- What’s in the Cards for You in 2021?
I’m approaching 2021 as I would the card game: Twenty One. God is my dealer, and I’m asking Him to “hit me” with additional cards to give me a winning hand. Maybe you want to play too? - Finding Your Vision Might Start with Finding Your Word
My search for a vision for my writing life in 2021 is starting with my word of the year: satisfied. Why? Because God alone can satisfy. I need to live that. - Obstacles Can Confirm You’re on the Right Path
I had wanted to attend that virtual retreat. I felt doing so was to protect the call of God in my life. I think Satan thought so too – and so he did everything in his power to prevent me from attending. - How Writing Is Like Offering Wine at a Tasting
Sharing your writing is like offering your heart as wine at a wine-tasting event. You may have people gathered, but your wine is one in a million (or five or thirty) – and not in a good way. - Here’s Why You Can Find Hope in Any Season of Life
I share some tender scenes in my life so that you can know that God offers hope in your darkest hour. If you can’t reach out to Him, ask Him to reach out to you. - This Is How Planning Can Give You Freedom
Creating goals and action steps makes me realize that I can best number my days by numbering my hours. I’m trying to live them with intention, which requires planning. - This Is Why You Should Make Small Moves in the Right Direction
Have you ever felt stuck? Unable to move forward? An experience at a traffic light moved me into gear so I could get this body in motion. - ‘Cloud of Witnesses’ Isn’t Pie in the Sky; It’s Real and It’s Now
The cloud has been a way for us to meet face to face without sharing germs. It’s also a way to cross generations, cultures, and distance to connect. - Side Effect of Salvation: I Have Comfort in His Loss
Scott was small in stature but larger than life. He had a big personality. Big problems — usually self-created. But he was and is my brother. - So You Want to Reconcile With Someone You Once Loved?
Five years ago, I gave a speech that reveals how my decision to do the right thing led to reconciliation with my brother Scott. - Podcast With Sara Dagen: The Power of a Good Question
In this blog post, I share a podcast episode in which FlourishWriter Founder Mindy Kiker interviewed me. It includes a question that changed my life. - If Your Message Is Important, Shouldn’t You Reach As Many As Possible?
The Shepherd left the 99 to search for the 1 missing sheep. Yes, “the one” tells us how much the Shepherd cares. But the key to that parable isn’t the number of sheep He went to find. - ‘How Can You Suggest Your Brother Went to Heaven?’ He Asked
What if you come to the realization that Jesus is the Son of God who came to take away your sins, moments before you die? What then? That’s what he asked me. - I’ve Lost Her: One Cat Who Stops Cars and Steals Hearts
Cats are selfish. They want their needs met and care little about you, except to do their bidding. But how we miss them when they’re gone! - To Read or Not to Read Isn’t the Question. Will You Engage?
Just as those in Jesus’ parables looked for something that was theirs, I am looking for you. Are you my reader? - If Someone Peeked at Your Calendar, Would It Show What You Value?
The sweet spot for me is when I can create a plan that becomes a routine that becomes a habit — based on what I value. - What Must You Conquer to ‘Possess the Land’ God Has Promised You?
Caleb had audacious faith. Faith enough to silence the naysayers all around him. Faith that God could win the battle for a prize piece of land. - How Writing a Book Is Like Birthing a Baby at 90
I am avoiding my Isaac. That’s the working title for my first novel. Why Isaac? Indeed. Why not Ishmael? - This Is Why You Should Do Everything As If You Were Doing It for Jesus
Only God could orchestrate a chance encounter that would bless my grandson and encourage my writer’s heart, too. - What Do You Call Tardiness When You Find It’s Perfect Timing?
I had heard the advice way back in February but failed to act on it. Had I blown it? Was I too late? No! I’m exactly where I need to be right now. - How a UTI Showed Me What Truth Looks Like to an Unbeliever
In my fear and distress in the midnight hours, I had missed the details in the description that might have calmed my fear. - Before You Can ‘Trust and Obey’ You Must Listen When God Whispers — How?
“I am training you to listen and act so that I can co-create with you as we write.” That’s what I heard God say to me. - How a Slick Yoga Mat Showed Me Value in Strengthening Little Muscles
What if we followed our instructor’s guidance, fully engaged our mind and core, and mustered our strength against opposing forces so nothing could move us? - Answer His Call
A reminder that whom God calls, He equips. Stand strong against the spiritual wind and waves that threaten, knowing that God has already won the battle. - Pave Your Road to Success With God Intentions; Don’t Settle for Good
What we need are not “good” intentions but “God” intentions — and add our attention to those and to God Himself. Then we can succeed. - What Will You Do to Reach Jesus? Follow This Woman’s Example
A desperate woman who sees Jesus as her only hope pushes beyond the crowd, beyond the social constraints, beyond anything that might prevent her from touching the hem of His garment. - This Is How You Can Live Life to the Fullest as a Christian
How do you relate to your personal servants — your body, mind, appetites of the body such as hunger or thirst or lust? Are you ruling over them? - To Know His Will
Today, my younger self reminds me to submit to my heavenly Father’s lead, to align my will with His, and to trust Him wherever He leads. - This Is the One Love Story You Don’t Want to Miss
The Bible’s real “Love Chapter” is Romans 8, not 1 Corinthians 13. Romans 8 demonstrates God’s love — and the powerful difference it makes to you and me. - Dear Reader, Why in the World Do You Read My Blog Posts?
