Reflections From My Computer-Sabbatical Day

by | Faith | 10 comments

You may remember this post from last week about my plans to begin a computer-sabbatical on Sundays, pushing the Sunday Snippets posts to Mondays.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, I was unable to take sermon notes but I did, however, make a few mental notes yesterday afternoon during the sabbatical:
  • Pressure off, peace on. Knowing no emails, Facebook posts, Yahoo updates, or anything else internet related would be checked, lifted a pressure I didn’t even know existed.
  • Because many of my to-do’s are tied to the internet, that list melted into thin air but my need for rest was solidified. Yep, I napped!
  • Time, conversations—practically everything—seemed to shift into a lower gear, allowing my activities (and rest) to soak in a little deeper.
And this morning? I awakened refreshed, ready to take on the day. A “cleansing” has taken place and the re-set button has kicked into gear! 
Might the Lord be prompting you to try a computer-Sabbatical? If so, I encourage you to lean into the experience and receive the blessings that await. 
The same information and contacts will be waiting online tomorrow…but today can never be retrieved.

Supporting One of Our Own, Marcia Moston

by | Faith | 6 comments

Our Word Weavers group couldn’t be prouder of Marcia Moston!
If you missed her book signing today at Fiction Addiction, you missed a delightful time. Balloons, books, friends, fellow writers, and the most remarkable cake you’ve ever laid eyes on. Her book cover, made of edible paper, was propped atop chocolate and vanilla cupcakes. Enough said. 
It was a blessing to see Marcia surrounded by family and friends. If you would like to purchase a copy of her debut memoir, Call of A Coward, click here and then please consider leaving a review. After all, there are many ways we can show our support for one another.
Congratulations, Marcia! 

My Friday Fave – Inn the Oven

by | Faith | 12 comments

When the new bakery Inn the Oven opened just across the street from my Weight Watchers meeting place, I knew I’d be calling on some mad self-discipline skills.
I called — but no one answered — so Brian and I headed over after dinner last week. He had “the best ice cream ever” and I enjoyed a generous slice of homemade chocolate cake with thick-cooked chocolate icing like my grandmother used to make. Remember the tiny bit of sugar-crunch you taste when biting into homemade icing? Oh yes, it’s all there. 
While I can’t enjoy a generous slice of chocolate cake (or any of their other delectable desserts) on a regular basis, I can head over any time for lunch, where they serve home-made chicken salad and Build-Your-Own-Sandwiches.
I love supporting locally-owned businesses—especially those that remind me of my grandmother’s cooking. 
Visit Inn the Oven on Facebook to “like” and find out more information.

Why Listening Matters

by | Faith | 11 comments

What are you listening to at this moment?

Me?

  • Steady rain pelting the windows
  • Thunder pealing
  • Fingers tapping madly away on a keyboard
  • George Winston’s “The Cries of the Wetland 2”
  • Tires playing in puddles
  • And okay, and the occasional slurping of coffee

Notice I chose the word listening instead of hearing, which is the simple the act of perceiving sound by the ear. Unless you’re hearing-impaired, hearing simply happens. Listening, however, requires a pause – a decision to concentrate.

I encourage you to set aside one minute today. Simply listen. Soak it in. Pay attention.

Let’s take in the melodies of life, nature, and even man-made devices and turn them into opportunities for pause and praise.

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