October offered a full month of activities and events this year. We experienced a wedding, entertained two different sets of visiting friends, and attended a fabulous production of “Esther” at…
“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.”- Maya Angelou “I’m bored” was an expression my mother never allowed in our home. Boredom…
“To change one’s life, start immediately. Do it flamboyantly.” -William James Last week we began our month’s theme a little early, “7 Positive Results of Change” with Positive Result #1-…
Red, yellow, orange, and green leaves flutter downward encircling us in the confetti of fall’s beauty. Crisp, cool air splashes our faces as we set out on our morning walk….
A friend recently posted a poem that really caused me to ask myself, “What does success mean to me?” In our culture we often base success on our accomplishments, our…
We all grapple with it at some level, don’t we? Fearing the unknown is described by some as the foundational fear that underlies all fears. It is defined as the…
Reen and I stepped out today into glorious sunshine, cool breezes, and the whisper that fall is in the air as we started our morning walk. So refreshing. So hope-filled…
This month we’ve been looking at the cultural wars raging around us. It’s startling and frightening to watch the portrayal of evil and violence on the nightly news. Whether drive-by…
As the world is opening up again, we are starting to celebrate in person with family and friends. I’ve always been a big advocate for something I call “Set the…
Yesterday my daughter-in-love, Amy, sent me a photo of my grandson, Wyatt, standing by a very large wooden engraved road sign reading, “Seaside, Oregon.” They found a way to escape…
We so often think of war as the bloody battle between nations and peoples, heroes and enemies. But another war wages around us that is much more subtle, is sometimes…
As I persisted in evaluating my time, commitments, choices, and motives in seeking to know God’s will for my life (following my Hodgkin’s diagnosis), He taught me a third lesson…
Recently a TV commercial astounded me. A phrase in their marketing promotion stood out as if lit with neon lights. The narrator said, “The body you were randomly assigned at…
Yesterday Reen and I returned from a wonderful week ministering as Life Coaches and speaking at Sandy Cove Conference Center in Northeast, Maryland. The topic was “Stronger Together,” and we…
I often share my story of being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Disease. Through that experience, I felt God told me to stop everything so I could evaluate my committed responsibilities. It…
It seemed there was only one word that seemed to describe how I really felt…weary. My life became one of managing everything at home (as my first husband worked 24/7…
After traveling the nation for several decades speaking to thousands of women, I find that busyness and use of time continues to be an issue for almost every woman I…
I recently spoke with my daughters who were visiting my son and his family in Washington state. Thankfully, all my children seemed happy and having a good time. I asked…
My husband Reen’s career in the past was marketing and real estate, later coupled with a passion for writing. Due to the sudden post-pandemic demand for outstanding online writing, he…
Many coined 2020 as “the year the world stood still” and “the year the world forgot.” I doubt any of us will forget this past year, and yet even now…
I remember many years ago, taking my morning walk and listening to a Tony Robbins’ tape Reen recently purchased. Tony spoke of something that he termed “Pattern Interrupt.” This term…
I couldn’t focus on what my friend was saying. I was troubled by her previous comment and felt I needed to say something in response but wondered what to say….
Reen and I recently spent the day with a friend Reen has known for years. We’ll call him Mike. About five years ago Mike retired from a high paying position….
A little child kissing the grandparent he‘s missed seeing for months. A faithful canine companion alerts a passing car of his master who collapsed in distress. Servicemen and women wrapped…
I lay awake in the dark several nights ago, seeing the brilliant flash of lightning only moments before hearing the startling crash of thunder. I remember as a child, sitting…
Kathy Powell, recently retired after 25 years in managerial roles in the medical field, is passionate about Health and Wellness. As a certified Health and Wellness Coach, her volunteer efforts…
I stood in awe, peering up at the delicate clusters of pink blossoms overhead that also surrounded me. So intricate. So perfectly designed. So beautiful. We were traveling down the…
Resurrection Sunday arrives this week! With all the distressing news bombarding us daily, we really need a huge infusion of hope. And the celebration of resurrection this very week is…
When you awaken in the morning, what do you think about? Do you immediately dread all the responsibilities that your day will hold? Do you run through your anticipated schedule,…
In a small group discussion many years ago with Elisabeth Elliot (whose husband, Jim Elliot, was martyred by the natives originally called the Auca Indians), Elisabeth described her complete sense…
Can you believe it? I’m still in shock! During our weekly ZOOM call, my son and his wife (now living in Washington state), described their grocery shopping experience completed only…
I just spoke with my youngest daughter, Cera, who I have not seen in more than a year. I called with great hope that we might be together soon. We…
I don’t know about you, but I struggle with perfectionism. It’s not so much something I expect of others-it’s something I expect of myself. I can trace it back to…
So many of us are looking out our windows this week at snow…beautiful blankets of white completely covering the dead of winter. Have you accepted the fact that when you…
Lifting my eyes from the computer keyboard, I look out at a winter wonderland of white. The snow storm blew through last night and left everything covered in white. What…
This month we’re discussing “7 Steps to Certainty” as 2021 offers new possibilities and opportunities. Rather than allowing the uncertainty of 2020 to follow us into the New Year, we…
After the year we’ve all endured, uncertainty seemed to become our daily norm. But God wants us to find certainty in Him, so here are “7 Steps to Certainty” as…
It’s amazing to realize that statistically a person thinks between 12,000 and 60,000 thoughts a day. And what you think about affects your attitudes, motivation, and ability to accomplish tasks…
Are you feeling somewhat aimless and floundering? Or lethargic? Maybe your hesitancy in moving energetically into 2021 is due to uncertainty we’ve all felt due to the year we’ve just…
“Home Town”, with Erin and Ben Napier is one of my favorite HGTV programs. I enjoy the humor in their relationship and love their genuine affection for family and community….
