Lightbulb Moments
Did you ever have one of those "Aha" moments when suddenly something just made perfect sense?  That is what some of these things I have written have been to me.

It was a very difficult decision for me to make regarding whether or not to place some of these (sometimes very personal) thoughts online.

My hope is that by sharing these "discoveries" I might bring encouragement to others.  

Some are short, some are long, but I hope that all are a blessing to whoever reads them.

~~Shirley
Previous Articles...
click here for those written in:
2001     2003     2004     2005     2006     2007     2008     2009     2010     2011     2012     2013     2014     2015     2016     2017     2018
(or simply scroll down this page to see all titles)
Do you want to know more about the peace that God offers?

A heart that is numb
originally written & posted 
24 Jan 06
Scars
originally written & posted 
17 Mar 06
my testimony
Effective Prayer
originally written & posted
5 Apr 06
The Miracle of a Smile
originally written & posted
 30 Apr 06
What Else is There?
originally written & posted
10 May 06
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Curse
originally written 14 May 06
posted 15 May 06
The Remedy
originally written & posted 
15 May 06
a sobering quote
originally written & posted 
28 Jun 06
Mehtariel
"Daughter of a Warrior"
Effects of Bitterness
originally written & posted 
13 Aug 06
Submission
originally written & posted
23 Aug 06
Brave
by Nicole Nordeman
Battling the darkness
originally written & posted 
29 Aug 06
Loving the Unlovely
originally written & posted
9 Sep 06
Supergirls
originally written & posted 
10 Sep 06
Following the Leader
originally written & posted 25 Sep 06
My Father's Eyes
originally written & posted 25 Sep 06

"You will seek me & find me..."

Click here for an explanation of what this verse means to me...
It's Not Simply a Matter of Time
originally written & posted
1 November 06
Believing God Brings Freedom
originally written & posted
4 Nov 06
Comfort Food Is a Chain?
originally written & posted
5 Nov 06
Unbeheld Beauty
originally written & posted
19 Nov 06
A Few Moments of Terror
originally written & posted
22 Nov 06
Help Me Love Them Anyway
originally written & posted
26 November 2006
Stuck in the Middle
originally written & posted
16 December 2006
The Pursuit of Happyness
originally written & posted
28 December 2006
Silent Destroyer
originally written 15 Jan 07
posted 27 Jan 07
Perfect friends?
originally written & posted 
23 Mar 07
Life's Too Short...
originally written & posted 27 Mar 07
Learning to Swim
originally written & posted
14 May 07
As If...
originally written & posted 
2 Jun 07
Weeds among Wheat
originally written & posted 
13 Jun 07
I Will Stand
originally written & posted 
19 Jun 07
Another Perspective
originally written & posted 
24 Jul 07
click here for VIDEOS
we've made
When the Lies Come
originally written
26-31 Aug 07
posted 1 Sep 07
remembering my First Love
originally written & posted
11 Nov 07
A Christmas Blessing
originally written 25 Dec 05
posted 30 Dec 05
Truth or Guilt
originally written & posted
18 Dec 05
Forest Guide
originally written 2 Dec 05
posted 6 Dec 05
My Real Life Fellowship
originally written 6 Dec 05
posted 7 Dec 05
Being Treasured
originally written & posted
22 Nov 05
The True Rescuer
originally written & posted
10 Nov 05
Mixed Up Priorities
originally written & posted
11 Oct 05
Condemn or Rescue?
originally written & posted
17 Oct 05
Being clean
originally written & posted
30 Sep 05
Waking up with someone familiar
originally written & posted
24 Sep 05
What is it about celebrities?
 originally written & posted
27 Jun 05
Personal Testimony
updated 3 Jul 05
added to website  4 Jul 05

