good, especially when we’re called to pursue things. For example, I know that I was called to publishing and writing. Others may know they were called to the mission field, to teaching, to firefighting, to music or art. Goals help us pursue…
[Kristen Hogrefe Parnell] The Secret to Anticipating Christmas
How do you anticipate a season if you’re dreading it? For some, this year has been full of blessings, but for many, it’s been one challenge after another. I feel you. This year has been a mixed bag for me.
The secret is that anticipating Christmas doesn’t depend on our circumstances.
[Alyssa Roat] Are You a Workaholic?
In our newest contemporary romance novel, Picture Imperfect, the female lead Caroline could be defined as a workaholic. But how can you tell if someone is a workaholic—including yourself? “Workaholism” doesn’t just mean that someone works a lot. We all have to work long hours sometimes. Instead, workaholism refers to a work addiction. Researchers from…
[Alyssa Roat] Follow Your Call
“Calling” is a buzzword, both inside and sometimes outside of Christian circles. People sometimes seem to be obsessed with “finding your calling,” whether life or career coaches promising to help you find it, those in ministry talking about following God’s call on their life, or the common phrase that someone “missed their calling.” But what…
[Janalyn Voigt] The Irish in America
On St. Patrick’s Day, Americans of Irish descent have something to boast about. A smidgeon of Irish blood is all it takes. How times have changed. Attitudes toward the Irish were quite different in Wild West days.