by Judy Dippel
Within each of us are God-given gifts and talents, as diverse as the gifts under a Christmas tree. Can you imagine the impact on the world if each of us decided, today, and throughout 2009, to unwrap our natural abilities and begin to take every opportunity to use what [...]

Several years ago I offered to take the checkbook back from my husband. Twelve months earlier our youngest son had been experiencing countless sleepless nights, along with numerous other challenges. Realizing I was overwhelmed, my husband had taken over the checkbook and all of its correlating duties to relieve me [...]

Many years ago, I faced incredible distress and despair as I struggled to let go of my past. Most people have walked down this same path in life. It may be the result of the sins of others, or it might be your own sins that weigh heavy upon you and keep you bound; regardless, [...]

An organized and clean office is necessary for optimal productivity at work. The Wall Street Journal claims that an average executive wastes six weeks per year retrieving misplaced information due to messy desks and files. That can add up to a loss of 12.3% of earnings for managers making $75,000 a year. January is Get [...]

Do you ever think about how your bedroom space affects your productivity each day?
Sometimes, a master suite ends up being the last space that gets organized in a home; after all, it’s just our bedroom right? It’s common for busy moms to put their needs at the bottom of the list of things to [...]

Now that the new year has arrived, everyone seems to be talking (or blogging) about their resolutions for the next 365 days. Some people are making resolutions not to make any more resolutions! I even read a blog post this week by someone who chooses a theme for each year, rather than makes resolutions.
No matter [...]

Dads and Daughters
A dad’s relationship with his daughter will shape her life. A girl looks to her father in order to understand her own value. Here are specific needs every dad can meet:
A Girl’s World. “Sometimes dads put the responsibility on the mom for raising their daughters. Instead dads need to enter their daughters’ world,” [...]

It’s hard to believe we only have a hand full of days left in 2008. Although I am amazed it went so fast (mom always told me that would happen when I got older), part of me is a little bit excited for the coming New Year.
I look forward to new beginnings with great anticipation. [...]

Moms look at their daughters and think, “a little me.” They smile understandingly at the importance of pink, fuzzy pajamas and painted toes. The same thing happens when a father sides up to his son. Men know what brightens a boy’s day-dodge ball, dugouts and dirt, of course.
Yet relationships become more complicated when it comes [...]

It seems that Christmas has become all about “presents.” Conversations are consumed with questions like “what will you get” or “what will you give and what will it cost?” Some will be overjoyed, some disappointed, and most don’t even have the luxury of expecting anything at all. It’s about time we “Unwrap Christmas” and take [...]

Yesterday, my daughter Lilliana (age 3) presented me with the most beautiful “masterpiece” that she had spent quite a time creating. I smiled as she presented her drawing to me, with her eyes wide, a look of excitement and anticipation adorning her rosy little face.
“Look mommy, its a flower! she exclaimed, “And that’s you and [...]

Dealing with Depression Spiritually Part I
Christ in You, the Hope of Glory
I don’t think that I could continue to write “How to Deal” articles without dealing with depression. I understand that no one wants to talk about this issue much less read about it but I felt I needed to address this for the [...]

I admit I sometimes hear voices. Not audible voices but, rather, that clear, inner voice I’ve come to recognize as God’s way of sometimes telling me things He wants me to know.
During the time that my daughter, Lydia attended our church’s child care program, our family became very fond of the preschool’s director, Miss Mary. [...]

The good news? Lately, I’ve been lunching at restaurants with friends almost every weekday. The bad news? I have dined with more women that have “just had it” with their husbands than I would care to.
How does a marriage deteriorate to such a low point a teammate no longer wants [...]

As with any birthday, the birth of Jesus entailed… the bringing of gifts. They weren’t just any gifts; they were gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Those that brought the gifts were indeed, wise; they knew the prophecies, and they had been anticipating the coming of the King of Kings. Each gift was brought [...]