Posts
The Great Cheese Inquisition
Every once in a while when I am studying something in my Bible, I get distracted and go off on an interesting tangent. (Actually, this happens frequently.) The other day as I was looking up references to the Ten Commandments (more on that later, maybe), I came across 1 Samuel 17:18, which in the English…
Only Writing
Only writing is writing. I don’t recall now whether I read that in a book or heard it during a presentation. Either way, its truth is brilliant. They went on to say, “Reading is not writing. Thinking about writing is not writing. Researching what you’re going to write… that’s still not writing. Only writing is writing.…
Stalking Time
Ever wish you had more time? After a 6 month lapse in blog posts, this seems like an appropriate one to share! This was originally posted on Inspire A Fire and you can view the original post at https://www.inspireafire.com/stalking-time. I wish I had more time. Hardly a day goes by that I don’t lament the…
Ashes
Last night I went to church and had ashes painted on my hand. It’s tradition in some churches on Ash Wednesday to have ashes placed on the forehead or back of the hand. It’s a sign of repentance hearkening back to the sackcloth and ashes described in the Old Testament. And it’s a symbolic start…
Pray. And Go.
This blog was originally posted in November 2014 on Inspire a Fire, a blog site for inspirational Christian messages. Visit the original post at www.inspireafire.com/pray-go/. Sometimes we are the answer to our own prayers. There is a scene in the third installment of the Harry Potter series that I love. Harry and his friends are…
Quotes for the New Year
Happy New Year, everyone! I have been thinking about this pair of quotes from a sermon I attended last weekend, and they seem like a great way to start the new year. 1) “We don’t know what tomorrow holds, but we know Who holds tomorrow.” The start of a new year always bring the promise…
What Others See in You
This blog was originally posted a few weeks ago on Inspire a Fire. See the original at www.inspireafire.com/others-see/. Sometimes friends teach me things about myself I never knew. Like apparently I talk with my hands way more than I realized. And I eat watermelon five times faster than any other food. (Keep this in mind…
Whipping up Conflict
Below is an excerpt from my latest Inspire a Fire post: “If anyone ever asks you, ‘What would Jesus do?’ Remind them that flipping over tables and chasing people with a whip is within the realm of possibilities.” I stumbled across this quote online, along with a picture of Jesus driving vendors from the temple.…
Waiting
I recently found myself in the midst of a possible house purchase. I don’t remember ever thinking, “Hey, I think I’m ready to go look for a house.” I just woke up one day and discovered I was already looking. Despite my years of happy renting, I was suddenly staring at a potential purchase. Exciting.…
Debt Free
I recently paid off my student loans. With submission of that last payment, I was – for the first time in (too many) years – debt free. You might think this would result in feelings of relief, elation, excitement, happiness… You’d be wrong. Instead I was plagued by sporadic moments of irrational panic. The moments were…
Search the Blog
Categories
Join the email list to receive the latest post and occasional exclusives
Meet Janet!
Janet Beagle, PhD is the founder of The Mustard Patch. She divides her time between the Midwest and New England, and if she’s not writing, she’s probably out hiking with her 2-and 4-footed friends.