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A Maple Lane Moment at the Rec Center

  🌙 Maple Lane Moment at the Rec Center Last night felt like something straight out of my Maple Lane mystery world—except this time, the mystery wasn’t about clues or culprits. It was about kindness, memory, and quiet redemption. During volleyball practice at the Rec Center, I found myself surrounded by faces from my old church—Crossroads. The same church that quietly pushed me out in 2022. Familiar names, familiar dynamics. Harlow, a young girl who recently sang “Desperate” in a reel with such rawness it stopped me in my tracks, was there. Her mom Hannah coached the team. Lee, a former co-worker, was coaching too. And Romie—the deacon who once pulled a prank on me with the associate minister Jake—was there with his wife Brittany and their kids. Back then, they had me searching the entire church campus for a trash bag, only to laugh when Jake revealed one was already hidden under the secretary’s monitor. I didn’t find it funny. I felt invisible. Flash forward to last night: R...

The Unexpected Gifts: the gifts of laughter

 My journal entry: Laughter is a gift from God. He says it is good medicine. Sometimes it's hard in the moment to see it that way.  I am pretty sure when he asked me to laugh I had this dumbfounded look on my face that was a combination of "Huh?" and "How?" I felt like I had this expression on my face for five years straight as this ball in my solar plexus area felt like it was only growing. I was doing everything I could think of to heal on my own but nothing seemed to work. At every turn there seemed a new failure. It's hard to trust that God can handle it. But in the moment you are struggling with not only your next breath but hoping the boss won't call you in early again and silently regretting helps as your spiritual gift. During this season I also learned encouraging was another gift I was developing. I learned if I helped others in this way, that aching mass in my chest felt a bit lighter. God was showing me through failures that, yes, I can make ...

🌿 The Plank Journey: Gentle Journal Prompts in a Max Lucado style

 Got it ✅ — Max Lucado’s Tame Your Thoughts and Calm Mind books have a very gentle, reflective, heart-probing style. His prompts are short, conversational, and personal, often asking you to picture something, recall a story, or turn inward in prayer. They’re not heavy-handed; they feel like an invitation to dialogue with God. Let me reshape your Plank Journey devotional prompts into that style: 🌿 The Plank Journey: Gentle Journal Prompts Step 1: Humility — The Plank Years Think back to a time when you carried responsibility without anyone noticing. How did God meet you in that hidden place? Imagine laying your “planks” before Jesus. What words do you hear Him say over you as He looks at them? When have you mistaken hiddenness for worthlessness? How might God be rewriting that story? Step 2: Hunger — Longing for More Recall a season when your soul felt restless. What did that restlessness teach you? If your hunger could speak, what would it be asking God ...

🌿 A Plank Journey: Seeing Clearly

 Here’s a devotional shaped around my journey of “plank-watching,” spiritual longing, and the painful pushback I experienced when i wanted more. 🌿 A Plank Journey: Seeing Clearly Scripture: “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? … First take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” — Matthew 7:3, 5 Reflection For years, I was a plank observer. I learned to look inward, take responsibility, and stop nitpicking others. If something needed to be done, I did it. If someone was flawed, I accepted them as they were. That posture taught me humility—it trained me to trust God to deal with specks in others’ eyes while I focused on my own. But then a shift happened. I wanted more. More than just showing up. More than just surface-level service. I longed for fulfillment in my job and in my church. I wanted to pour out, to serve God in a way that...

40 Years Back, One Step Forward: Redeeming the Time

 That’s a really thoughtful reflection — and it’s exactly the kind of thing that could be turned into a “40-year rewind” Bible study or devotional series, especially in the style of The Time Warp Wife . Darlene Schacht’s studies often focus on: A key Scripture anchor for each day or week. A short teaching with personal reflection woven in. Practical applications rooted in biblical principles. Journaling prompts for self-examination. We could take your “what I would change” list and explore it through the lens of Scripture, not as a regret trip, but as a God-led redeeming the time journey. This way, your past passions, lessons, and longings connect to what God is still doing today. Here’s a possible 5-week Bible study outline based on your list: 40 Years Back, One Step Forward: Redeeming the Time A 5-Week Bible Study in the style of The Time Warp Wife Theme Verse: “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because...

Rooted: A 4-Week Study on Cultivating a Fruitful Faith

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  I asked ChatGpt for a bible study in the style of The Time Warp Wife’s Bible studies. They are usually 4-week thematic studies with: A central passage or story per week Key scripture readings each day Reflection questions Practical application ideas A gentle, personal tone with a balance of biblical depth + everyday relevance Since we’re working within the Matthew 13 Parable of the Sower series at church right now, ChatGpt built one that fits both  our church’s current focus and The Time Warp Wife’s style. Here’s a sample 4-week Bible study in that format: Rooted: A 4-Week Study on Cultivating a Fruitful Faith Style inspired by The Time Warp Wife’s Bible studies Week 1 – The Sower and the Seed Theme: God’s Word is living seed, but it must be received to grow. Key Passage: Matthew 13:1–9; 18–23 Daily Readings & Reflections: Day 1: Isaiah 55:10–11 – God’s Word accomplishes what He sends it to do. Day 2: Luke 8:11–15 – The heart’s con...

Clue: The Mystery at Faithful Grove - art or writing prompts

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I had created some fun Clue the Game inspired art prompts over at my Creative You Blog to use to get me more in an art or writing mood. I used fruit and veggies, Asian fusion with a 50's Diner theme and a birds and woodland creatures theme. (Go here to check it out: creative-you.blogspot.com )  This version is a church-faith-based Clue-style art and storytelling prompt experience that combines fun, imagination, and spiritual themes! This version can be used as an art game, creative devotional, or even a community-building activity during a Bible study, church retreat, or youth group series. ✝️ Clue: The Mystery at Faithful Grove An Interactive Art + Devotion Prompt Experience A great mystery has struck the peaceful village of Faithful Grove , home to a humble little chapel, a tight-knit church family, and a legacy of deep faith and warm fellowship. But something holy and precious has gone missing… or been mysteriously altered. Was it a misplaced communion chalice ? A sabotag...