pitfalls of perfectionism
originally written & posted
17 Jun 05
A lesson from
Garbage
originally written & posted 
6 Apr 05
How should we respond to sin?
originally written 15 Apr 04
revised 16 Apr 04
Hearing from God?!
originally written 31 Mar 04
added to first website same day
Friendship Phases
originally written 15 Feb 04
added to first website 16 Feb 04 
What makes a man attractive?
originally written 3 Mar 04
added to first website 5 Apr 04
Why Shirley loves the Lord of the Rings movies...
originally written 19 Jan 04
Revised 21 Jan 04
Being SALT and LIGHT
originally written 21 Nov 03
revised 15 Apr 04
added to first website 11 Apr 04
Dealing with Gossip
originally written
and added to first website
13 Nov 03
One Angry Mom
originally written 5 Nov 03
added to first website 12 Nov 03
What is our value?
originally written 
24 Feb 03
added to first website 24 Feb 03
The Cross Moves People
originally written 2 Nov 03
added to first website Nov03
I am valuable
originally written 19 Feb 03
added to first 24 Feb 03
My thoughts about war
originally written 10 Feb 03
edited & added to first website 10 Mar 03
We are not oysters!
originally written 24 Jan 03
added to first website 24 Feb 03
Fire and Sex...
originally written 12 Feb 03
added to first website 24 Feb 03
Protecting the weak
originally written 27 Apr 01
added to webpage 25 Feb 03
Can you laugh at your mistakes?
originally written 18 Apr 01
added to first website 25 Feb 03
planting seeds...
originally written 20 Feb 01
added to first website 25 Feb 03
taking care of your battery...
originally written 15 Feb 01
added to first website 24 Feb 03 
A Valentine's Day thought...
originally written 12 Feb 01
added to first website 23 Feb 03
sin and bad connections...
originally written 13 Feb 01
added to first website 24 Feb 03
too much thinking?
originally written 2 Feb 01
added to first website 23 Feb 2003
Shower thoughts... 
originally written 26 Jan 01

Dangerous Folly
originally written & posted
22 Apr 08
One Day!
originally written 
26 Apr 08
completed and posted 
29 Apr 08
Mom's Fabric Softener
originally written 
14 Nov 08
posted 26 Jan 09
Oxygen of the soul
originally written 
22 May 08
posted 26 Jan 09
Recorded Messages
originally written 
22 Jan 09
completed & posted 
26 Jan 09
Condemnation or Conviction?
originally written
17 Feb 09
posted 17 Jan 09
Active Belief
originally written
17 Feb 09
posted 17 Jan 09
A Pruning Lesson
originally written 
14 Apr 09
posted 21 Apr 09
Golden Rule with a purpose
originally written & posted 
21 Apr 09
Whom Shall I Follow?
originally written & posted 
24 Apr 09
Why I Call Him Daddy
originally written 
24 Apr 09
posted 29 Apr 09
God has a sense of humor!
originally written & posted 
12 May 09
Pain Sifted
originally written 
7 Jul 09 
posted 17 Jul 09
The Mask
originally written 
11 Aug 09
posted 17 Aug 09
Affirmation
originally written
11 Aug 09
posted 17 Aug 09
Dancing with Daddy
originally written &
posted 25 Aug 09
Cause & Effect
originally written &
posted 27 Aug 09
Living with "Plan B"
originally written 26 Aug 09
posted 27 Aug 09
To be PC or
not PC
originally written &
posted 4 Sep 09
**amended 6 Sep 09
Childlike Faith
originally written &
posted 6 Sep 09
Real Friends?
originally written &
posted 6 Sep 09
Giving Proper Credit
originally written &
posted 7 Sep 09
Perfectionism Revisited
originally written
15 Sep 09
posted 16 Sep 09
Jehovah-Jireh
Our Provider
originally written & posted 18 Sep 09
Because I Can?
originally written & posted 20 Sep 09
Presenting...
originally written
21 Sep 09
 posted 23 Sep 09
Family Resemblance
originally written
22 Sep 09
 posted 23 Sep 09
Keepin' It Real
originally written
22 Sep 09
 posted 23 Sep 09
Whose Team?
originally written
22 Sep 09
 posted 24 Sep 09
Unveiling Death
originally written
22 Sep 09
 posted 24 Sep 09
No Worries
originally written
23 Sep 09
 posted 24 Sep 09
Got Math?
originally written & posted
25 Sep 09

