Love is in the air. Dove chocolate now takes the shape of hearts. Stuffed frogs with pink, kissy lips beg to be taken home. School clubs are selling carnations candy-grams to be delivered to friends and sweethearts. A few days ago, I bought a box of heart-shaped Little Debbie’s and placed them just so in my heart-shaped candy dish. (They… Read More
When God’s Word Takes Root In Your Heart
When was the last time you heard a song on the radio that you fell in love with? So you downloaded a copy off of iTunes and played it over and over until you knew it by heart. You know what happens when you do that. The song sticks with you. It’s almost like background music to your day. No… Read More
Bible Study: An Invitation to Divine Romance
If you’re following my posts this month, you know I am giving away some great resources that will grow your relationship with God. The first two were focused on our daily, devotional time with Him. This week I’m taking things a step deeper. When I was young, my mom taught me how to have daily devotions. Eventually she explained that… Read More
An Invitation to Radical Intimacy with God
Intimacy. To be completely known, accepted, and loved. It’s one of our most basic needs. No matter what else is going on in our lives, we need to know that someone knows us. All about us. Even the worst aspects of our nature. Yet still loves us. Generally speaking, friends like that are hard to come by. In the Christian world, however,… Read More
15 Brief, Yet Powerful Prayers for Persecuted Believers
A little over a year ago I wrote a post about prayers for persecuted believers. It wasn’t I wanted to do. Honestly, I wanted to stay as far away from it as possible. But as usual, God changed my heart and my mind. You can read about it here. God used something as simple as writing my signature to remind… Read More
Do You Skim or Do You Soak?
While my friends lettered in athletics and academics, I lettered in shorthand. (Some of you are asking if that’s even possible. Others are asking, what in the world is shorthand??) Shorthand goes with my personality. I am wired to get things done, get them done fast, and get them done right. Obstacles to these goals cause me a great deal… Read More
I Soaked off My Acrylic Nails
I soaked off my acrylic nails today. I’ve been wanting to do this for a while. They don’t look so great right now. In fact, it will be at least four months before most of them are completely grown out and strong again. I love having lovely nails. But I do not love the time it takes have them maintained…. Read More
The Fragrance of Suffering
Frankincense, spikenard, myrrh, hyssop. Not sure which one it is, but the fragrance has clung to me all day. And I remember. Every year a church in our area provides a walk-through “Passion Week Experience,” Wednesday through Friday of Holy Week. It has become a regular part of my personal preparation for Resurrection Sunday. Using black curtains, they separate their… Read More
Scrawled or Legible?
Soon after my husband and I became engaged, I began the inevitable–practicing my new signature. No longer would I sign, C. Dianne Strangmeier. I would sign important documents as Dianne Thornton. I couldn’t wait for it to be official! A couple of years ago I realized that I had become sloppy with my signature. Literally, it was a scrawl. My D was the… Read More