Cathy's Blog

Journeying into God's Love

finding hope for depression
Jesus Chose to Go to the Cross

Five Simple Ways to Make Room for Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving is over, the food has been eaten and the festivities only a memory. Do Do you miss sharing what you are thankful for? Life gets busy, and sometimes I forget. You might too. We know that it is important because the Bible is brimming with verses about giving thanks. Want to join me to discover five simple ways to make room for giving thanks? Five Simple Ways to Make Room for Giving Thanks even When it’s Not Thanksgiving Relax – My mind can be a busy place, with lots of thoughts and ideas. Maybe yours is too.    This works for me: I take a few minutes to calm my mind. I mute my phone other electronics. I found this hard at first! But it’s not for long, I ... read more

Christmas Revival Guide

Holiday traditions are wonderful. Except when they stop. Or when you realize they never really were as joy-filled as they appeared to the onlooker. But you can radically change how you celebrate Christmas. We do not have to just survive Christmas. This Christmas revival guide will walk you step by step into a celebration infused with energy, joy, and peace. Five Steps to Revive Your Christmas Celebration I first realized we needed a holiday makeover after a major move. Attempts at traveling back to recreate what we had known fell flat. We found that you really cannot go back. Maybe you have experienced this too. Or maybe a major change in your family has caused you to think ... read more

God is the Potter, but it is Not Easy Being the Clay

Isaiah 64:8 has always intrigued me. But, what does it mean in our lives? What if you feel like, as clay, you are being squashed? God is the Potter, but it is not easy being the clay. “Yet, O Lord, You are our Father;We are the clay, and You our Potter,And we all are the work of Your hand.” Isaiah 64:8  (AMP) The idea of God being the Potter in my life helped me to discover good does come out of radical changes. Even when I feel squashed. I think it will help you too. Examining life changes through this lens let me see how God was with me through it all. I also saw that as promised in Romans 8:28, He brought good out of the situation - in every single step. Before I ... read more

Step Out of Self-Reliance and into Deeper Friendships

I have been fortunate to have had many friends over the years. I was very good at sharing adventures with my pals, supporting them in difficult times and celebrating with them. But something was missing. I did not share my deep feelings or needs with them. Do you ever do that? I don’t remember the event that caused me to change. But I am grateful that I did.  I stepped out of self-reliance and into deeper friendships. I began to mention the challenging situations as well as the good ones. Their reactions? Well, I should not have been surprised, but most of my friends did not run away. Or even back away slowly. Gazing at the world through my lens of independence, I had not ... read more

Help for Staying on Track in Your Daily Life

Do you ever hear the same message several times, from different sources, within a short period? When I do, I pay attention. Invariably the message makes a positive difference in my life. This time it was about staying on course when surrounded by distraction. What I learned might help you too. Recently, while I was waiting to board a small plane, I heard a surprising announcement. It was my first message. The airline representative lightheartedly beseeched us to be careful boarding. Over the loudspeaker, she instructed us, “When you get outside, do not go under barricades or around lines. Stay on your pathway. There are 3 planes parked close together. They look the same, but they are ... read more

How to Stop Being Overwhelmed by Change

Change, it can sweep over you with the power of a tsunami or sneak up in minuscule increments. It can bring exhilaration and joy. But sometimes change can be overwhelming, even immobilizing.  I have discovered a way to keep my head above water during these times. Do you want to know how to stop being overwhelmed by change? Cling to a solid truth. Even when things seem out of control. Even when the events of your life are engulfing you and there seems to be no way out. For me it is this verse: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever” Hebrews 13:8 Whether all I know is being removed or altered or even one small piece of my life is changing, this ... read more

Exchange Worry for Trust

Have you noticed most of the events we consume ourselves with worry over never happen? But what about the huge amounts of wasted energy? The sleepless nights, exacting a toll on our work or relationships. Ugh! But what if you could change your behavior? What if you could exchange worry for trust? Why Should I Exchange Worry for Trust? Most people worry. But as I found out through painful experience, if you leave it unchecked, worry transforms into a demanding force. Have you experienced this? Perhaps you were concerned about your baby not sleeping well. Maybe you fretted your dream job would be given to a colleague. When the worst-case scenario does not happen, your worrying ... read more

A Peace that Replaces Worrying

I want to help you break the grip of worrying with another idea that worked for me. If you didn’t see the first post in the series, you can read it here. My worrying habit received a huge blow when I started to unequivocally understand that God does provide. All the time.  With that realization, I began to experience more peace. A peace that replaces worrying – it can be yours too. God's Provision and Protection Leads to Peace Here is a verse that describes God’s provision and protection well: 11 For the Lord God is brighter than the brilliance of a sunrise! Wrapping himself around me like a shield, he is so generous with his gifts of grace and glory. Those who walk along his ... read more

Break Free From Worrying

I had refined my ability to worry to a fine art. I jumped at the sound of an unexpected phone call from my family. Sounds of sirens close to my ailing parents’ house resulted in my heart racing like a Ferrari. I needed to break free from worrying but did not know it yet. My worrying wasn’t contained to individual circumstances. It would quickly spiral into a vortex that pulled me deeper into the mire of what-ifs. My underlying belief was that the worst-case scenario would happen. Does that happen to you? But, I discovered how to break free from worrying and you can too. I clearly remember the exact incident which showed me my worrying had to stop. Our realtor was driving me to a ... read more

7 Easy Steps to Getting Rid of Your Worries

Stressed out? Do you feel distracted or even consumed by worries? With financial woes, concerns about jobs, or parenting, we can feel stretched to the breaking point. But what do we do? Read on :). Here are 7 easy steps to getting rid of your worries. “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” 1 Peter 5:7 (NLT) You may think this seems to be good advice. And it’s awesome that God cares about me. But is it just an empty statement? I don’t think so. After a lot of trial and error, I have found it to be true. Here’s how I use this truth to stop all that worrying from consuming me and how you can too: 7 Steps to Getting Rid of Your Worries Identify your ... read more