So many of us are grateful to see 2020-21 in the rearview mirror! What challenging years these proved to be. Yet during these years, self-quarantining (whether imposed or made by…
Recently, I heard someone say, “As a result of 2020, the most prevailing emotion in our culture is uncertainty.” After serious thought, I believe they’re correct. From the moment the…
I hope you’ve enjoyed these last 25 days of “25 Carols ‘til Christmas” as much as I have enjoyed writing and sharing them! May God’s Presence enfold, infill and surround…
Thinking about Jesus’ love for us and His desire that we share it with others, this carol and the video captured my heart. Though not the original version of “O…
This is such an interesting time to be alive. The world shudders with the implications of the pandemic and people wonder what each day will bring. Change. Transition. Adaptation. The…
I experienced a wonderful blessing this week. My 9-year old grandson, Wyatt, wrote an essay for school describing family traditions held at Christmas. As my daughter-in-law texted me about their…
It’s amazing how much time and energy we spend to find “the perfect gift”? I personally love attempting to think of something unique Reen, my children, or friends might find…
Do you remember the excitement and anticipation you had as a child waiting for Christmas morning? Maybe you remember the thought of presents under the tree, sharing a special family…
Many years ago in Greenville, Texas, a young college student arrived at my front door. At that time, opening the door was safe, so I did. I listened to him…
My friend was sharing with me about her dependence on her Google Map phone app. She said she wouldn’t be able to find her way anywhere anymore without it. I…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yb-bkYXXsbY Reen, my husband, was recently in a car accident that totaled his car. He was unharmed. I thanked God with a full heart of relief when I learned he…
I decided this year (with so many distractions due to the pandemic), to remind us all that Jesus really is “the Reason for the Season,” by wearing a necklace that…
https://www.yourrefreshedlife.com/refreshedwomen/2020/12/14/day-14-joyful-joyful-we-adore-thee My husband, Reen, and I are blessed to live with a forest behind our home. Our sunroom, surrounded by windows, enables us to watch the wonders of God’s creation…
I began taking piano lessons at age 5. I remember how much I hated sitting there practicing for 15 and then 30 minutes as I progressed. Sometimes I would go…
Do you know someone who adores a specific musical artist? Or a friend who adores a celebrity? Or a neighbor who adores her dog? We use the word “adore” in…
Have you ever wondered what the word “glory” really means? I read John Piper’s definition years ago in his book, “Desiring God.” He defined God’s glory as, “…the radiance of…
When was the last time you remember being present at the birth of a child or soon after? Maybe it was the child of a friend. Or maybe your own…
Busy? Hurried? Rushing around this season? What are we so busy doing? Are the things we fill our days with really important? Some things, yes. Probably many things, no. As…
Can you imagine being a shepherd simply minding your own business, and God supernaturally intervenes by sending a host of angels to speak with you? What was the shepherd’s first…
Was the night silent? Probably not. Did radiant beams flow from Jesus’ face? We have no idea. Did shepherds quake? Probably. Did angels sing? Actually the Bible tells us they…
Meals to prepare, children to teach, presents to buy, decorations to hang…so many demands and deadlines as we all cope with our rearranged world due to COVID. This carol is…
How Jesus the Savior did come for to die I wonder as I wander, out under the sky. Came wise men and farmers and shepherds and all, The…
How still we see thee lie! The silent stars go by; The everlasting Light. Are met in thee tonight. And, gathered all above Their watch of wond’ring love. Proclaim the…
As we anticipate the celebration of Jesus’ birth and soon return, it is wonderful to remember He is our deliverer and promises freedom for us all. The words express this…
Let all mortal flesh keep silence, ponder nothing earthly-minded, Christ our God to earth descendeth, King of kings, yet born of Mary, Lord of lords, in human vesture, he…
Carols playing throughout the house, twinkling lights everywhere, and a daily devotional reading in anticipation of Christmas Day are three of my favorite things! I was completely surprised several years…
With the inability to gather with family and friends this Pandemic Thanksgiving, how can we make it a special time for those we love and ourselves this year? Here are…
Reen and I sat motionless, listening attentively to the Governor’s COVID-19 report. He described the dramatic spike in COVID cases sweeping the nation. The seriousness and reality of this disease…
What a delight to meet my daughter at the front door with her two friends from D.C. Self-quarantined since March, her inability to visit has been tough. I miss seeing…
