February 6, 2017 by Robyn Dykstra

Do You Expect Good Things From God?

Do you expect good things from God
or do you settle for the mundane
when God offers the miraculous?

Mr. 4-Ever and I were driving home
from an event on a
hot and sunny day.
We’d been on the road for hours
and I just had to have
a break … and a chocolate malt.

A jumbo cup of
thick, chocolatey deliciousness.

I tried to talk myself out of it
but the hankering would not go away.

Finally, I asked Mr. 4-Ever
to be on the lookout for ice cream.

At the next exit,
we followed the signs to McDonald’s.

Mind you, McDonald’s will do,
but I had something a little different in mind.

I wanted hand scooped ice-cream
and lots of malt powder mixed
with whole milk – blended together till
it was a cold, smooth concoction
fresh from the whir of a malt maker.

Just as we saw the golden arches,
I spied an ice cream stand
on the other side of the road.

“Can we go there instead?”
I asked Mr. 4-Ever excitedly.

He was already in McDonald’s mode,
drive-through quick,
inexpensive and satisfactory.

“No, let’s just stick with McDonald’s,”
was his disappointing reply.

“Ok,” I drooped,
“I have to use the ladies room anyway.
I’ll go in and get the shake.”

At the counter,
I saw a big “OUT OF ORDER” sign
on the machine that oozes milk shakes.
I was practically giddy as I asked,
“Is your milk shake machine working?”

February 1, 2017 by Robyn Dykstra

Three Word Sentences That Change Your Life

Three word sentences
can change your life.

If you heard …
Congratulations, you’re hired!
or You are pregnant!
or You’re cancer free!
it would dramatically change your life,
wouldn’t it?

We have the option to change lives
with our own
three word sentences.

Several years ago,
Mr. 4-Ever and I joined
a dinner party group.

At first,
we just got together to
eat and play games.
We talked about the weather
or the game
or our kid’s latest escapades.

It’s grown into a safe haven,
a place to share new recipes
as well as
life’s triumphs and challenges.

It’s so special,
we don’t post pictures on Facebook
or tweet about our time together.
It would feel like a breach of privacy.

This little group of five couples
has become holy space.

in Bible / change / Encouragement / faith / Friendship / God / Life Lessons / Uncategorized 13 comments

January 26, 2017 by Robyn Dykstra

If you made a New Year’s resolution,
or a 30 day declaration,
are you on track or
or missing the mark?

I’m faltering,
but Heaven help me,
I want to get back on track.

Once you fail,
the temptation is powerful to chuck the
exercise program,
writing project,
savings plan,
home renovation
or diet
to the curb in utter defeat.

It’s hard to overcome
the voice in your head that says …
You’ll never win.
Nothing will change.
This will never work.
Give up!

Take heart, Dear Friend.

I hear those same recordings my head,
but we don’t have to cave.

in Christian Women's Speaker / faith / Funny / General / God / Life Lessons / Uncategorized 8 comments

January 19, 2017 by Robyn Dykstra

It’s an hour past
the first chirp of my alarm and
I’m still hiding under my covers.

I don’t want to face the day.

I don’t want to hear Jillian Michaels bark at me from the DVD
because I’m bloated from a late night Mexican food binge.

I dread the looming project deadline and
piles of laundry and
sink full of dirty dishes.

I don’t want to face today because
I have too much to manage and not enough …

Not enough
patience for a tough conference call later today.

Not enough
energy to attack my endless to do list.

Not enough
money for this month’s bills.

So I hide under my covers and keep hitting the snooze button
as I beg God to
help me,
fix me,
save me,
stretch my time and money …
to be my God today.

Do you do that?

Hide …
Hoping the the rapture is today,
or someone drops off a time warp machine,
or that a money tree pops up on the porch.

in Bible / change / Christian Women's Speaker / Encouragement / faith / God / Grief / Uncategorized 2 comments

January 12, 2017 by Robyn Dykstra

Recently, Eli, who is my youngest,
posted a photo on Facebook and
taught me a lesson about
overcoming (fill in the blank)
with gratitude.

In the photo, he was wearing a plaid flannel shirt.
A shirt that once belonged to his dad …
a mighty man who died 20 years ago.

Eli posted:
I came across (my dad’s) old shirt and had to try it on.
I was surprised to see that I still barely fit into it.
So many years have passed and
I still felt like a toddler trying on my dad’s clothes.
He was such a big man and part of me hoped
I would fill it out after all this time.

But then it dawned on me
that I was meant to be my own man
and make my own path.

As I put the shirt away to find again another day,
I thought about how lucky I was
to be in such a wonderful place in my life
with so many loving supportive people around me.

I miss you Dad and
I am so thankful to be from your bloodline
but I am so joyful that my life played out the way it has.

He closed with,
“I’ll see you on the other side some day.”

(Eli “helping” his dad, Jay, (Hot & Hunky) with a plumbing project. – 1996)

And just like that,
I was in a puddle.

Grief is like that.

It comes when it comes and
there is no predicting when it will
turn your life inside out
and upside down.

