Category: encouragement

encouragement, Stewardship, Uncategorized

The Master Artist Isn’t Finished Yet

The Kedge Anchor
Photo by Antoni Gonzalez on Pexels.com

In last week’s post, Don’t Waste the Blessing, I wrote about not wasting our blessings. We need to be good stewards of our resources. Proverbs 12:27 says “Lazy people don’t even cook the game they catch, but the diligent make use of everything they find.” (NLT). After all the work of catching their game, they don’t even bother to cook it and it goes to waste.

I think we are all guilty of this at times. I know I am. When dealing with chronic migraines and the nausea that usually goes with it, food tends to go to waste. I try to plan and freeze food when I can. I’m not always successful. I feel just as guilty about not using some of my art supplies. Having too many supplies can actually be overwhleming and can limit my creativity because there are too many choices. 

I don’t like to waste food or art supplies. Sometimes, I don’t always finish or like what I make, so I try to recycle it make it into something else. 

As I meditated on this and on Proverbs 12:27 another verse came to mind. Philippians 1:6 “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” God finishes what He starts. He redeems us, transforms our lives, makes us new. He does this because He loves us and He sees value in us, in our lives. 

Genesis 1:27 says He created us in His own image. This verse reveals that being made in God’s image gives every person inherent value and dignity.

Matthew 10:31: “Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” This verse shows us of our worth in God’s eyes, highlighting that we are cherished and cared for.

And His ultimate expression of His love for us, He sacrificed His only Son to die for us so that we can be cleansed from sin and live with Him for all eternity, John 3:16.

  He won’t stop working in us. He is always shaping us, molding us into His image, and completing the work He began.

Just like an artist looks at a messy experiment and sees possibility, God looks at us and sees the person He is creating us to be. He doesn’t discard us because we are imperfect, unfinished, or still growing. He sees the value He placed within us when He created us in His image.

The same God who calls us to be good stewards of the blessings in our hands is the God who lovingly tends to our hearts and our lives. He restores what is broken, redeems what seems wasted, and transforms what is unfinished into something beautiful for His purpose.

So as we look at the things God has entrusted to us — our time, our resources, our gifts, and even ourselves — may we remember that nothing He creates is without value.

We are His workmanship, Ephesians 2:10 and the One who began the work is faithful to complete it.

encouragement, hope, rest, Uncategorized

Anchored Between Silence and Sound

The Kedge Anchor
Rusty anchor partially buried in pebbled beach with ocean waves and a colorful sunset sky
Maybe peace isn’t found when the noise disappears.
Maybe peace is found when we know what holds us steady while the noise continues. ⚓

Shortly after writing this blog post about being still I went over to IG since I hadn’t been there in while. I came across a post by Dave Adamson a.k.a. Aussie Dave. In his IG post on June 29th he talks about how the Western Wall changed his perspective about “quiet time” with God. And after reading his post and reviewing what I wrote – we’re both not wrong or right. He always thought quiet time was just that and what many of us envision it to be. Silently praying,  silently reading and perhaps silently journaling. And he brings up a good point, perhaps quiet isn’t how it’s thought to be. It was when he visited the Western Wall Jewish men and boys weren’t reading silently. They were reading the Torah aloud and discussing it, he says even wrestling with it – together. The Hebrew word we translate as “read” actually means to call out or proclaim. 

He points out that Jesus read scripture in publicly in the Synagogue. And Paul told Timothy to devote himself to read scripture in public. He points out that ‘faith comes by hearing” in Romans 10:17. Scripture is meant to be read quietly as well as be spoken out loud. 

Aussie Dave ain’t wrong and I’m not right. Honestly it’s when I am sharing and living out  my faith that the words I have read become real and anchored. 

Maybe the invitation isn’t to choose between silence and sound, but to recognize that God meets us in both. There are moments when we need to be still enough to listen, to sit with His Word, and allow it to take root in our hearts. And there are moments when we need to speak it, share it, wrestle with it, and live it out among others.

