🌀Gathering After The Storm… This may look like a simple tray of regular mini muffins, but it is more than that. Beyond the fact of debuting a freshly-baked offering of Pumpkin Maple Walnut Cream Cheese mini fall muffins, this represents a lovely gathering of hopeful (but hurting) hearts after Helene wreaked havoc on WNC. Even in all the lingering sadness surrounding each of us, we know we are better together — and so we gathered.
What a blessing to join other wonderful women who openly shared their hearts, struggles and hopes. We laughed… we cried… we hugged. We all shared the deep grief we carry with us in the aftermath of the devastation of our beloved WNC. It was a time that offered us a safe and quiet space, helping our wounded hearts and lives to begin healing — at last.
Life is inherently richer, for the people we have in it with us, those we hold dear. Surrounded by a community of deeply caring people, we are bound together by love.
We are better together!
—
What the Bible Says about Friends:
CLOSER THAN A BROTHER
“There are “friends” who pretend to be friends, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” ~ Proverbs 18:24 [TLB]
“Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family.” ~ Proverbs 18:24 [MSG]
“There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.” ~ Proverbs 18:24 [NASB]
“The man of too many friends [chosen indiscriminately] will be broken in pieces andcome to ruin, But there is a [true, loving] friend who [is reliable and] sticks closer than a brother.” ~ Proverbs 18:24 [AMP]
“A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” ~ Proverbs 18:24 [ESV]
🎈Kick Life-Wrecking Lies to the Curb! Letting Go of the Lies Keeping You From Living with Heart and Soul (my newest book) is available on AMAZON and LULUcom:
🌀WHEREVER you — and we — are today, this is NOT The End of the Story!
Some days it seems like the world blowing up everywhere and fires are ablaze all around us. To some it appears “the end is near” as doomsday sign-toting promoters predicted for ages. Let’s dial that all back and pause here for a moment to reflect…
Worry costs us dearly. Life becomes less about who we are as see happiness and freedom slip just out of reach. The painful result is too much time spent overthinking and long days filled with anxiety.
Do you find yourself wanting to stop thinking “when this is over, I’ll be able to…” Allowing worry to live with us negatively impacts every moment of our lives. This also affects the lives of those around us. It’s a real Joy stealer!
Everyone experiences moments of concern and yes — worry. Gaining a new perspective can end the ‘doom and gloom’ spiral. I have a powerful solution to share that will help you stop worrying about what’s next and start living again.
I know it’s hard to believe we don’t need to be overly concerned or work harder to “fix” problems and resolve challenges. This type of thinking is counter to how most of us live life. As a huge DIY’er myself I know — I’ve been there, too! In fact, it sounds downright lazy, when you think about it.
BUT the truth is we don’t have to worry about “what’s next” or struggle to make things better. Does this sound too good to be possible? It does! Let me share some inspiring insight I discovered that helped me understand how this can happen…
😃Here are encouraging words for anyone in the midst of life challenges and crazy-chaotic times so many are experiencing…
Let’s read this and I’ll meet you on the other side of the passage below:
“For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!
So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.”
~ 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 [New Living Translation]
🤷♀️HOW do we do this??? By reframing everything.
HOW we do this is by reframing everything not in the way we see/feel/think but rather with God’s perspective (through prayer and according to His Word). This allows us FREEDOM from being stuck in a place holding us captive. By letting go of where we are (or were), we are freed from a limiting mindset we placed on ourselves.
It’s easy to see things only with our own personal viewpoint. We’re sure we know everything surrounding an issue. In reality we’re armed only with part of the story. We’re not seeing the whole picture. It’s not possible.
Even so, we often feel fully confident to forge ahead making (what we believe to be) ‘informed’ decisions, taking ‘effective’ actions, basing it all on partial information. No surprise when this leads to mistakes and creating bigger messes!
The truth is we can’t know all there is to know. How humbling is the day when we discover we are much more limited than most of us want to admit!
When we are willing to let go of what holds us back from seeing things more clearly, we are able to consider issues more objectively. We can do this when fully embrace what our (yes — yours and my) heavenly Father has for us♥️He sees things differently. He sees the Big Picture. He knows what’s ahead!
When we seek Him first, He will bless us with insight and understandings we cannot gain entirely on our own.
We can rest assured He is faithful in keeping His promises. He never leaves us alone to fend for ourselves in a mess. He will hold us close, bringing us through.
