When I was a child, my family would put puzzles together, sometimes huge puzzles that would take weeks to assemble. Then when my children were young, we would put their favorite puzzles together, glue the pieces together and then frame them as pictures for their rooms. To this day, several puzzles hang in their bedrooms as reminders of our successful, …
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Worry is an emotional anchor in that weighs us down. When we worry, we are thinking, “What if bad things happen?” We can be in such fear of bad “what if’s” happening that we drain vital energy right out of our lives. Instead, we need positive energy to keep us going. With the grace we receive from God, we can …
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By now, there’s a good chance your Christmas tree has been taken down and all the pine needles vacuumed up, if you had chosen to go for the real thing. All the lights have been unplugged and put away neatly (so as not to find them tangled) for next year. There are no longer signs of wrapping paper, but presents …
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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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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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Can I tell you a secret? Can you handle hearing something so shocking that you might just move to the other side of the street when you see me headed toward you? Are you sure? Well, all right then! Hold on to your seat because this might just rock your world. More often than not, my meetings with God are …
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I’m convinced that there is almost nothing better—besides the smell of new leather or fresh breath—than the fragrance of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. Chocolate chip cookies not only smell nice, but they also bring with them a sense of warmth and coziness that isn’t easily forgotten. They remind me of my grandmother, chilly nights by the fire and lots …
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Single Matters Magazine with Jill Monaco Ministries Christian singles discuss the matters of life, relationships, singleness and faith