Perhaps stillness isn’t about the absence of noise. Perhaps it’s about creating space for God’s voice to become clearer — whether that happens in the quiet of a room, the conversation around a table, or the faithful act of proclaiming what He has placed on our hearts.

The words we read are not meant to remain on a page. They are meant to transform us. They are meant to be carried, spoken, and lived.

So maybe the question isn’t, “Am I doing quiet time the right way?” Maybe the better question is, “Am I making room for God to meet me — and am I allowing His Word to work in me and transform me be it in the sounds or in silence?

Because whether whispered in stillness or spoken out loud publicaly, His Word is alive.

encouragement, hope, prayer, Uncategorized

Anchored in the Silence

The Kedge Anchor

Silence. It can be deafening sometimes. It can be uncomfortable. Many times in conversation we feel the need to fill the pauses. Many times silence speaks louder than words. 

Psalm 46:10  – “…Be still and know that I am God…” In Hebrew,  according to biblehub.com “Be still” means sink, relax. Sometimes that can be the hardest and the last thing I want to do. 

Yet, it’s in the chaos, in the storm I need to be still. Jesus isn’t always going to calm the waters, maybe not right away, maybe in a while – in His time.

Most times, even when I am choosing to be still, shutting out the wandering thoughts, the to do list, the what if’s, the noise of the day – it’s hard. Focusing is hard especially after a migraine my brain is foggy and tired. All I can think about is what I need to catch up on.

Being still and sitting in silence to me is like staring at a blank canvas or a blank page in a journal. It can be paralyzing and scary. Why is it my mind can blank at that but in silence I can come up with the worstest (it’s a word, I just made it up) scenarios. But that is neither what I want to write about, paint on a canvas or think about. Philippians 4:8 – “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” 

“Meditate on these things.” Prayer is a form of meditation, just remember to leave some space for God to respond. Recalling scripture and God’s faithfulness are always a good things to meditate on. 

Maybe silence isn’t meant to be filled. Maybe it is meant to be surrendered. (There’s that word again).

The blank space that feels uncomfortable, the pause that feels awkward, the stillness that makes our minds race,  those are often the very places where God invites us to meet Him.

An anchor does not prove its strength when the waters are calm. It proves its strength when the storm comes and the waves are pulling hard. Maybe being still is not about having a quiet life or a quiet mind. Maybe it is about knowing where we are anchored when life is anything but quiet.

So today, I want to practice sitting in the silence,  not because I have everything figured out, not because the noise has disappeared, but because I know Who is there with me.

“Be still and know…”

Not be still and understand everything.
Not be still and have all the answers.
Just be still and know.

Know that He is God.
Know that He is faithful.
Know that even in the silence, He is near.

encouragement, social media, Uncategorized, Wisdom

Don’t Stop Scrolling — Slow It Down

The Kedge Anchor

Choosing intention over distraction in your daily scroll

We’ve all seen the posts:

“Stop scrolling.”
“Put down your phone.”

And then they go on to tell us how damaging it can be emotionally, physically, to our relationships, and even to our spirituality.

We fall down rabbit holes.
We lose hours doomscrolling.
We get angry.
We fall for lies.

Our necks are bent down, our shoulders are tight, never looking up to see what’s going on around us, and by the time we realize it, we’re slumped over, discouraged, and wondering where the time went. We’ve wasted hours, strained our posture, and started to believe—God knows what.

Now, those are all well meaning posts. The creators want to help. They want to share how choosing to put down their phones has helped them learn a new skill, reconnect with friends and family, feel less anxious, or even get into better shape because they swapped scrolling for strolling outside.

But… how would we know any of this if we weren’t scrolling?

Kind of ironic.

If I told you to put down your phone and stop scrolling, you would most likely never see any of my posts. That kind of defeats my purpose of digital marketing and connecting with others online.

Technology, in and of itself, isn’t the enemy. We have a wealth of information in the palm of our hands. I used to spend hours at the library collecting information for school reports, lugging around books and flipping through pages. Now I can sit in the comfort of my own home and quickly look up how something works or find a definition.