Further Reflections
about Death
originally written & posted
26 Sep 09

Wordy Girl
originally written & posted
26 Sep 09

Blinded by Routine
originally written & posted 26 Sep 09

A Brand New Me
originally written
28 Sep 09
posted 29 Sep 09

Let the Little Children Come
originally written &
posted 30 Sep 09

Hate vs Love
originally written
28 Sep 09
posted 30 Sep 09

Recognize your enemy
originally written &
posted 1 Oct 09

Free Flow
originally written 
1 Oct 09
posted 2 Oct 09

Runners Beware!
originally written &
posted 2 Oct 09

Ears to Hear
originally written &
posted 2 Oct 09

My Anchor
originally written &
posted 4 Oct 09

Truth as Lightning
originally written &
posted 18 Nov 09

Unhealthy Stuffing
originally written &
posted 26 Nov 09

The Treasure of Real Friendship
originally written 
6 Oct 09
posted 9 Dec 09
The Fruit Test?
originally written 
6 Dec 09
posted 9 Dec 09
Restoration at work
originally written 
7 Oct 09
posted 10 Dec 09
Fashion Follies
originally written 
17 Dec 09
posted 18 Dec 09
Missing Anna
originally written 
3 Jan 10
posted 4 Jan 10
Unchanging Truth
originally written 
26 Dec 09
posted 9 Jan 10
Unstoppable God
originally written 
4 Jan 10
posted 9 Jan 10
Unnecessary Bondage
originally written 
& posted 10 Jan 10
Childlike Nonsense
originally written 
14 Jan 10
posted 18 Jan 10
Letting Go of the Mirage
originally written 
14 Jan 10
posted 18 Jan 10
Who's Your Daddy?
originally written 
17 Jan 10
posted 18 Jan 10
Afraid to Hope
originally written 
17 Jan 10
posted 18 Jan 10
God Bumps
originally written 
& posted 21 Jan 10
Stealthy Destruction
originally written 
28 Jan 10
posted 31 Jan 10
OUCH!
originally written 
& posted 19 Feb 10
Epic Ice Storm
originally written
18 Feb 10 
posted 19 Feb 10
Helping Hands
originally written
& posted 8 Mar10
Discarded Treasure
originally written
& posted 12 Mar10
Broken Bones
originally written
4 May 10
posted 8 May 10
Faithful Rescuer
originally written
7 May 10
posted 8 May 10
Pure Joy
originally written
& posted 8 May 10
Dying to Self
originally written
24 May 10
posted 27 Jun 10
How is your glass?
originally written
26 Jun 10
posted 27 Jun 10
Holes
originally written 2 Mar 10
posted 13 Jul10
Fear
originally written
3 Jul 10
posted 13 Jul 10
Sink or Float
originally written
3 Jul 10
posted 13 Jul 10
Have Mercy
originally written
12 Jul 10
posted 13 Jul 10
Fallen Soldier
originally written
25 Jul 10
posted 28 Jul 10
The Epic Love Story
originally written
28 Sep 10
posted 1 Oct 10
True Fulfillment
originally written
29 Sep 10
posted 1 Oct 10
Obedience is Rewarded
originally written
29 Sep 10
posted 4 Oct 10
Peace of Christ
originally written
17 Aug 10
posted 7 Oct 10
Spiritual Cancer
originally written
2 Mar10, 16 Sep 10
posted 7 Oct 10
Only a Glimpse
originally written &
posted 9 Oct 10
Who are you wearing?
originally written
1 Oct 10
posted 12 Oct 10
Robbing God
originally written
25 Jul 10
posted 14 Oct 10
Get Outta the Way!
originally written
20 Oct 10
posted 21 Oct 10
Spiritual Q-tips
originally written
21 Sep 10
posted 23 Oct 10
Measuring Up
originally written
22 Sep 10
posted 23 Oct 10
The "S" Word
originally written
23 Oct 10
posted 24 Oct 10
Fine Tuning
originally written &
posted 25 Oct 10
The Best Lessons
originally written
1 Oct 10
posted 25 Oct 10
Educated Beyond Wisdom
originally written
13 Aug 10
posted 28 Oct 10
True Treasure
originally written
5 Sep 10
posted 29 Oct 10
Imitators of God
originally written
31 Oct 10
posted 1 Nov 10
Guard Your Heart
originally written
2 Nov 10
posted 4 Nov 10
Construction Rules
originally written
2 Nov 10
posted 4 Nov 10
