Words from the Wilderness

This is the season when the baby birds of spring venture from their nests into the unknown territory of my backyard. And as I watch them, I’m reminded of an important truth about spiritual growth as well. 

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Most of us know how important our words are, yet, all too often, we speak discouragement instead of hope...especially to ourselves. This is a definite struggle for me, and I suspect I'm not the only one. So today, I’m sharing how my little garden taught me the true power of my words--and how my flowers inspired me to speak life to myself.

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We’re only a month into 2023, but if you’re like me, you’ve already experienced events in this new year that have left you distracted, discouraged, or even desperate. Today, I’m sharing a special moment under the starry night sky—and how what I saw anchored my faith even in confusion and chaos.

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As we emerge from the glitter of the holiday season into the comparatively uninspiring days of January, I can find myself feeling bored with the blank space. But in today’s episode, I’m reflecting on how this empty season’s importance in the natural world reminds me of the importance of blank space in my own life. I hope you enjoy “Blank Space”!

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In our modern achievement-oriented culture, it can be really hard to not consider our worth as synonymous with our accomplishments. Today, I’m remembering a hike I took years ago in the Smoky Mountains—and how it highlighted this important truth. 

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When I visited the Rockies for the first time since Colorado’s cataclysmic East Troublesome Fire, I was devastated by the trail of destruction I found. However, I quickly learned that what looked like death might just be life—and it carried a special message of hope for us today.

Find photos and more here: https://www.wordsfromthewilderness.com/beauty-in-the-burning/ 

In these scorching summer days, I've recently been noticing the ways the trees in my yard respond to drought. Some are barely hanging on, while others are thriving, even in hostile conditions. Today, I'm talking about what makes the difference--and how it impacts our own spiritual growth.

Find photos and more here: https://www.wordsfromthewilderness.com/living-by-the-river/ 

Inspired by my recent visit to lovely Estes Park, Colorado, I’m talking today about the shocking result of a surprise spring snowstorm I encountered—and how this affects our ability to orient ourselves during times of trouble in our lives.

Find before-and-after photos of the mountains here! 

My novel, When the Ice Melts, is released! Click here to read the first four chapters for free!

Friends, the release of my contemporary Christian novel, When the Ice Melts, is only three weeks away!  So, to celebrate, I’m doing something a little different:  today’s episode is based not on an encounter I’ve had in nature, but on an event that takes place within the pages of my book!  I’m pairing an excerpt from the story with a reflection on the truth it reveals—and how it impacts our lives.  Listen now for this special release!

Sign up for the sneak preview here: www.wordsfromthewilderness.com 

Today I’m remembering a humorous standoff I had with a woody vine on our property—an incident that, while amusing, parallels a much more disastrous tendency in my daily life. How can we learn to let go of defeating habits and to refuse to allow them to cling to us?

Find photos and more here: https://www.wordsfromthewilderness.com/victory-over-the-vine/