I can learn new things to improve my art.
I can be inspired.
I can stay connected with loved ones.

For me, one of the best parts is having access to Biblical references, devotionals, and even meditation apps like Abide. I can also volunteer online and encourage others who are going through difficult seasons of life.

Social media has its pros and cons. It’s up to us how we engage with it responsibly.

So instead of stopping our scroll, maybe we just need to slow it.

Here are a few ways to be more intentional online:

Time yourself.
Set a timer on your phone—or better yet, somewhere else in the house—so you actually have to get up to shut it off.

Check your screen time.
Most phones provide a weekly report that shows how much time you’ve spent scrolling. It can be eye-opening.

Have an accountability partner.
Find someone who will encourage you to be intentional with your time online.

Curate your feed.
Be intentional about what shows up in your social media. My feeds consist of art tutorials, devotionals, beach and ocean groups, animals, food, migraines, and of course, my family and friends. I block anything that stirs up unnecessary anger, sadness, or negativity.

There are plenty of content creators whose goal is simply to stir things up. You don’t have to give them your time or attention.

If you know me, you know I love to volunteer. There are actually ways to do that from the comfort of your own home thanks to technology.

I volunteer as a Digital Outreach Volunteer for Focus on the Family. Each week I respond to posts on social media platforms from people who are looking for answers to some of life’s harder situations. It’s a simple way to spread God’s love, share His Gospel, and plant seeds of hope.

The internet can be a dark place that needs God’s light. That’s why it’s important for me to be mindful of what I’m doing online. It’s so easy to say, “Let me just check one thing on Facebook,” and before I know it, three hours have passed and I’ve accomplished… nothing.

To help you slow your scroll, I’ve created a free phone wallpaper as a reminder to be intentional about how you spend your time online. Feel free to download and share it.

There are some really great things we can learn from social media. I’m not saying stick your head in the sand. If you needed to lose weight, I wouldn’t tell you to stop eating—I would advise you on how to do it in a healthy way.

The same goes for scrolling.

Scroll responsibly.

What do you do to help yourself be more intentional online? Leave it in the comments and share what works for you.

Until then,
Anchor in Hope.

encouragement, Uncategorized

What’s New in 2026?

The Kedge Anchor

With a new year and fresh start I have decided to do a few things differently. A while back someone had reached out to my asking why I had stopped making the coloring pages to help memorize scripture. Anyone remember Memorize Mondays? Well, to be honest, I didn’t think there was much interest. They are a little time consuming and I decided to focus on other projects.

There is something I would like to try but you’re just gonna need to stay tuned until next month. It still involves being creative and scripture. I had also been posting wallpapers for desktops and phones with scripture to help memorize verses and well there didn’t seem to be much interest in those either. So, I moved on.

I moved on to YouTube where there seemed to be more interest and that’s where I started to give more focus. I plan on staying there and focusing on that platform. I have discovered I like to make shorts and videos which brings me to my next new thing I want to try and well, I have some ideas that I am excited to share so you’ll need to stay tuned.

The Anchor Angel Project is something that has piqued interest in others and I will continue to promote that and encourage y’all to participate, but you will need to stay tuned and follow me on social media. Hmm maybe I can tie all these ideas together.

My art and greeting cards are things that I like to do and encourage others with. For as long as I can remember I was always cresting and making greeting cards. I remember I thought I wanted to work at Hallmark designing greeting cards, LOL. And I may not be working for Hallmark however I do still create them by hand and digitally, the hand made ones I sell locally, I sell the digital cards online, so I guess I have fulfilled that dream in a way. It’s not how I imagined it but how I imagined isn’t as important as I am actually doing it.

All that to say, please subscribe to the blog, follow me on social media to stay tuned of the new things coming in 2026. Thank you for your support.