So “Now what?,” you might ask. Today we vote. I hope you voted according to your conscience (and not someone else’s point of view). I hope you can prayerfully accept…
Lightening streaked the sky. Thunder clapped. Violent winds whipped and tossed the limbs of the huge oak tree as I stood beneath it. I defiantly “stepped over the line” into our…
It’s my birthday this week! I love birthdays! I enjoy celebrating them all month long. Why? Because for all of us, your birth is the beginning of your story. And each…
Did you know that your story not only matters but also brings clarity to a confused world? Donald Miller writes in his book, “Building a Story Brand,” “Nobody can look away from…
At lunch last week Sandy shared the decision she and her husband recently made. They are going to sell their home. She explained all the issues they considered; COVID-19 changes,…
#6-Anticipate God Opportunities #7- Step Into Your Future Amazing how God works! Last week Reen and I decided we really needed an outing. We missed our weekly Date Nights when…
#5 – Identify Your Support Community I sat down at the kitchen table to write a note to a dear friend in South Carolina. I wrote Ellen thanking her for…
#4 Discover What is in Your Hand? We’ve moved together through the first 3 steps toward a life that enables us to thrive rather than merely survive in Pandemic times….
#3- Assess Your Situation “They are not on vacation, Linda. They are checking out the West Coast and there is no guarantee that they will decide to return to the…
#2. Choose Positive Grief Finally! Crisp, cool breezes touch our faces as we step outside for our daily morning walk. Reen smiles, “It’s cool!” The whisper of fall is in…
#1 Depend on God Perseverance. Grit. The ability to remain strong in the face of adversity. These are good words that speak of survival. We need these words. But at…
Should my child join the classroom? Can we entertain in our home now that social distancing and avoiding large crowds is a lifestyle? What is nextnow that I’ve lost my…
I will never forget the tiny 80+ year old Dutch woman about to speak on the stage at Gordon Conwell Seminary in South Hamilton, Massachusetts so many years ago. The room…
This month we’ve talked about different aspects of freedom. I found this story about Astronaut Buzz Aldrin one I simply had to pass on. Friend, author and mentor Dan Miller…
I’ve stopped watching the news constantly throughout the day as seemed necessary when the pandemic first hit. New information, details and instructions seemed to evolve daily. Then violence filled our…
What a remarkable feeling! It’s Friday. In the life of a pastor, it’s his Saturday. It’s the day Reen and I choose as our “day off,” our day of rest. …
God is on the move! It seems the COVID-19 pandemic is causing more people to turn to God… and more people to tune into our radio program and podcasts! Amazingly,…
ecently I consolidated a host of address books to create a master list of friends and family. As I looked at names, addresses, old Christmas letters with photos of so…
Lately, it seems like every person I talk with is assessing life and deciding that now is the time to make changes. In the hurried, harried life before COVID-19 they…
Do you wonder, what’s next? What do you do now? That’s really the question our whole nation is asking in light of current affairs. What is our “new normal”? My…
“Linda, we need to warn the people. The future economic repercussions that face us will be severe. We’re talking bread lines and things not seen since the Great Depression. This…
The grief and disbelief was palpable on the young newswoman’s face. She stood in the New York City streets amidst the rubbish and rubble. It was the day after… the…
As we finish our discussion of coping with chaos by surrendering our need to control and trusting God instead, here are suggestions Reen put together to benefit you in life’s…
13 days remain for the challenge! #battlehymnbattlecry. PASS IT ON! Did you take my challenge and encourage others to listen to “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” as a prayer of…
Those of you who have read my newsletters and blogs for some time now know me well. I’ve never asked you to do anything strange or out of the ordinary. Today, I…
Thinking I would check in on my out-of-town friend yesterday, I asked, “How are you doing?” when she answered the phone. She hesitated and in a low tone said slowly,…
“I’ll think about that tomorrow. Tomorrow is another day.” Scarlett O’Hara’s famous line in the movie, “Gone with the Wind” perfectly describes what I call “The Scarlett O’Hara Syndrome.” As we look at…
I sat here ready to write and chaos hit me. It was a small punch but one that hit hard. I looked at the pop up Facebook comment in the…
As we continue our exploration of the chaos create by this pandemic, here is a great suggestion. Create an Action Plan to bring good out of this period. Here are…
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