A new year. A clean slate. Resolutions. Dreams. Goals. A simple plan. Every year starts the same way for me. A list of how I am going to do things better, do things simpler, make healthy changes, begin a yearlong Bible study. Find my One Word for the year. Make a new plan. Start over. Maybe you know what I …
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Nothing revitalizes the wonder of an old story like telling it to someone who is hearing it for the first time. The anticipation of Advent hit my heart during a special season of retelling this Story to friends who had not yet heard. “Come, oh, come, Emmanuel!” was the heart-cry of my listeners as they learned of our need of …
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‘Tis the season to be jolly! In many people’s minds, the holiday season is a closing of one chapter and a beginning of a new start. As that year passes, we have time to reflect. Did this year meet all of our expectations? Are we on track for our dreams and goals? Well, if you are anything like me, you will …
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Have you ever had one of those days? Or months? Or years? Sometimes it seems like no matter how much we work, no matter how much we try, no matter how much we plan, nothing ever seems to go right. And do you know what people say when you dare complain about things? “Well, maybe you need to work harder, …
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We’re going 70 mph on the highway, willing our van to fly faster, ready to get to our destination. We are ready to be done with the journey, ready to be free from this box on wheels. The hum of rubber on concrete envelops us in sound. The wind rushes past each window, whirling noisily. Music flies out loudly from …
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“Now you see me, now you don’t!” was a recent picture of me on a whitewater rafting trip in Colorado. I was at the Metro Single Pastors Conference in Glen Eyrie, Colorado Springs last month. The conference leaders made the announcement about anyone wanting to go whitewater rafting. I had never been before, so I was super-excited and super-scared. Because I am not …
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Skinny, 7-year-old legs propelled me forward through the field. Sammy was far behind me, and I was winning! Tall grass reached my kneecaps as I ran, hearing the wind race past my ears, flowing through my messy ponytail. I thought I felt something scratch my leg, but I wasn’t going to stop and chance losing the race. The short gate …
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Walking into the room, she instinctively takes stock of her competition as she straightens her shirt and lifts her chin up a notch. He’s used to being the one with all the answers. And it’s terrifying for him to think about what others would say if they realized what a fraud he is. She slips into a seat in the …
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The way you pack a suitcase says a lot about you. Maybe you’re the “list” type with a 450-point checklist for your weekend excursion, down to the exact number of Q-Tips you think you will need for optimal hygiene. Or maybe you’re the “whatever” type who chucks in a little bit of this and a little bit of that, hoping …
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Have you ever lost hope and then plummeted into an ocean of negative feelings? Perhaps you were holding out for a job you really wanted, a new love interest or something else of your heart’s desire. Often when we are on the brink of success, we hit our greatest moment of despair first. Hope is a much-needed commodity, and we …
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Single Matters Magazine with Jill Monaco Ministries Christian singles discuss the matters of life, relationships, singleness and faith