It's Who you know
originally written
2 Nov 10
posted 4 Nov 10
Are you deaf?
originally written
2 Nov 10
posted 4 Nov 10
Sold Out?
originally written
8 Nov 10
posted 9 Nov 10
FREEDOM
originally written
2 Oct 10
posted 9 Nov 10
Perfection
originally written
3 Oct 10
posted 9 Nov 10
Be Smarter
originally written
7 Nov 10
posted 9 Nov 10
Love is a Shield
originally written
1 Oct 10
posted 11 Nov 10
The Linguist
originally written
5 Oct 10
posted 13 Nov 10
Good People?
originally written
12 Nov 10
posted 13 Nov 10
Procrastination or Purpose?
originally written & 
posted 13 Nov 10
Honest Conviction
originally written
7 Nov 10 
posted 13 Nov 10
Worship
originally written
7 Nov 10 
posted 14 Nov 10
Thoughts Matter
originally written & posted 14 Nov 10
Top Secret
originally written 
1 Oct 10
posted 18 Nov 10
To Obey?
originally written 
17 Oct 10
posted 18 Nov 10
What Happened?
originally written 
&
posted 26 Nov 10
Tag Team Love
originally written 
26 Nov 10
posted 27 Nov 10
Truth is an Anchor
originally written 
26 Nov 10
posted 27 Nov 10
Facade of Control
originally written 
&
posted 28 Nov 10
No Guarantee
originally written 
2 Oct 10
posted 27 Dec 10
Not Hate
originally written 
17 Oct 10
posted 27 Dec 10
He's Still the One!
originally written 
19 Oct 10
posted 27 Dec 10
Unexpected Results
originally written 
19 Oct 10
posted 30 Dec 10
Sharpening
originally written 
31 Oct 10
posted 30 Dec 10
'tis a Mystery
originally written 
30 Nov 10
posted 30 Dec 10
Default Setting
originally written 
18 Dec 10
posted 30 Dec 10
Love Lives Here
originally written 
10 Oct10
posted 30 Dec 10
Ugly People
originally written 
11 Oct10
posted 31 Dec 10
SNAP!
originally written 
17 Oct10
posted 31 Dec 10
Not Instant
originally written 
19 Oct10
posted 31 Dec 10
Who's Speaking?
originally written 
19 Oct10
posted 31 Dec 10
Lumps in the clay
originally written 
7 Nov 10
posted 31 Dec 10
Dangerous Self
originally written 
9 Nov 10
posted 31 Dec 10
Got Jealousy?
originally written 
13 Nov 10
posted 1 Jan 11
Eyes & Ears
originally written 
30 Nov 10
posted 1 Jan 11
Broken?
originally written 
9 Dec 10
posted 4 Jan 11
Attractive?
originally written 
15 Dec 10
posted 4 Jan 11
Why Thanks?
originally written 
&
posted 6 Jan 11
His Perfect Love
originally written 
&
posted 10 Jan 11
With Skin On
originally written 
4 Feb 11
posted 13 Feb 11
***WINTER JAM***
2011
OKC
Shattered Rescue
originally written 
22 May 11
posted 23 May 11
Mountaintop Danger
originally written 
18 Oct 10
posted 11 Jul 12
Obedience
originally written 
27 Jul 14
posted 30 Jul 14
Afraid to Die?
originally written 
8 Oct 14
posted 14 Oct 14
Love & Respect
originally written 
12 Oct 14
posted 14 Oct 14
Unforgiveness
originally written 
27 Sep 15
posted 11 Oct 15
My Thoughts on Suicide
originally written 
30 Sep 15
posted 11 Oct 15
A Complicated Matter
originally written 
12 Aug 14
posted 12 Oct 15
No Matter What
originally written 
14 Oct 15
posted 15 Oct 15
A Changed Perspective
originally written 
14 Oct 15
posted 16 Oct 15
Who Do You Serve?
originally written 
7 Oct 06
posted 17 Oct 15
Embracing Reality
originally written 
15 Oct 06
posted 17 Oct 15
Canary in the Mine
originally written 
&
posted 19 Oct 15
Punishment or Reward
originally written 21 Feb 10
posted 20 Oct 15
Debt Paid in Full
originally written
26 Feb 10
posted 20 Oct 15
Responding to Offensive Behavior
originally written
11 May 13
posted 24 Oct 15
He Knows Me
originally written
31 Mar 15
posted 24 Oct 15
Even When Strong
originally written
14 Apr 15
posted 24 Oct 15
Fast Not Always Best
originally written
&
posted 25 Oct 15

