Category Archives: Guest Post

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When “I Love You” is Just What You Need to Know

Lisa gets it. She’s felt it. She’s lived it. As a widow and single mom of 7, she knows the unmatched power of the words “I love you.” She shares with us today how those 3 words that have sustained her can bring the healing you are looking for. So, pour yourself a cup of java and let’s lean in to Lisa’s story. I just love it when friends join us for coffee! Okay, Lisa… our coffee is poured, our hearts are open… take it away!

guest post by Lisa Appelo

I received a frantic text from my daughter with the news.

We were stunned. Our dear friend’s young daughter had been admitted a week earlier to the hospital without any real alarm. The first uneventful night had turned into several critical days and nights and then suddenly, she began to spiral quickly, her organs shutting down one by one.

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Her family – siblings and parents now gathered around her hospital bed – held her in the shocking surreal of her last hours, as she passed from this life into eternity.

When I received my daughter’s  text with the news, I hurried from our Sunday evening church service straight to their home. Already, friends had begun to gather around this family.

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Reducing Heart Clutter

My friend Alicia is joining us for Java today!  No coffee for her, though — her mug is filled with steaming hot tea!

Dr. Alicia Britt Chole is a speaker and author. Whether spoken or written, her messages hit you in both head and heart and are like grace-filled surgeries. She and her husband, Dr. Barry J. Chole, direct a prayer retreat home called Rivendell and parent their three children in the Ozarks of Missouri where the stars shine brightly and their dogs bark loudly.

I asked her to share with you — us — about how to declutter our hearts so we can start off this new year with more of Jesus and less of our issues! Okay? Okay!

To learn more about  my friend Alicia and her newest book, 40 Days of Decrease, visit www.aliciachole.com and www.40fasts.com.

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She Still Speaks

Oh, oh, oh have I got a treat for you?! Liz is in the house…or on the blog!

Liz Curtis Higgs is one of the funniest and wisest women I know and I am so happy to share her words with you today.

She gets us girls. She knows what it’s like to want to live well and wise and her insights have helped me do just that so I know she will help you too.

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After you enjoy this blog, you’ll want to get even more Liz in her new book “It’s Good to Be Queen: Becoming as Bold, Gracious, and Wise as the Queen of Sheba.” In fact, let me just give you one, okay? In the comments following the blog, tell me why you want to win the book and my peeps will randomly choose the book winner!

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How to Stop Feeling Like a Leftover

My blog this week is a guest post from my friend, Leslie Black. Leslie is a single mom and young widow who inspires me like you won’t believe. I know she will inspire you with her words as well.

 

I was in church half-listening to a sermon on how to have a lasting marriage as the pastor said, “No leftovers.” He wasn’t implying we should never serve leftovers to our family.

He was making the point that we should not give our spouse whatever is “left over” at the end of the day.

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But, that is not what I heard…

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What to Do When Life Doesn’t Turn Out As Expected

My friend, Margaret Feinberg, has been in a gruesome fight with breast cancer. Though she has been thrown on one of the toughest battlefields of life, her response has been startling and challenging to me.

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You may be on a battlefield of your own, and you may be at your wit’s end, a weary warrior — trampled and discouraged. So, I asked Margaret to share a piece of her story with you to encourage and inspire you to keep on trusting. If you want to go deeper, check out her new book and Bible study, Fight Back With Joy, filmed with LifeWay. I have no doubt my wise and inspiring friend will give you the Biblical truth and companionship you need to fight any battle you face with tenacity and joy! 

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I Need Jesus More Than Coffee

My daughter-in-law Caroline and I travel together, and when we’re in the airport, we’ll do about anything to make it to Starbucks during our layovers. As you can imagine, we can be quite the pair with all our luggage and coffee – not to mention the fact that I’m blind!

The other day she mentioned something that stood out to me. She said “I need Jesus more than coffee.” So simple, yet so true. She wrote this post when she was in graduate school last year, and I thought you all would love it.

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Waiting for my coffee to finish brewing made me late to class. I did a clumsy dance all the way there as I attempted to hold all my books along with the piping hot (and dangerous) cup of coffee; the price was darn high to get that cup of coffee into my 8 AM class.  

But, it was worth it. No doubt. I knew that if I didn’t have it, I’d stumble through the day, a cloud would hang low over my day.

Coffee starts my day; I offer it to friends when they come over. I treat myself to coffee when I study or simply when I want a treat.  I need it; I enjoy it. It’s a faithful friend.

But, I need Jesus more than coffee.