merri ellen g :)
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The Days In Between: Reflecting on the Pause Between Christmas and New Year
(Photo from an early morning stroll with hubby along the river.) Every year, I deeply feel this time. The days between Christmas and New Year’s Eve hold a unique stillness—a pause in the busyness of life. The celebrations of Christmas have passed, and the anticipation of a new year lies ahead. It’s during this in-between…
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You need to be seen, valued, and affirmed. (Validation)
Why do we get stuck in a cycle of needing validation from someone to see us, value us and affirm us? This post came from an early morning thought stream after waking up at 5:05am… (For many of you, this thought stream will not be new. This isn’t new for me either but this morning…
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Peace and Joy in the Mess: Finding Yourself in the Christmas Story
The story of Jesus’ birth in Luke 2:8-20 is one we know so well: shepherds in the fields, angels proclaiming peace, and Mary treasuring it all in her heart. But have you ever paused to ask: Where am I in this story? As I recently reflected on this passage with our online group of women,…
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The Walls Around Our Hearts
The Walls Around our Hearts: Surrendering Our Defence Mechanisms to God for True Heart Healing Pain, disappointment, betrayal, and fear can lead us to build walls around our hearts. Often, we don’t even realize these walls are there— defence mechanisms we use to protect ourselves. While they may seem to shield us from hurt, these…
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Navigating Grief and Loss When Leaders Fall into Sin
The fall of a spiritual leader can feel like an earthquake shaking the foundations of our faith. Leaders often play pivotal roles in our lives, pointing us to Christ, teaching us God’s Word, and modeling spiritual growth. When they stumble into sin, it can leave us grieving, confused, and disillusioned. How do we process this…
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See the Gold in your Grumbling
Turn Your Grumbling Into Gold: Transform Complaints Into Powerful Prayers We all have moments of frustration—those times when the little annoyances pile up, or when deeper longings feel unmet. It’s easy to let grumbling slip into our conversations and thoughts. But what if your grumbling could become something beautiful? What if your complaints were actually…
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Are You Mocking Me?
What is the Root of a Mocking Attitude? Mocking. It’s a sharp word, isn’t it? It conjures images of hurtful laughter, dismissive remarks, or subtle jabs meant to diminish someone else. The hardest is watching leaders do this – mocking other leaders. Leaders are called to a higher account. If we as leaders mock others,…
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Smart Leaders Start Inside
Exceptional Leadership: Where True Growth Begins Leadership (in your family, business or faith community) often starts with doing—managing tasks, guiding teams, and making decisions. But wise leaders know the secret: true leadership doesn’t begin with doing. It begins with becoming. Most leaders focus on working in their circle of influence. Smart leaders step back to…
Following and Trusting : Encountering God Out of the Box 