Refreshed Soul

A Place to Find Respite, Grace and Growth in Christ Through Our Ever-Changing Lives

A Place to Find Respite, Grace and Growth in Christ Through Our Ever-Changing Lives

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Small Actionable Steps – Lasting Impact

I often encounter people, share exchanges of life happenings, and walk away with promises from me or the other person to pray and/or offer support. I often think, I should make them a meal or do something tangible for them. Sometimes the exchange will fall short from the pleasantries and promises of good intentions of caring for each other.

I ponder how we make it from our heartfelt care and concern for people we encounter to actionable steps in being the hands and feet of Christ. This is something I have been personally trying to be better at over the last several years.

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Zipping Zippers & Washing Feet

There is an act I detest at this stage in life and that is shopping for a dress. With age, comes a different body composition; perhaps thicker in some places than in my younger years. For me this makes looking for a dress burdensome and discouraging. However difficult, this season has also been teaching me a deeper lesson about Christian service and humility.

The irony of this pesky task is I used to love finding and wearing dresses. My favorite pastime looks different in my rearview mirror than today. Alas, I am in a season which requires multiple dresses for a momentous occasion; my son’s wedding. Even though there is much excitement for gaining a beautiful new daughter-in-love, it doesn’t negate the way I see myself in dresses.Read more

Come Away and Rest

A Body, Soul, and Spirit Response to Inflammation

Over the years, I have purchased so many books relating to health. The body, especially the brain, has always fascinated me. I have always had the desire to age well, which has caused me to read a lot of information—especially about inflammation and how deeply our spiritual and physical health are related to it.Read more

Wrestling with God: The Blessing Found in the Struggle

This season has been riddled with mind struggles for me, leading to a deeper struggle with God over a situation that I had to face—one that had the potential to affect a very close relationship. I was stuck in a loop of poor me, and it wasn’t until I had been wrestling with my feelings that a friend set me straight with God’s Word and direction.Read more

Making Room For A Better Way

I am a creature of habit, especially when it comes to loading the dishwasher. I take pride in doing it efficiently, making use of every nook and cranny. For me, it’s like solving a puzzle. Plates, cups, utensils—they all have their designated place. I’ve got a system, and I stick to it. So much so that I don’t easily welcome help with the dishes.

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Checklists to Surrender: Walking With The Spirit

I am a checklist person through and through. Nothing pleases me more than crossing off a completed task. It makes me feel like I’ve conquered the day with productivity. But when I fail to plan my day, I feel more like Dory—aimlessly swimming through the sea. While lists can help steer our ship, they can also steal our joy, imposing themselves as rigid rules we feel obligated to follow. The same can be true in our Christian walk when we focus more on the law than on our relationship with the Lord.

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Navigating Loneliness in Life’s Transitions

Change, whether initiated by us or thrust upon us through life transitions, is an inevitable part of life’s journey. When these shifts occur, we often find ourselves struggling in unfamiliar waters, desperately seeking support to stay afloat. Such changes can profoundly affect our relationships, sometimes even severing them. Events like relocating away from loved ones, entering or exiting marriages, children leaving home, and experiencing the loss of a loved one are all examples of life transitions that can leave us feeling isolated and in need of companionship.

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Abide In Me

December is always a time of reflection for me as the new year approaches, a season that serves as a poignant reminder of the gift of Christ. In these moments, I often find myself searching for the definition of “who I am” in Christ, recognizing the importance of staying connected to the true vine. While I have found peace with God through my faith in Jesus, the question lingers: Am I truly relying on Him to foster genuine growth within me? Christ, in his wisdom, calls me to abide first in him before charting my course forward.Read more