Sometimes — like my cat — we do our duty but miss our target. Sometimes it truly stinks. Keep trying and adjust your aim. - Back When I First Taught Book Publishing, I Tried It Myself First
When I taught writing to a group of 20 homeschoolers, our final project was to write and illustrate our own books. Because those who teach also must do, I did my own. This is my first book — about my experience with laser surgery. It was a funny, painful experience. - My Reward for Suffering Poor Customer Service? A Promise of Less Service
I waited more than an hour for my doctor alone in an examining room before I decided I’d waited long enough. I opened the door to find the entire office vacant. What? - Anticipating the First Day of School? Your Teacher Is, Too
And she wants an ideal year — just like you This week’s blog post will take you out of my … - What Do You Do With a Birthday Gift? Use It Well
I recognize that I am blessed — and not always using my gifts. my health, my wholeness to their full extent. Are you? - I Decided to Create a Care Package for God; This Is What Happened
What if I wrote my to-do list beside a to-do list for God? Or get a box, write my cares on paper to put inside, and declare it a “care package to God”? - It’s All Fun and Games Until Your DIY Project Goes Up in Smoke
We feel a certain pride when we’re able to fix something ourselves and save money doing it. But sometimes DIY isn’t the best option. Then what do you do? - Faith in Jesus Is Like Trust in the COVID Jab
Trust in the COVID vaccine seems an apt illustration — a tangible and timely one — for our dependence on Jesus Christ alone for salvation. - How Do You Handle Your Emotions When Your Child Is Benched?
As a parent, it’s painful watching your child suffer when you are powerless to help. This poem, titled “Benched,” captures one of those moments for me. - What Can Yoga Do for You? This Story Might Inspire You
This 72-year-old says yoga’s focus on balance and alignment is healing and critical to her ability to function, especially as she ages. - This Coach Got Better, Not Beaten by the Crash That Nearly Killed Him
Marion Chisholm Is on a Mission to Win at Sports and Life The first time I noticed him was in … - ‘I Love My Scar,’ This Breast Cancer Survivor Told Us
A young mother learns to abide in God and finds joy despite her journey through breast cancer, including chemo, a radical mastectomy, and radiation therapy. - Things That Go ‘Boo’ in The Night — Or Day
My husband’s attempts to scare me are sometimes downright inappropriate. This time, I told my husband, I was taking my response to the next level… - Just Ask: Two Words God Uses to Change Your World
I get the sense that God is training me to “just ask” Him for help. Part of that is going outside of my comfort zone to ask others for what I need or want. - The Cat Analogy: Short, Sweet, and to the (Clawed) Point
When my cat took over my lap and kneaded her claws into my thigh, she did much more than scratch the surface. She penetrated my heart. - Don’t Trade Away God’s Lifelong Gift to Satisfy a Short-Term Appetite
A bowl of soup vs. a birthright? It seems like a no-brainer. But how many times have I chosen momentary satisfaction instead of a gift lasting a lifetime or beyond? - Big Hearts, Small Kindnesses Make Me Thankful This Thanksgiving
Inspired by the moments my friend used to express love and gratefulness before he died, I wanted to thank those who have touched my life. - A Book Review: Farm to Film
Farm to Film is not a collection of photographs but, rather, a collection of moments, captured by a camera and then transferred into beautiful watercolors. - Guess What Happens If You Don’t Replace Bad Habits With New Ones?
Habits, like cats, inhabit our lives. They take whatever space we yield to them. The trick to keeping bad habits at bay? Fill the space with something else. - The Lesson From the Christmas Tree
As I tediously wrapped lights around my tree, a lesson appeared before me. It seemed poetic, so a poem seemed fitting. May you, too, experience the light of Christmas today. - This Is Why We Can Love Well
Going to a large party attended by people I wouldn’t know wasn’t my idea of a good time. Who knew it could be a “God time”? Well, probably, God. - What’s in Your ‘Book of Ailments’?
Sometimes I see beyond my husband’s superficial silliness to his real message — and God’s message. It’s well worth the insight!
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