Christmas, encouragement, Stress

How I Stopped Stressing About Christmas by Saving a Little Each Week

The Kedge Anchor

Christmas can be stressful. Searching for the perfect gifts, the baking, the decorating can weigh on us after awhile. Let’s not forget our bank account. It’s not like everyone gets a Christmas bonus every year. And if you’re like me, you have to ship a few packages. It all adds up and it stresses me out.

I decided that I could plan better for Christmas if I did it slowly over time. It occurred to me one year long after Christmas, like the summer, I found a gift for my sister and decided to buy it and put it away. I felt like I had a win. When I was out shopping, I’d be on the look out for potential Christmas gifts, especially if someone had mentioned something they wanted. If I found something, I bought it and put it away. It was a great feeling to be ahead of the game. There was one year, I was done by Thanksgiving. Then it was just baking, decorating and Christmas parties.🪅🎄

Having a cash 💰 stash or a Christmas savings account was the biggest rush. When I was a kid, our bank Old Stone Bank, had a Christmas savings pass book. Yes I am mid century modern old, not Stone Age. Anyway you could put away $5 or $10 a week and by the end of the year you’d have $520 or $260 back then that was a.lot.of.money (and you actually had to walk into the back with the cash and teller made an entry in your pass book). That gave me an idea. How much could I set aside every week so that I would have Christmas money to spend? I tried putting aside $1 on week one, $2 week two… that came to $10 the first month. By the third month, 19 weeks that is $70. I was on a budget and each month that was like a bill going up. That wasn’t working. I decided that $25 a week would be a start. (OK that was ten years ago). Even $25 a week is $1300. Ten years ago, that went a long way and I just rolled it over for next year. Now if you are just starting, it’s ok. You need to start somewhere and it will be more than you have if you didn’t start. This will pay off in 2027, trust me it’s a rush. I usually had extra money in the account for birthday gifts during the year. I could by decorations, baking goods, whatever I needed for Christmas. It’s a Christmas rush of a different kind 😉I felt great to not have to pay back the credit card company and still have some cash to roll over. It was a huge stress reliever.

Please subscribe and follow me on social media and stay tuned in the next post I will tell you how I stashed the money and was able to add to it during the year.

The Kedge Anchor – Facebook

@thekedgeanchor – Instagram

@thekedgeanchor -YouTube

encouragement, Gratitude, healing, Uncategorized

An Anchored Christmas: Why I’m Making a 2025 Christmas Bucket List (And Why You Might Want To, Too)

The Kedge Anchor

I’ll be honest… I’ve never been a “bucket list” girl.
I’m more of a go-with-the-flow, follow-God’s-nudge, keep-it-simple kind of person.

But the past few Christmases have felt different. Losing loved ones has a way of shifting the whole season. The lights still shine… but they shine through a different lens. Some days the glow feels comforting, and other days it feels like too much. Grief is funny like that—it doesn’t run on a holiday schedule.

So this year, I decided I needed something gentle to help guide me back into the heartbeat of Christmas.

Not pressure.
Not perfection.
Just intention.

That’s how my 2025 Christmas Bucket List was born.

Not a “do all the things” list.
Not a “pack your calendar” list.
Just a simple collection of moments—quiet, meaningful, joy-anchoring moments.

Little things that help me stay connected to hope.
Little things that remind me that simple can still be sacred.

Mid-century charm meets grounded faith.
Soft glow. Simple lines. Gentle reminders.

What’s on My List This Year?

A mix of cozy, nostalgic, and intentional—like:

🌟 Drive around to see lights like it’s the 1960s again.
☕ Make hot cocoa and actually enjoy drinking it (not chugging it while multitasking).
🎁 Bless someone anonymously—an Anchor Angel moment.
🎄 Attend one festive event—play, concert, choir—just one.
❄️ Do something slow and cozy on purpose.
🍪 Bake a batch of cookies with zero expectation of Pinterest perfection.
🕯️ Light a candle and pray for the loved ones I miss living far away… letting that moment be holy, not heavy.

These aren’t tasks.
They’re touchpoints.
Little anchors dropped into the season to steady my soul.