You can rely on Him every time. We do this when we seek Him first, tossing our concerns to the side by embracing His guidance and wisdom. (SEE: 1 Chronicles 16:11) He’s waiting to hear from you. His solutions are always appropriate!
🤨And how do I know, you may wonder… I have emerged (maybe as you have) from heart-wrenching situations requiring effective answers …I have been presented with difficult life circumstances I could do nothing about to “fix” or personally ‘make better.’ These circumstances changed my life forever💔
As a follower of Christ, I got through them by relying on Him. In so doing, I experienced His Peace, comfort and protection shielding me throughout the ordeal and afterward.
Perhaps you have experienced this as well, and just needed to hear this encouraging reminder to help you on your way. If you have never sought His amazing wisdom and guidance through life’s hard spaces, I highly recommend!
My hope and prayer is anyone who needs to hear this message finds encouragement here for the journey ahead…
So if you’re having some hard times now, I hope you’ll consider handing it all over to The One Who is able. If you haven’t experienced this or find yourself caught up in a mess, I hope you’ll give this a try because God has an appropriate solution for any problem or situation you have♥️
🔭 Putting it all into perspective: Not diminishing even a bit of what’s going on in life right now — but: a moment in our life today is not even a blip on the timeline of human existence for all time. He has this! He loves all of us! I’m so glad He is in charge💜
Hard to believe — BUT — the holidays are just around the corner, aren’t they? ?
Are you ready for them? ? So many details… so many preparations and so much more… Unfortunately gatherings sometimes bring challenges and unforeseen difficulties. Tensions can run high ?Anxiety can grow so big that joy gets crowded out.
Unfortunately gatherings sometimes bring challenges and unforeseen difficulties. Holidays don’t always bring the best out in people.
It’s not easy to be prepared for relational issues that develop or become inflamed during these times ? It’s hard to stand ready for ANYthing that can happen — most of which you probably couldn’t predict or imagine.
When the dreaded mishap or a major eruption does happen, it often makes you feel like you had better walk on eggshells if you want to keep the peace — possibly in your own home??
Are you feeling a bit anxious? Who wouldn’t?! What to do?
I suggest my newest book which deals squarely and candidly with challenges just like this:
We all struggle to remain in control of our lives. Isn’t it time to stand up to the lies and live the life you were meant to live? Don’t settle for less. Kick the lies to the curb and accept God’s best for your life!
Embracing lies costs us dearly. Life becomes less about who we are, and more about the lies living with us. They stick around for as long as we allow.
After 7 years of research, deep-dive study, and writing about building healthy relationships, I realized the need for encouragement and insight into issues that create a fertile environment for pain-filled relationships.
Kick Life-Wrecking Lies to the Curb! Letting Go of the Lies Keeping You From Living with Heart and Soul is written from a biblical perspective, offering tried-and-true solutions to some of life’s most nagging relational issues.
Learn effective strategies and discover:
How lies easily captivate hearts and minds everywhere
10 ways lies take up residence
7 principles for lie-free living
Sure-fire steps to break free of lies – banishing them
Kick Life-Wrecking Lies to the Curb! Letting Go of the Lies Keeping You From Living with Heart and Soul is available in paperback and ebook formats on Amazon; also on Barnes & Nobel, Walmart and Lulu:
This was the week September 11th was remembered by many. It really stirs the heart and memories looking back, doesn’t it? I’m sure you have a lot of memories packed-away about this infamous day. We’ll never forget, will we?
Some precious memories of the days that followed came to mind this week, as I remembered garden friends gathering in our Herbal Treasures Garden for a previously-scheduled event turned prayer gathering right in the middle of the garden.
A beautiful glow was cast on our Herbal Treasures of Hickory Hollow Garden by the golden September sunshine. Peace and calm filled our lovely garden. It was a lively place as butterflies flitted about, the bees were buzzily busy doing their thing as birds joyously sang their little sweet hearts out.
Like a last-minute hug before leaving for a long time, life felt secure and assured that all was well as we launched into the day. This morning was so especially gorgeous, it belied the potential evil lurking in the corners of the day. Looking back, it seemed impossible this serene day could take the turn it did in mere hours on 9-11.
22 years ago, on the Saturday afternoon following 9-11, a group of women gathered in our Herbal Treasures of Hickory Hollow Garden. It was September 15th. As the last big event of the 2001 gardening season, it was the grand finale.