Delicious Captivity?
originally written
25 Oct 15
posted 26 Oct 15

Because I love you
originally written
26 Oct 15
posted 27 Oct 15

Because...Jesus!
originally written
&
posted 28 Oct 15

God is Present
originally written
16 Jul 15
posted 30 Oct 15

Unlimited Glory
originally written
? Sep 07
posted 30 Oct 15

Why Pursue Holiness?
originally written 
28 Nov 07
posted 31 Oct 15
Pliable Clay
originally written 
15 Oct 06
posted 31 Oct 15
Work in Progress
originally written 
7 Sep 09
posted 31 Oct 15
Clear Eyes
originally written 
1 Jun 10
posted 1 Nov 15
Tolerant Destruction
originally written 
7 Nov 10
posted 1 Nov 15
Worthy Words
originally written 
14 Jan 11
posted 1 Nov 15
Continuous Prayer
originally written 
15 Jan 11
posted 1 Nov 15
Self-Examination
originally written 
15 Jan 11
posted 1 Nov 15
Trading for Less
originally written 
16 Jan 11
posted 1 Nov 15
Nag-free Love
originally written 
19 Jan 11
posted 1 Nov 15
Unfair Love
originally written 
19 Jan 11
posted 2 Nov 15
Learning to Love
originally written 
21 Jan 11
posted 2 Nov 15
Lying Pessimism
originally written 
21 Jan 11
posted 2 Nov 15
Fill My Cup
originally written 
30 Jan 11
posted 2 Nov 15
Incompatible
originally written 
1 May 11
posted 2 Nov 15
Rapture Thoughts
originally written 
11 May 11
posted 2 Nov 15
Cost of Disobedience
originally written 
? May 11
posted 3 Nov 15
This Strange Love
originally written 
? May 11
posted 3 Nov 15
Big Book Tasking
originally written 
5 Jun 11
posted 3 Nov 15
Anger Issues
originally written 
17 Jun 11
posted 3 Nov 15
Squeeze Play
originally written 
19 Jun 11
posted 3 Nov 15
Interior Decorator
originally written 
23 Jul 11
posted 4 Nov 15
The "R" Word
originally written 
23 Aug 11
posted 4 Nov 15
Genuine Happiness
originally written 
19 Apr 11
posted 4 Nov 15
True Honor
originally written 
19 Apr 11
posted 5 Nov 15
Mean People
originally written 
11 May 11
posted 5 Nov 15
Walking Wounded
originally written 
17 May 11
posted 5 Nov 15
Complicated Friendship
originally written 
8 Aug 11
posted 5 Nov 15
Diamond Mining
originally written 
13 Aug 11
posted 5 Nov 15
Anxiety Remedy
originally written 
15 Aug 11
posted 5 Nov 15
The Irony of Building
originally written 
20 Jan 12
posted 6 Nov 15
Facebook Follies
originally written 
21 Jan 12
posted 6 Nov 15
Fishing
originally written 
4 Mar12
posted 6 Nov 15
All Roads
originally written 
18 Mar12
posted 7 Nov 15
Love Loudly
originally written 
Spring 2012
posted 7 Nov 15
Filter Filter
originally written 
6 Jul 2012
posted 7 Nov 15
Designed for Encouragement
originally written 
22 Jun 2012
posted 8 Nov 15
Whatever It Takes
originally written 
4 Sep 2011
posted 9 Nov 15
Nothing Worse
originally written 
&
posted 10 Nov 15
As I Have
originally written 
5 Aug 12
posted 11 Nov 15
Eyes
originally written 
17 Jun 12
posted 11 Nov 15
Grace
originally written 
2 Mar 12
posted 11 Nov 15
Practicing What?
originally written 
27 Dec 12
posted 11 Nov 15
Logging
originally written 
27 Dec 12
posted 11 Nov 15
What God Wants
