In Others’ Words: Barren is … as Barren Does …

Beth VogtIn Others' Words, quote about life, Uncategorized 14 Comments

Sometimes when I tell another person how oh-so-very busy I am … well, I’m hoping they don’t hear the hint of pride in my voice. I’m a busy, busy person. That must mean I have a life worth living … a life of significance … that oh, maybe, I’m important somehow? (And now I’m shaking my head as I think: You’re …

In Others’ Word: This-a-Way or That-a-Way

Beth VogtIn Others' Words, Life, quote about choices 14 Comments

I so enjoy the eloquence of Yogi Berra. Granted, it’s a bit garbled, but the man speaks truth. When you come to a fork in the road, take it. Make a decision. Make a choice. Keep moving.  And yes, sometimes the decision we have to make is all about choosing between a right or wrong possibility. But sometimes it is about making …

In Others’ Word: More Meaningful Than Words

Beth VogtIn Others' Words, Relationships 11 Comments

I am a hugger. Not a non-discriminating hugger — the kind of person that ignores another person’s “DO NOT HUG ME” barrier. No. I try to be more sensitive than that. I also give people I meet fair warning, telling them straight up, “I’m a hugger.” I believe today’s quote: Hugs are powerful. Being embraced by another person — by …

In Others’ Words: Fight the Recipe

Beth VogtIn Others' Words, Quotes, Writing 6 Comments

When it comes to cooking and using a recipe … well, I’m not the most strict follower of outlined steps. Oh sure, I buy the recommended ingredients. But when it comes to measurements, I tend to eyeball a teaspoon of salt or a cup of sugar. Close enough is good enough, right? Follow the recipe to a point … and …

In Others’ Words: Change of Direction

Beth VogtIn Others' Words, quote about choices 5 Comments

Got any plans for the upcoming week? Got any plans for changing those plans? I like to start my week of with my “Here’s what’s going to happen” list. A rundown of my appointments, my commitments, my deadlines, and my “got-to-get-them-dones.” And then things change. I’m learning that adjusting my plans isn’t a bad thing — and sometimes doing so is the …

In Others’ Words: The Thoughts That Make Us Strong

Beth VogtIn Others' Words, quote about choices, Quotes 10 Comments

My youngest daughter likes to read fantasy and scifi novels. My son writes fantasy novels (and yes, his debut novel releases in April.) I know enough about that genre to tell you that one type of character populating those books is a shape-shifter. A shape shifter appears in one form at first — maybe a human — but can shift to another …

In Others’ Words: The Power of Laughter

Beth VogtFun, In Others' Words, Quotes 15 Comments

  Right before I worked on this post, my husband and youngest daughter were watching a sitcom on TV. Nothing special about the show — the TV just happened to be on because they’d finished watching our favorite program, The Flash. My favorite part of those few moments was hearing my husband and my daughter laugh. One study states that …

In Others’ Words: Lose the Fear

Beth VogtIn Others' Words, Quotes 13 Comments

The word “wrong” can stop us in our tracks, can’t it? String “wrong” together with the words “You are” or “You could be” — and well, that forms a major roadblock to forward motion … and to creativity. In our pursuit of creativity, we are going to get it wrong. We’ll find ourselves staring at a dead end … or …

In Others’ Words: God, You, and a Yoke (Guest Post)

Beth VogtFaith, In Others' Words 10 Comments

Really? Jesus’ yoke is easy and his burden is light? Saving all of creation by dying for us is easy? When I look at who Jesus was trusting in to do the work – God the Father – and that Jesus knew his Father was trustworthy, ultimately powerful and infinitely gracious … then I see why Jesus thought his burden …

In Others’ Words: The God of Beauty

Beth VogtIn Others' Words, Quotes, Reality 10 Comments

For so many years I didn’t know what to do with that word — Beautiful. It didn’t apply to me, and yet I kept running into it and being reminded I wasn’t one of the beautiful girls. Not even close. Now why, you might wonder, would I think that? Pretty simple: I heard in blunt terms that I was ugly. NOTE: Please …