Little Moments-Big Dreams

 The final day of 2020 is here and like most people, I am hoping that the new year will hold more positive moments and fewer negative ones. Time will tell if that wish comes true. In the meantime, I’m trying to reflect on the past year and make new goals for the new year. I try to do this annually. I know some people don’t like making resolutions but personally, I enjoy it. A new year is like a blank page waiting to be filled. And while on one hand I know my list of resolutions will not make anything happen, still it gives me something to aim for.  As a Christian, I recognize that becoming a better person by achieving goals is not possible nor is it Biblical. I will never make myself a more godly person by pulling myself up by my bootstraps. However, also as a Christian, using a new year as an opportunity to refocus my heart on things that truly matter is a worthwhile pursuit.  So, with those thoughts in mind, here are my 2021 goals or resolutions. With the knowledge that...

We live within a two hour drive of the popular tourist destination of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, Tennessee. We have made several trips down there for weekend getaways or even weeklong vacations. We spent a few days there earlier this year and i decided I’d take a few minutes to highlight some of our favorite stores, restaurants and activities from this vacation. 1. The Apple Barn: this stands out as one of our favorite stops for breakfast. (They also have great food other times but we always go for breakfast). Time after time, we have enjoyed the apple fritters, pancakes, biscuits and more! Plus, the charming adjoining stores are well worth the time. Not to mention the peaceful rural setting is unbeatable. 2. Moonpie general store and bookstore: this was a dream come true for a book lover like me! The unassuming appearance of the store outside made me hesitant but inside, I realized not to judge a book store by its cover! Besides the long rows of shelves stuffed with books, (many ...

“I’m so over this year.” “2020 is the worst year ever.” “Let’s just skip to next year please.” We’ve all heard those words. Actually, we’ve all said them or at least thought them most likely. This has been a doozy of a year. I don’t need to remind anyone of the growing list of bad things that have happened. A certain virus and it’s repercussions tops the list for most of us. I’m going to assume that every person who happens to read this blog post has been affected directly or indirectly by Covid19. And we’ve all seen a great deal of unrest, injustice and violence this year. For many of us, we are literally so done with 2020. And yet... What if you and I need a new perspective? Fellow believers, is our hope in having a good year?  Is our hope in the health of our loved ones?  Is it in being comfortable and secure? I am going to venture to say that the honest answer to these questions is, yes. Based on our collective response to 2020, our hope is largely misplaced.  Now, I’...