This garden gathering had been planned months before. The program offered sweet fellowship time and sharing about our family’s visit to the Chelsea Flower Show — the ultimate garden party! Special refreshments included serving Sticky Toffee Pudding, a delight we discovered on our trip (long before becoming an internet sensation).
The Infamous Day Life Changed Forever
On 9-11 (Tuesday) life changed forever for the United States, and dare I say also the world. The life-altering events of that day impacted every aspect of life, immediately including regular schedules, special plans and everyday life as we knew it.
By Wednesday, I knew I had to decide whether to go forward with our planned event or not. After prayerful consideration, we determined we must continue with our plans. Press on we did!
The women gathered in quiet anticipation of needed time with others in a loving safe space — our garden. These are women of faith. Standing together in the center of the garden, we prayed deeply that day. We prayed over the horrific events unleashing unexpected destruction that week.
There were so many needs to cover with prayer, that it was almost difficult to know where to begin. We prayed for our country, leaders, and all who were touched by the unfolding horrors: affected families… destroyed businesses… lost lives… bystanders harmed, and the cities and areas affected. The list grew on!
He Holds The Whole World In His Hands
That day, each sweet lady left her 9-11 related concerns at Jesus’ feet right there in the garden. While we had difficulty finding all the words, He was there with us, as well (as with everyone calling out to Him everywhere). He is among us and He hears us, sees us, and knows us.
Jesus was with all of us wherever we were on the fateful day of 9-11. Before the dark events caused such a tragic outcome and in the aftermath, He was present. He continues to stay close to all of us today.
Jesus heard all the cries, saw our tears, witnessed the pain and unimaginable desecration. He brought us together with one another to get through the excruciating pain and dark uncertain days that followed. We found we were better together.
People were seeking answers. They needed assurances. They wanted something they could hold onto that was secure in this world gone mad. The truth is, we always are looking for these things. In the topsy-turvy days following 9-11, this quest spread like wildfire!
We Always Have Hope, Even Amidst the Ashes
There are many things we can count on:
Life is always uncertain.
Evil exists in the world.
Our pain and struggles are real.
Even on dark days, we are never alone.
Every day of our lives, Jesus is with us.
God loves all deeply (even bad guys).
He keeps His promises.
God — NEVER man — is “in charge.”
Evil will be punished.
Hope is found in Him, for all our needs.
God hears our prayers and knows us.
God answers our prayers in His time.
His Will, His Plan supersedes man’s.
God uses even bad things for His good.
Man will NOT have “the last word.”
The truth is: even in our darkest days, we are never alone.God is with us. Jesus stands by us and will go forward with us as we press on through it all.
In Deuteronomy 31:6, Scripture tells us:
“Be strong. Take courage. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t give them a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He’s right there with you. He won’t let you down; he won’t leave you.” (MSG)
“Be strong and courageous; don’t be terrified or afraid of them. For the LORD your God is the one who will go with you; he will not leave you or abandon you.” (CSB)
“Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or in dread of them, for the LORD your God is the One who is going with you. He will not desert you or abandon you.” (ASB)
“So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” (NLT)
If even for just a moment, Christmastime brings all hearts home, pausing to remember:
happy times
happier times
what once was
what life was like, before…
________ (you fill in the blank)
The memories may be heart-warming, affirming joyful times with family, friends, and loved ones.
Or the memories may rekindle angst and hurt felt during those times (or still feel, thinking back).
You may be surprised when those once-happy sweet, special moments suddenly turn into a stinging source of pain, piercing your heart with every remembrance.
Take heart — all of these reactions, feelings, and emotions are normal! We are human. This is how we roll!
Believers and unbelievers alike, Christmastime brings all hearts home, if even for just a moment:
it gives us that moment to pause amidst the blowout holiday sales and heavy party schedule or the darkness of long, lonely days.
during this small space of time between the old and new years, it gives us a moment to reflect upon life, this year, the way things are, and what we hope will be.
♥️Christmastime brings believers and unbelievers alike:
Comfort, if there is pain.
Peace, the assurance we are never alone.
Joy, knowing we are always loved (unconditionally), more than we could ever imagine.
Hope, knowing God has a plan to prosper each of us. With Him all things are possible!
