Be An Effective Mentor

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Be An Effective Mentor. Hello from Kathy Collard Miller, writing in the very hot desert near Palm Springs, California. One of the many goals of mentoring is helping our mentee identify her motive for the choices she makes. She may not realize it but all of us react, respond, and choose based upon what we desire and want. Or what we think will prevent some kind of emotional pain, maybe even physical pain. Helping our mentee to recognize what can seem well-hidden is a challenge. My husband and I are lay-counselors and as we try to help people make wise…

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Holiness Feels Like…What?

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Holiness Feels Like…What? Hello from Kathy Collard Miller in the Southern California desert near Palm Springs where I’m feeling the heat. Have you ever wondered what holiness feels like? Malachi 4:2 expresses what God might like us to experience when we see the fruits of holiness that he is producing in our lives: “But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.” Have you ever “leapt” in your spirit after recognizing that your trust in God had expanded to include forgiving…

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We Met Because I Was Lost

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Hello from Kathy Collard Miller in the desert of Southern California where we are enjoying the most perfect time of year, besides the beautiful Fall. Enjoy my latest story. My husband, Larry, and I met because I was lost. Now we’ve been married 46 years. It was my senior year of high school. The water polo team for my school, Downey High School in Downey, California, was going to be playing in the state championship. I’d never been to a water polo game but my friend and neighbor, Margie Tweedie, thought it would be fun to see one. Margie and…

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How Do You View Spiritual Growth?

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  Hello from Kathy Collard Miller in the Southern California desert near Palm Springs where our perfect weather has begun. How do you envision spiritual growth? Most of us think of it visually like a linear time line. On the left side of the line we make a step of progress and the temptation seems to be behind us and we won’t address it again. We have moved along that line to the right and we’ll only encounter new challenges—not old ones. But that’s not an accurate visual of change. Change is more like a spiral. Let’s call it a whirlpool. We’re…

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People Pleaser, Me? Couldn’t Be!

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Hello from Kathy Collard Miller in Southern California near Palm Springs. The weather is perfect this time of year and all our rains have brought out the wildflowers. I’m a People Pleaser. It’s hard to admit sometimes but the truth is, I’m motivated to please others for a variety of reasons and one main one is thinking I should never say “no.” Why? What is my thinking? 1. What will they think of me if I’m not the Super Woman who can say “yes” to everything? 2. If I don’t say “yes,” then I’ll miss out on the fun! 3….

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Afraid God Won’t Help?

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Hello from Kathy Collard Miller, enjoying the beautiful winter in the desert near Palm Springs, California. During challenging times, we can begin to believe that God won’t help us. At times, He’s silent or seems to delay. We become afraid and hesitant to trust. Will God really come through for us? Hebrews 13:5-6 assures us God is our helper: “be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper;
 I will not fear; 
what can man do to me?” If we don’t believe and trust that…

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Tips from the Pros: Kathy Collard Miller

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February greetings! I’m back again this week with another CAN encore interview from yet another author friend. Kathy and I were “online-only” sisters until we met in person just before the 2015 International Christian Retail Show in Orlando. I’m honored to host Kathy today and to present some of her hard-earned wisdom. Welcome, Kathy. Let’s get started right away. How many books do you have published? What are a few of your latest titles?  I have 52 published books. Some of my latest include: Whispers of My Heart, Daughters of the King Bible Study Series; Never Ever be the Same: A New…

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Make Reasonable Resolutions

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Hello from Kathy Collard Miller, writing from the beautiful desert near Palm Springs, California. It’s the New Year and I’m going to have to remember to write down 2017. And along with a new year often come the traditional resolutions. I’d like to encourage you to think a little differently about those. For instance, have you ever said things like: I’ll never get angry again.  I’ll always show love toward that person who is unlovable.  I’ll never be discontent again.  I’ll always be joyful in every circumstance.  I’ll have my devotions every day? It’s easy to think that such determination will…

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Advent Family Project You’ll Love

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Hello from Kathy Collard Miller in the Southern California desert near Palm Springs where it’s finally cooling down. I’m looking forward to our “winter” that is never a winter wonderland, but still wonderful. Years ago I created an Advent family activity I called, “Box of Blessings.” It helped our family’s thoughts focus on the true meaning of Christmas. Here are the directions to create it. Wrap a large box with Christmas paper, wrapping the lid separate. Gather 24 visual aids, wrap each one individually, write out tags for each with an object lesson, Scripture and discussion question. (On each tag,…

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I Deserved the Traffic Ticket

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Greetings from Kathy Collard Miller in the desert of Southern California where we are finally seeing the end of the heat and welcoming cooler weather. Driving down a California freeway on a superbly beautiful day of fluffy clouds, I just felt very happy. My happiness pressed my foot against the accelerator as I didn’t see the Highway Patrolman until the red lights from his cruiser caused me to pull over to the side of the road. He came up to my side of the car and asked me questions. Then I said, “I don’t expect you to not write a…

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