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From the Editor: Eyes on Me, Butterfly House, Planted
Eyes on Me It was the house that would not sell. It was no longer a home, with the highway in the front yard. It wasn’t seen by potential buyers as a business because, well, it looked like a family should be eating together inside. And the year was 2008. My parents didn’t want to […]
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4 Life-giving Insights to Becoming a Better Leader Anyone Can Implement Today
LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLES FROM MATTHEW’S GOSPEL In a few months, I will assume the leadership of the member care team at my mission agency’s mobilization center. While scripture is replete with leadership principles, Matthew’s gospel is my current focus of study. Therefore, I offer four leadership principles from the life of Jesus as told by Matthew.
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Forgotten Ones
FIVE weeks into the COVID-19 lockdown, I received an unusual text. It was from an unknown number, but that was normal. The organization I work for was running an emergency food bank. The message came in through the emergency number, but it happened to be redirected to my personal cell. Usually those messages read, “Are […]
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WAR
Gabi, a lively lady with a smile that immediately put me at ease, came into my life about a month after I moved to Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina. I met her while attempting to learn more about my neighborhood gym. While she rode the stationary bike, she translated the details of a gym membership. We quickly became […]
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Never Alone
“So many times I’ve questioned certain circumstances or things I could not understand. Many times, in trials, weakness blurs my vision, and my frustration gets so out of hand. It’s then I am reminded I’ve never been forsaken. I’ve never had to stand one test alone. As I look at all the victories, the Spirit […]
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The Letter
Oftentimes, when we lose a loved one, we go through periods of anger, frustration and grief. Time heals, but nothing can really replace her physical presence and vibrancy she brought to life, this side of heaven. But I am a firm believer God puts people and or objects along our path at the right time […]
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In the Wilderness
I’m a highly-functioning, anxious depressive. Doesn’t that sound fun? I hide it extremely well — the gift of being considered highly-functional. No one sees the panic flaring in my chest as my carefully-controlled world descends into chaos or the agonizing oppression that weighs me down when too happy becomes so, so sad. I’m guessing that […]
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Mental Health for Each of Us
We appreciate the time taken by Joann Weston, MA, LPC, a licensed professional counselor at Eaglecrest Counseling Center in Springfield, Missouri, to help us begin a conversation about mental health, as well as offer ideas on how we can support, love and encourage those who have been diagnosed with depression. We hear about “mental health” […]
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Our Beautiful God: gives me His undivided attention, knows my name, loves me deeply
Have you ever thought to yourself that God had forgotten about you? How did you process this? How did you protect yourself from being overwhelmed by your thoughts? If you are anything like me, not only have you felt forgotten by God, but you’ve had to wrestle through your thoughts on how to address the […]
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A Conversation with Author Gabrielle Martin
Gabrielle Martin, executive director of the Burrell Foundation in Springfield, Missouri, is married to her high school sweetheart, Eric, and mom to two daughters, Alivia and Colette. She is an event planner, philanthropist and marketing enthusiast who likes a good challenge and hopes to inspire others to push boundaries and never stop achieving. As a […]
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A short story written by Julie Johnson based on the March #WordPrompt #Bridge by WordPress.com. Noelle Sampson’s tears were staying in place but threatening to fall again. She and her boyfriend of almost-but-not-quite 1 year:7 months:12 days broke up 2 months:8 days:20 hours:27 minutes ago. The way she tells it, he did the breaking. Noelle’s […]
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A Love Like His
I love chocolate ice cream. I love the Kansas City Chiefs. I love my wife. All of those statements are true, but the meaning varies wildly. While I do enjoy chocolate ice cream very much, it does not hold the same place in my heart as my affection for my wife. words + photographs JOSHUA […]
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Long Live Love
If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I […]
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Mary Bradley
Tell me a time you have felt loved, Mary Bradley. I had been looking for Scrabble tiles for a project, and my honorary daughter made the project from start to finish and gave it to me for Christmas.
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Love Can Change Someone’s World
It is in this month that we are reminded of love. The first thought in many minds is that of Valentine’s Day and romantic love. Romantic love is indeed a beautiful thing and makes a relationship lively and meaningful. Romantic love reminds us of our uniqueness to our partner and is to be celebrated. words […]
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Question. Persuade. Refer.
Three steps anyone can learn to help prevent suicide. On Feb. 8, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Zach Troutman and Daniel Ogunyemi will present free QPR Gatekeeper training for anyone who wants to learn more about suicide and ways to help prevent it. Sign up for the free training here.
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Debra Piper-Slaughter
Tell me a time you have felt loved, Debra Piper-Slaughter. When we have a special meal like Christmas or Thanksgiving lunch and everyone turns out. The Center is full of neighbors and friends socializing over a delicious meal, filling the room with laughter and love.
Homegrown Journal 