We are securely held in His love with a bright future if we accept His gracious invitation to receive the greatest gift freely given to all:
“For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son so that anyone who believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it.” ~ John 3:16-17 [The Living Bible]
He is the way, the truth, and the light to help you through your darkest days. He will stand with you as you celebrate your greatest joys!
Over the last 7 years, I have created resources to help you and those you care about, wherever you are in your life at this moment:
Additional favorite versions of John 3:16-17 and John 3:16-18
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” ~ John 3:16-17 [NIV]
“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.” ~ John 3:16-18 [The Message]
Newly-revised edition of Restoring the Broken Places is available now!
Do you want to regain peace in your life, repair broken relationships and really live your best?
My book Restoring the Broken Places in an Unforgiving World provides a deep-dive look into relationships, forgiveness and the perplexing issues that cause relational problems.
I wrote this book with the heart mission of presenting a fresh look at why popular everyday methods (most often used by everyone) don’t work to ‘fix’ painful situations. Relationships matter!
It is a real life application book showing how to effectively move toward restoring broken relationships, and offering assurance that regaining peace in life is possible.
I’m pretty sure most of us never sat around trying to imagine what life would be like in the middle of a pandemic — or in the aftermath of it…
Probably because we were busy living life, right? (I hope so!)
Three things we know for sure:
In the wake of it all, life still happens. Truly! No.matter.what.
At the end of it, we are more than ready to gather♥️
God is always with us, through every moment… AMEN!
And when the time comes, gather we do… don’t we?!
YES!
Now at last many more community gatherings are happening here!
Like — My First Restoring the Broken Places Book Signing, at Barnes & Noble!
I’m SO excited to share the happy news of my FIRST book signing!
You’re invited!
If you’re in the area, join me and other inspiring authors at Barnes & Noble-Hickory, NC for an author meet-and-greet on Saturday, June 25th 10AM – 6PM!
In all I write, speak and do — all forms of media, all the time — I endeavor to offer encouragement to everyone for finding forgiveness, clarity for getting to grace, and assuring all that forgiveness is possible. That’s why I am thrilled to have my article “Forgiveness is Possible” published in Sweet To The Soul FAITH Magazine’s Grace issue!
This issue of Sweet To The Soul FAITH is about God’s glorious grace… containing 140 full-color pages of faith-based inspiration, including articles, devotionals, Scripture reading lists, recipes, life management, Bible Art Journaling, creative resources and more!
Forgiveness is Possible article by author Becky Cortino is featured in the GRACE issue of Sweet to the Soul Ministry FAITH Magazine, Spring 2022 edition.
Throughout this issue, tender hearts share about real-life experiences and struggles. Struggles to forgive others and even harder sometimes, to forgive ourselves… also stories of supernatural hope found in the most difficult of times, hope which only God can supply.
Articles include:
• Spiritual Complacency and How to Renew Your Focus
• Finding Freedom from Your Past
• Hanging on to Threadbare Hope
• When Life Seems Hopeless
• How to Share Your Faith Story
• Praying for an Open Door
• Gospel Foundations for Your Finances
• Letting Go of Clutter for Good
• How to Bullet Journal
• So much more!
This is one of the most beautiful magazines of its type I’veseen. The content is truly inspirational. Much food for thought, study and encouragement is reliably found between the covers of this quarterly magazine!
The New Year stretches out before us as a clear slate of fresh beginnings, great opportunities, hopes, dreams and wonders to be discovered…
What do you hope for in your life? The New Year is recognized as the time in our calendar year as a season for everything becoming new again. Fortunately for all of us, fresh starts and new beginnings aren’t scheduled only for January 1st!
New Beginnings are launched when we take steps in the right direction toward our heartfelt desire.
Relationships rank high on most people’s priority list, and yet this area remains as one of life’s most daunting challenges. Our days become complicated as we attempt to navigate through issues, desire to deftly address touchy issues and try to smooth over painful moments.
Have you added relationships to your list to focus onin the New Year? Many people place relationships at the top of their list. They begin their initiative armed with all good intentions and great resolve to deal with troubling relational messes.
Often, the thought of approaching a pain-filled area in life causes even the most resolute to freeze in place. Immobilized, the whole situation becomes increasingly more confusing as hurt, deep sorrow and bad memories blend into a chaotic mix. Progress in moving toward resolution comes to a screeching halt. Fear sets in. Where to begin? How to handle this? I just can’t do this!
