07/13/26 MondayMatters:  Praying Past the Ceiling

07/13/26 MondayMatters: Praying Past the Ceiling

Sometimes it feels like our prayers just bounce off the ceiling. We are in a glass box and God cannot, or will not hear us. David felt that in Psalm 22, verse 2, “My God, I cry out by day and you do not answer me…” I feel that often, especially during a sickness or a family tragedy or a life crisis; in other words, when I need prayer most.
here’s the link    https://youtu.be/Bb3tbIQDhvI
Here are four observations and four simple practices:
1. We do not live by feelings, but we are emotional creatures. Long for God’s presence.
2. Prayer is conversation but be willing to hear silence. Listen for God’s voice.
3. God knows what you want but He wants to see you do. Learn from God’s instruction.
4. Breakthrough happens in a second but it’s built on hours of faithfulness. Live in prayer.
Now, try this when your prayers seem pointless:
     1. Read the Psalms, a lot, over and over, everyday.
     2. Find ancient written prayers.
     3. Saturate your mind with Christian music. (Try old hymns.🤓)
     4. Take significant junks or time. Stay with it.
Psalm 22, “My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer…” Psalm 23, “The Lord is my Shepherd, shall not want…” Your breakthrough is just one page turn away.
Prophet or Profit: How To Get the Help You Need!

Prophet or Profit: How To Get the Help You Need!

I have a little cough. It is residual from the bout with pneumonia I just went through. (Quick little play on your sympathy button there.) It’s not terrible, but it’s persistent and aggravating. So I started seeking some help. Maybe I need a respiratory therapist, maybe a pulmonologist, maybe a holistic person who can load… Continue Reading

6/1/26 MondayMatters: Being the True You

6/1/26 MondayMatters: Being the True You

Have you had the experience of walking away from a conversation or a party and recognizing you were not really, genuinely yourself? When you get in public you just feel the need to hide the real you, maybe by talking too much or not talking at all. This is a brief conversation about recovering your… Continue Reading

Strengthening The Core

Strengthening The Core

My daughter-in-law and I ran the Music City marathon twice. (Not on the same day 😊). We ran hundreds of miles literally to prepare, but I was surprised at how long it took to recover from running 26.2 miles. I was talking to someone about that recently, and they said, “You need to strengthen your… Continue Reading

5/11/26 MondayMatters: Procrastination

5/11/26 MondayMatters: Procrastination

https://youtu.be/CWPkfnWY7Pc?si=KvG26eLb7yqcp8Sf Link to the video. Procrastinating the easy stuff makes it hard. Procrastinating the hard stuff makes it impossible. We all tend to procrastinate. It is as much a part of the human condition as laughter or love. Why do today what you can put off until tomorrow? That’s just what we do. The issue… Continue Reading

5/11/26 MondayMatters: Necessary Suffering

5/11/26 MondayMatters: Necessary Suffering

https://youtu.be/DofjXzR6mbg    Here’s the MondayMatters Video. Yesterday, on Mother’s Day, I wrote a short blog about the tension mothers often carry between joy and suffering. I’ll post a link to that in the notes below if you’d like to read it. But that reflection prompted me to follow up here on MondayMatters with a look… Continue Reading

May 10

May 10

Today is May 10, Mother’s Day. I asked Google how often Mother’s Day has fallen on this day in my lifetime. Surprisingly, only ten until today. This is the eleventh time. Seems like more. My mother was born on this day. She passed away fourteen years ago so she only got to celebrate Mother’s Day… Continue Reading

The End of the Beginning

The End of the Beginning

Jon-Mical pitched last night in what will most likely be his last high school game. He wasn’t scheduled to start but it was a district tournament game and we got in trouble quick. Our starter was not at his best. He gave up a run and then loaded the bases with 2 outs in the… Continue Reading

5/4/26 MondayMatters: Dealing with Grief

5/4/26 MondayMatters: Dealing with Grief

Grief. We all have and will again experienced it. It is a natural, appropriate response to death or loss. But do we do it well? Do we suffer in a healthy manner? Here are 9 suggestions to help us deal with grief. https://youtu.be/ifpstqgXjrA?si=7_bGdF3mrzJpXToj   Continue Reading

4/20/26 MondayMatters: Managing Your Time

4/20/26 MondayMatters: Managing Your Time

What do you do when you’re too busy to do? Those seasons come when we have overbooked, overcommitted, and over scheduled so that we are fighting to breath. How do you handle that? Well, here are some suggestions, if you have time for them, that will help you get through this season. And it is… Continue Reading