originally written 
9 Feb 13
posted 11 Nov 15
An Open Letter
originally written 
19 May 13
posted 12 Nov 15
No Country Club
originally written 
2 Aug 13
posted 12 Nov 15
The God Who Sees
originally written 
20 Jan 14
posted 12 Nov 15
Keys?
originally written 
26 Jan 14
posted 12 Nov 15
Refining Fire
originally written 
17 Aug 14
posted 12 Nov 15
Another Reason
originally written 
8 Mar 15
posted 12 Nov 15
Deeper Still
originally written 
15 Sep 14
posted 12 Nov 15
Digging Deeper
originally written 
28 Jun 15
posted 12 Nov 15
Purpose in the Pain
originally written 
8 Nov 15
posted 13 Nov 15
Pride
originally written 
3 May 15
posted 14 Nov 15
No Joke
originally written 
Nov 13
posted 14 Nov 15
***FREEDOM MARCH***
my journey of escape from food addiction
Disassociation?
originally written 
18 Jul 12
posted 17 Nov 15
Not the End
originally written 
17 Nov 15
posted 18 Nov 15
Who God Is
originally written 
17 Nov 15
posted 18 Nov 15
Mama Hen
originally written 
2 Dec 15
posted 5 Dec 15
Uneven Exchange
originally written 
2 Dec 15
posted 5 Dec 15
Cloak of Covering
originally written 
2 Dec 15
posted 5 Dec 15
Houston,
we have...
originally written 
22 Nov 15
posted 5 Dec 15
My Story
originally written & posted
10 Dec 15
Precision Piece
originally written 
20 Dec 15
posted 21 Dec 15
Perspective Matters
originally written 
20 Dec 15
posted 21 Dec 15
Designed for Community
originally written 
20 Dec 15
posted 21 Dec 15
Unconditionally Loved
originally written 
1 Jan 16
posted 4 Jan 16
Win or Lose
originally written 
14 Jan 16
posted 15 Jan 16
Word Influence
originally written 
10 Feb 16
posted 11 Feb 16
No More Delay
originally written 
2 Mar 16
posted 25 Mar 16
Completion...
originally written 
&
posted 25 Mar 16
7 Keys
originally written 
&
posted 1 Apr 16
This Happened
originally written 
&
posted 6 Apr 16
Sharpening Skills
originally written 
&
posted 15 Apr 16
Love vs Fear
originally written 
&
posted 4 May 16
Alpha & Omega
originally written 
5 May 16
posted 6 May 16
Relentless Love
originally written &
posted 7 May 16
Be Love
originally written
29 Nov 15
posted 7 May 16
Unnecessary Emaciation
originally written 
5 Jun 16
posted 27 Jun 16
Daily Sustenance
originally written 
23 Jun 16
posted 27 Jun 16
Dehydration Danger
originally written 
&
posted 15 Oct 16
"...the Truth will set you free."
originally written 
&
posted 3 Nov 16
Deadly Deception
originally written 
6 Mar 17
posted 7 Mar 17
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Matter of Life vs Death
originally written 
&
posted 19 Apr 17
A song that
reflects my heart.
"You make me wanna be brave."
The Gift of Music
originally written 
21 Apr 17
posted 22 Apr 17
Christmas Reality Check
originally written 
&
posted 12 Dec 17
Not Optional
originally written 
16 Dec 17
posted 19 Dec 17
Sponge Talk
originally written 
16 Dec 17
posted 19 Dec 17
Satisfaction
originally written 
15 Dec 17
posted 19 Dec 17
Worry Worship
originally written 
11 Mar 18
posted 15 Mar 18
Refocus
originally written 
25 Mar 18
posted 2 Apr 18