Seeking to address relational breaks requires us to revisit times and places we’d prefer to keep on a shelf somewhere safely out of sight. In reviewing those breaks, the deep root of a problem inevitably stirs powerful emotions.
It’s difficult to cast aside the happy life we’ve comfortably surrounded ourselves with, to make time and create space for mending a break or to admit a wrong. But take heart! In our walk with Him, God often takes us through life’s dark, rough terrain before we arrive on the other side with Him, where we find true peace and the joy we seek.
How can you embrace New Beginnings in your life and effectively apply them to restoring broken relationships?
Recognize the situation for what it is in reality — not what you think, or how you feel about it. Admit it exists. See it for what it is.
Pray about the matter, all involved and touched by it. Ask God for a clear vision of the problem, and for His guidance in addressing it. He will change your heart in every aspect surrounding this issue! When we change our heart about a painful situation, our eyes see it more clearly.
Seek His guidance throughout. He is always with us. He stands beside us and will bring us through. We have to be willing participants wherever He leads us. We have to do our part — to do the hard things. He makes the way clear for us.
Let your reset heart redirect your mind, acting as a spiritual GPS, directing you where to go. Begin taking steps toward resolution, as the Lord leads you in that direction. His restoration will be far more complete and well beyond what you could ever imagine!
Forgiveness and restoring life’s broken places takes time.
When we want to restore a relationship or fix a problem in life, it helps to remember it is a process. It’s never a one-and-done or easy peasy cure for what ails us relationally. Sometimes it takes a lifetime. But forgiveness is possible.
Let the Holy Spirit lead you in this. Don’t take personal initiative to map out your relational restoration plan or detail this project on your calendar. This is a matter of the heart — carry it with you. Let the matter (and those involved) come to your mind frequently. Allow it to be laid on your heart and cover all with prayer.
Every small step you make toward restoration is a step forward.
Progress is made, moving toward that hope. Realize relationships involve more than “self,” so moving forward (or not) rests also in the hands of other(s). They may not wish to relinquish their control or admit wrong. Our heartfelt endeavors to restore broken places shaped by the Lord’s leading, will us free of our pain.
For many of us the thought of being able to get away for a retreat sounds enticing, but seems impossible. Amidst the crush of every day crowded with unplanned challenges and schedule pressures, we find ourselves running on empty (or on a dangerously low reserve) of energy for much-needed soul care.
Unfortunately when we need it most, resources and a margin of time often don’t permit us to attend a retreat. Conferences and fellowshipping (online and in real life) are wonderful, but when schedule allows, personal budgets don’t always stretch to cover registration, travel and hotel stays.
Sometimes we realize the need for refreshment and a space for time away will help us regain focus, restore energy. Rather than not addressing our own personal soul care because it seems impossible in this season…
Here are 6 tips for creating an enriching personal retreat at home:
PREPARE: Pray for refreshment to come, God’s direction in planning the right setting and topic to explore in your time with Him.
PURPOSE: Determine the needs you want to address. Find a book, sermon series, Bible verse, devotional that speaks to your heart.
PLAN: Select a day, blocking-out a time period of 2-3 hours (if possible). As needed, include childcare or necessary adult care.
SETTING: Choose an appealing environment conducive for your hoped-for enrichment.
IMMERSE: Once in retreat mode, turn off all notifications, put a “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door — and settle in!
EMERGE: After your retreat, may you be blessed with greater clarity, refreshment, renewed hope, defined purpose and clear direction.
Here are 6 ideas to encourage refreshment and clarity in your personal retreat:
Deep-dive mini-study of a topic, sermon series or a Bible Study.
Select a key Bible verse (or verses), and during your time:
Journal about it (or them), as extensively as your heart wants to roam.
Bible Journal, as a visually creative activity to delve into the topic.
Bullet Journal your study, for note taking, recoding discoveries.
Create Bible verse, prayer or personal reflection cards.
RECOMMENDED RESOURCE: As a ready resource of Bible verses organized by topic, including journalling tips and ideas we recommend The Grace Daily Journal:
#RelationshipsMatter #ChristianLifestyle #Encouragement #SoulCare #SelfCare #PersonalCare #Forgiveness #RestoringTheBrokenPlaces #GraceDaily #PlanningARetreat #PersonalRetreat #PersonalGetaway #LivingALifeOfJoy Even in the face of adversity #BattlingBurnout