Why a Christmas Bucket List Helps (Even If You’re Not a Bucket List Person)

Because when we’re grieving, stretched thin, or simply tired from carrying life…
we need reminders of what brings us back to joy.

We need something to look forward to, something small enough to manage and meaningful enough to matter.

This isn’t about doing more.
It’s about noticing more.
Being present on purpose.
Letting yourself delight again—slowly, gently.

A Christmas Bucket List is permission to enjoy the season your way… with grace for the days that feel light and grace for the days that don’t.

Create Your Own 2025 Christmas Bucket List

I made a free printable you can download—clean design, mid-century modern feel, and space to make it your own. You can download this printable and hand write or hand letter your own ideas or use Pages or Word to type in your ideas. Make it fun with color and doodles. You can do 12 days of Christmas or make it even simpler to just a few, as many as you like.

Whether you use my prompts or your own, let it guide you back to what matters.

Let it keep you anchored.

Let it help you rediscover small joys—the kinds that slip in quietly through twinkle lights, warm mugs, scripture whispered over a morning, or an unexpected moment of peace.

✨ [Download the 2025 Christmas Bucket List] ✨

2025 Christmas Bucket List✨ Download the 2025 Christmas Bucket List ✨


Here’s to a simple Christmas.
A gentle Christmas.
An anchored Christmas—
rooted in hope, wrapped in grace, and glowing with just enough light for the next step.

Need some inspiration? Here are twelve ideas to inspire you. You don’t have to do twelve, you don’t have to do six. Do what your schedule allows and what’s comfortable for you.

!2 Ideas Christmas 2025Download My Christms Bucket list
encouragement, Uncategorized

God’s Transformative Power: Lessons from Cassette Tapes

The Kedge Anchor
Photo by Mike van Schoonderwalt on Pexels.com

Who didn’t have a stack of cassette tapes in their car—scattered on the seat, stuffed in the visor, or rattling around on the back floorboard?

I remember sitting by the radio, finger poised over the record button, waiting for my favorite song to play. The joy when I caught it… and the frustration when the DJ started talking over the intro. 🤦🏻‍♀️ Recording over a tape was always a tragedy, too—until you learned to punch out those little tabs so it wouldn’t happen again. And if the tape unraveled? Out came the trusty pencil to wind it back in—unless it tore or crinkled, in which case, it was game over.

Cassette tapes were portable, fun, and such a big part of life back then. And yet—like so many things—they became outdated. Forgotten. Tossed aside.

But here’s the beautiful part: in the right hands, even something old can be transformed into art. 💿🎨

That’s the gospel picture, isn’t it? God takes what feels broken, outdated, or stuck in the past and makes it new. “He has made everything beautiful in its time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). “And who knows but that you have come to your position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14).

Even in our brokenness, when we feel useless or forgotten, God breathes new life into us. Nothing in our story is wasted. What once felt like weakness becomes testimony. What once felt forgotten becomes a platform for His glory. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Turns out, those old cassettes can be more than just nostalgia—they can be remixed into something amazing. And so can our lives. 🎛️

For me, that truth has been personal. After moving from Florida (my home for over 30 years) to Georgia, and then up the coast to a colder state, I wrestled with depression. Losing my mom in November ’23 deepened it. I carried that weight for too long—until I finally surrendered it to God. When I did, it felt like a heavy, wet blanket was lifted. Grief is still real, but so is the joy He’s given me. And out of that, He’s given me a new vision for The Kedge Anchor.

No matter your age, past, or season—you were created on purpose for a purpose. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).

God is still making all things new—including you and me.

👉 And if you want to see some incredible examples of cassette tapes transformed into literal art, check out @60SecondDocs. Their creativity is inspiring—and such a great reminder of what God can do with us, too. (Because of copyright issues, I can’t post their work here so please visit their YouTube channel and see their incredible art).

👉 What in your life feels “outdated” or “broken” right now? Ask God to remix it into something beautiful. Drop a 🎶 in the comments if you needed this reminder today.


