It really was not what we had planned for a quiet Sunday afternoon on Father’s Day . . . but so it goes. Shortly before summer, my youngest son, Jon, got to pick out his very own dog . . . sort of. With all of his siblings now out of the house, Jon wanted companionship, […]
Author: Colleen Swindoll Thompson
What to Do When You’re a Massive Mess
You would have thought Sherman was being taken to slaughter. Sherman is our German Shepherd, who weighs as much as I do and has all the energy of a toddler on a sugar rush. It was snowing outside, which was perfect because Sherman goes nuts chasing snowflakes in the snow, and I needed to get some […]
How to Live for What Lasts
Sometimes it helps to have a quality-of-life check.
I couldn’t believe the day had come. As we drove away from my son’s college apartment building, its soft yellow paint began to blur as tears welled up in my eyes. I was suddenly filled with a flood of memories, most of them fixed to what I wished I would have done better as a […]
Triggers, Traps, and Truth Bombs
This past summer, all my best thinking led to some tearful conversations with my grown son and daughter. Apparently there was a disconnect . . . and it wasn’t on their end, it was on mine. It all started in May. My stepson finalized wedding plans and got married. My son came home from college […]
Reading the Fine Print of Your Faith
Sometimes I think I’ve bitten off a bit more than I can chew when it comes to my Christian faith. When I gave my life to Christ, I knew that I needed God’s promises of unconditional love and forgiveness like I need air. The Bible lays out so many great promises—eternal life, abundant joy, strength […]
How to Press On When the Road Is Rocky
I thought the whole “reframing” process was great . . . until I slammed into one of life’s unexpected, monumental mountains of hardship and lost all footing. Shortly before launching the Reframing Ministries Department of Insight for Living Ministries, I spoke to a group on how to “reframe” their tough circumstances. I felt like a […]
Seven Steps to a Spectacular Life
Christ came to set us free, first and foremost from ourselves. Until and unless you choose to accept what He has allowed, you will never be free. If you purpose to cultivate the skills that I’m going to share with you today, you’ll change your life and be liberated to live with hope and peace. […]
Your Life in 20 Years
I had never seen anything like it. While traveling through Asia many years ago, we spent several days in the most populated, packed city of China—Shanghai. While quietly people-watching out of our tour bus window, I saw an older-looking gentleman moving massive rocks with what appeared to be an ancient yoke. His back bowed under […]
The One Thing You Cannot Live Without
This has not been the greatest week to start my “Gratefulness” journal. Seriously. With summer heating up, schedules out of sorts, and my attitude turning sour, keeping a gratefulness journal seemed like a good idea. But that was before summer started. Day one went relatively well, and day two went better. Let’s say some self-sufficient […]
Three Core Essentials for Every Christian
Few things make us feel more vulnerable than being naked. Without covering, we’re exposed and often invaded by feelings of fear, weakness, and worry—susceptible to the winds and whims of humanity. We long to hide. Our desire to “run for cover” is not new. It began in the garden and has continued ever since. Really, […]
When You Need to Start Over
It was a tug-of-war game with the tape dispenser. My son Jon and I were wrapping a birthday present together. My job was to cut and hold the paper, and Jon had tape duty. For Jon, any activity that involves motor skills can be challenging. Here’s why: motor skills are muscle-related actions that accomplish a […]
Strategies for Storm Survival
Years ago, I cruised through Alaska’s inside passage. Majestic tree-lined forests tower far above the cloud level, framing the ocean waters that spread between the shorelines in calm quietness. The inside passage cruise is unique in that there are only a few hours when the ship sails through the open ocean without visible land on […]