Grief can knock you down,
but it doesn’t have to knock you out.

in change / Christian Women's Speaker / Encouragement / faith / God / Grief / Uncategorized 2 comments

November 17, 2016 by Robyn Dykstra

Trusting God with Big Changes

I don’t love change.

Anyone else with me?

In my quiet time this morning,
I realized I was sitting on 20 year old couches,
looking at walls painted 20 years ago,
dressed in pjs and robe that were,
yes, you guessed it,
about 20 years old.

Girls, change challenges me!

I barely like change even when it’s my idea!

But,
keeping things the same
is no safeguard from pain.

Things break and wear out.
Children grow up and move away.
Friends die or move on.
Opportunities evolve and disintegrate.

Change is necessary.
Change is good.
Change is inevitable.

in Bible / change / Christian Women's Speaker / faith / Funny / God / Life Lessons / Uncategorized 2 comments

November 3, 2016 by Robyn Dykstra

Apple Of My Pie

I’m up to my eyeballs in apples this week.

I’ve spent hours and hours
peeling, coring, slicing, saucing, & freezing …

I have
apple sauce,
apple pies,
apple crisp,
and
apple cobbler
ready to go!

As I’m sure I’ve told you,
I’m practically famous
(at Mr. 4-Ever’s deer camp)
for my delicious apple desserts.

This week I thought I’d share my two favorite apple recipes.

in God / Life Lessons / Uncategorized 5 comments

September 8, 2016 by Robyn Dykstra

Marriage Advice From The Family Pet

Have you ever been in a season of marriage
when you thought it was doomed?

I have!

Thirty years ago,
when I was married to Hot & Hunky,
we had a season early on when I didn’t think he traveled enough!
I didn’t like him and he didn’t care for me too much either.
We were in the land of contempt on the road to divorce.

Out of frustration and soliciting sympathy for my situation,
I confessed our mess to my friend,
who invited me to her church
to hear a speaker talk about marriage.

I thought,
What the heck, I’ve got nothing to lose.

The speaker told her story about not feeling any love toward her husband.
Romance,
pleasant communication,
demonstrations of love,
affections of all types,
were distant memories.

That sounded very familiar…

Out of desperation to save her marriage,
she climbed into her prayer closet and
asked God to flood her heart with love
for her hubby.

“And you know what?” she drawled.
“God did just that.
My heart filled to overflowing with a
love and desire
for my husband.”

She went on to tell how even after
1000 years of marriage
she never lost that feeling for him again.

Ugh, I thought,
Good for you, Mrs. Butterflies and fairy dust.
You aren’t married to my guy.

That would never work at my house.
And whatever a prayer closet is,
I don’t have one.

Funny thing about miracles.
They cling to your heart.

in Bible / change / Christian Women's Speaker / Encouragement / faith / Funny / God / Uncategorized 7 comments

September 2, 2016 by Robyn Dykstra

A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Funeral

Have you had one of those days when
you just couldn’t get your ducks in a row?

You need to get resourceful on those challenging days!

Last week, I was powering through my day
as usual.

(I have 2 speeds …
Zoom and Comatose.)

Mr. 4-Ever and I needed to be at a funeral by 4:00pm
and I was behind.
There was zero time to redo my perfect messy bun hairdo,
so I looked frantically for bottom options
that wouldn’t disturb the delicate balance that was on top of my head.

I squeezed into a pencil skirt from the back of my closet,
took a quick look in the full-length mirror,
and shrugged.
Tight, but it would have to do.

I grabbed my purse and jumped in the car
waiting for me in the driveway with the motor running.

As Mr. 4-Ever exited the driveway,
I realize the skirt I’ve chosen is
ALL WRONG!

It looked fine when I was standing,
but when I sat down,
it hiked up and stretched tightly around my legs.

Great choice for date night, but not for a funeral.

Don’t panic, I think to myself,
as long as I don’t sit down at the visitation,
I should be ok.

I’ll just mingle…a lot!

But then, a beam of sunlight hit my knees.
Girlfriend, it looked like a porcupine was sitting in my lap!

in change / Christian Women's Speaker / Encouragement / faith / Funny / God / Uncategorized 2 comments

August 25, 2016 by Robyn Dykstra

Kids Do the Darnedest Things

Mr. 4-Ever was out of town so
I was alone watching the tornado’s swirling formations on the weather channel
when sirens started blaring their warning.
Outside, the sky was greenish gray and there wasn’t a wisp of wind.
Almost simultaneously, a text notification beeped on my cell phone.

A tornado warning had been issued and my house was in its path.

Suddenly, the back door banged open and
Eli, my firefighter son, burst in calling loudly,
“Mom!
Mom!
Where are you?”

“I’m in the office, Eli.
What are you doing here?”

“Mom, I heard the warning on my scanner and
I came over to be with you in case you were scared.”

Before I could even get the
Aww, that’s so sweet of you
out of my mouth, he started issuing directives.

in Bible / change / Christian Women's Speaker / faith / Funny / God / Life Lessons / Uncategorized 2 comments

Do You Expect Good Things From God?

Do you expect good things from God
or do you settle for the mundane
when God offers the miraculous?

Three Word Sentences That Change Your Life

Three word sentences
can change your life.

We have the option to change lives
with our own
three word sentences.