Photo by Mike van Schoonderwalt: https://www.pexels.com/photo/cassette-and-tape-5505730/

art, encouragement, hope

Anchored in Style: The Kedge Anchor Meets Mid-Century Modern

The Kedge Anchor

What happens when you blend the timeless truth of scripture with the timeless style of Mid-Century Modern design?

You get something honest, grounded, and beautiful—just like our generation.

✨ Gen X: Born in the Middle, Built for Purpose

If you’re part of Gen X—born between 1965 and 1980—you know the feeling of being “in between.” We’re not Boomers. We’re not Millennials. We grew up analog and came of age digital. We’ve watched the world change at lightning speed.

But we weren’t an afterthought.
God placed us right here, right now—on purpose, for a purpose.

Like Esther, we were created “for such a time as this.”
We carry the resilience of those before us and the vision for those ahead. And we have something to say.

🎨 Faith Expressed Through Design

For many of us, art is how we speak—how we pray, how we process, how we encourage. And there’s no more fun or nostalgic way to express it than through Mid-Century Modern style.

With its clean lines, calming tones, and energy, MCM feels like a visual echo of our faith:

  • Order in the chaos.
  • Beauty in simplicity.
  • Hope anchored in something timeless.

When we pair scripture with this design style, we’re not just making something pretty—we’re putting truth in motion. We’re taking God’s Word and wrapping it in a visual that speaks across generations. And it doesn’t matter if you’re older or younger, there’s a spot for you. We were all created for a purpose and are placed here in this very moment by God

📖 Hebrews 6:19 — Our Anchor and Esther 4:14

That’s what inspired this visual devotional:

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”
— Hebrews 6:19

“… for just such a time as this? “ – Esther 4:14

In a drifting, shifting world, God’s Word holds. And as Gen X believers, we’re called to share that anchor—with beauty, with boldness, and yes, with a little retro flair.

🎥 Watch & Reflect

Whether you’re a designer, a dreamer, or a Gen Xer rediscovering your voice, this space is for you. Let’s create, encourage, and stay anchored, together.

Please leave a comment how you share your faith and encourage others.

art, encouragement, hope, Uncategorized

Create Joy: Handmade Cards to Encourage Others

The Kedge Anchor

In the last blog post, I shared a little about what the Anchor Angel Project is and how you can be part of it. The idea came from a friend of mine who had been walking through a long, difficult season. I started sending her memes, Bible verses, articles, care packages, and cards—just little things to lift her up. One day she referred to me as her “anchor angel,” and that phrase stuck. After that, my imagination took off.

Since I was a little girl, I’ve always loved making cards for my family. I used to dream about working for Hallmark someday—LOL. I’ve always loved to design, draw, paint, hand-letter… just create. Making greeting cards became one of my favorite ways to express myself and brighten someone else’s day. I don’t always have the time to make them as often as I’d like, but I’m hoping that by making this project my mission, I can do it more consistently—and encourage others to do the same.

We’re reminded in 1 Thessalonians 5:11 to “encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing” (NASB1995). A simple greeting card can be such a beautiful way to do that. It’s a tangible reminder of God’s love and your thoughtfulness. Tuck one into a care package. Send a photo card with a favorite old memory—like that beach trip you always laugh about or a random Tuesday that turned into a lifelong moment. The recipient might even frame it. It’s a little thing that can have a lasting impact.

A handmade card is personal. It’s heartfelt. It’s a surprise in a world of bills and junk mail. When was the last time youopened the mailbox and felt your heart smile from something totally unexpected?

That old saying, “It’s more blessed to give than to receive,” is so true. There’s a special kind of joy that comes from knowing you’ve encouraged someone else. It encourages me, too.

So—who will you bless this August? Who will be your three? I’d love to see your creations! Follow The Kedge Anchor on Facebook and Instagram and share your cards with #anchorangelproject.

And hey—there’s still more to come. I haven’t revealed everything yet… there’s a little twist on the horizon. Have you guessed it?

Happy Friday and Happy Weekend Eve!! I am so ready for the weekend—how about you? 🧡