This little group of five couples
has become holy space.

Reset, Restart, Refocus

If you made a New Year’s resolution,
or a 30 day declaration,
are you on track or
or missing the mark?

It’s hard to overcome
the voice in your head that says …
You’ll never win.
Nothing will change.
This will never work.
Give up!

Kicking Idols to the Curb

It’s an hour past
the first chirp of my alarm and
I’m still hiding under my covers.

Hide …
Hoping the the rapture is today,
or someone drops off a time warp machine,
or that a money tree pops up on the porch.

Overcoming … with Gratitude

Recently, Eli, who is my youngest,
posted a photo on Facebook and
taught me a lesson about
overcoming (fill in the blank)
with gratitude.

And just like that,
I was in a puddle.

Grief can knock you down,
but it doesn’t have to knock you out.

Trusting God with Big Changes

I don’t love change.

Anyone else with me?

But,
keeping things the same
is no safeguard from pain.

Change is necessary.
Change is good.
Change is inevitable.

Apple Of My Pie

I’m up to my eyeballs in apples this week.

As I’m sure I’ve told you,
I’m practically famous
(at Mr. 4-Ever’s deer camp)
for my delicious apple desserts.

Marriage Advice From The Family Pet

Have you ever been in a season of marriage
when you thought it was doomed?

Funny thing about miracles.
They cling to your heart.

A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Funeral

Have you had one of those days when
you just couldn’t get your ducks in a row?

You need to get resourceful on those challenging days!

As Mr. 4-Ever exited the driveway,
I realize the skirt I’ve chosen is
ALL WRONG!

But then, a beam of sunlight hit my knees.
Girlfriend, it looked like a porcupine was sitting in my lap!

Kids Do the Darnedest Things

Kids Do the Darnedest Things

Before I could even get the
Aww, that’s so sweet of you
out of my mouth, he started issuing directives.

Do you expect good things from God or do you settle for the mundane when God offers the miraculous?

Three word sentences can change your life.

We have the option to change lives with our own three word sentences.

This little group of five couples has become holy space.

If you made a New Year’s resolution, or a 30 day declaration, are you on track or or missing the mark?

It’s hard to overcome the voice in your head that says … You’ll never win. Nothing will change. This will never work. Give up!

It’s an hour past the first chirp of my alarm and I’m still hiding under my covers.

Hide … Hoping the the rapture is today, or someone drops off a time warp machine, or that a money tree pops up on the porch.

Recently, Eli, who is my youngest, posted a photo on Facebook and taught me a lesson about overcoming (fill in the blank) with gratitude.

And just like that, I was in a puddle.

Grief can knock you down, but it doesn’t have to knock you out.

I don’t love change.

Anyone else with me?

But, keeping things the same is no safeguard from pain.

Change is necessary. Change is good. Change is inevitable.

I’m up to my eyeballs in apples this week.

As I’m sure I’ve told you, I’m practically famous (at Mr. 4-Ever’s deer camp) for my delicious apple desserts.

Have you ever been in a season of marriage when you thought it was doomed?

Funny thing about miracles. They cling to your heart.

Have you had one of those days when you just couldn’t get your ducks in a row?

You need to get resourceful on those challenging days!

As Mr. 4-Ever exited the driveway, I realize the skirt I’ve chosen is ALL WRONG!

But then, a beam of sunlight hit my knees. Girlfriend, it looked like a porcupine was sitting in my lap!

Kids Do the Darnedest Things

Before I could even get the Aww, that’s so sweet of you out of my mouth, he started issuing directives.

Do you expect good things from God
or do you settle for the mundane
when God offers the miraculous?

Three word sentences
can change your life.

We have the option to change lives
with our own
three word sentences.

This little group of five couples
has become holy space.

If you made a New Year’s resolution,
or a 30 day declaration,
are you on track or
or missing the mark?

It’s hard to overcome
the voice in your head that says …
You’ll never win.
Nothing will change.
This will never work.
Give up!

It’s an hour past
the first chirp of my alarm and
I’m still hiding under my covers.

Hide …
Hoping the the rapture is today,
or someone drops off a time warp machine,
or that a money tree pops up on the porch.

Recently, Eli, who is my youngest,
posted a photo on Facebook and
taught me a lesson about
overcoming (fill in the blank)
with gratitude.

And just like that,
I was in a puddle.

Grief can knock you down,
but it doesn’t have to knock you out.

But,
keeping things the same
is no safeguard from pain.

Change is necessary.
Change is good.
Change is inevitable.

As I’m sure I’ve told you,
I’m practically famous
(at Mr. 4-Ever’s deer camp)
for my delicious apple desserts.

Have you ever been in a season of marriage
when you thought it was doomed?

Funny thing about miracles.
They cling to your heart.

Have you had one of those days when
you just couldn’t get your ducks in a row?

As Mr. 4-Ever exited the driveway,
I realize the skirt I’ve chosen is
ALL WRONG!

But then, a beam of sunlight hit my knees.
Girlfriend, it looked like a porcupine was sitting in my lap!

Before I could even get the
Aww, that’s so sweet of you
out of my mouth, he started issuing directives.