YOUR will, Father, not mine. Those are hard words to come by sometimes. Adapted from Pray Confidently and Consistently: Finally Let Go of the Things Holding You Back from Your Most Important Conversation by Valerie Woerner. Obedience is hard to talk about, but it plays a crucial part in both...
Never Grow Passive About Smashing Up False Images
Through the blood of Jesus, you have been made “blood” with God’s family. You are a child of God, with all the benefits and blessings that comes from being part of his incredible family. By Aubrey Sampson, adapted from her title, Known. “OH MY GOODNESS! Aren’t you just the spitting...
4 Steps for Turning Bible Reading into A Habit
Turning your Bible reading from an “every now and then” activity into a daily habit doesn’t usually happen overnight. Originally posted on Read the Arc. Research illustrates that about 40 percent of our behavior is driven by habit, and it can take upwards of two months to form a lasting...
How To Find Joy Beyond Materialism During the Holidays
Often it seems like Christmas is about what is under the tree rather than who was born in a manger. It can be a little overwhelming. All of the commercialism, blaring ads, clever jingles, and endless parades of dancing electronics can easily detract from our joy. This article was written...
How Can I Find Rhythm and Routine at Home?
Home is your garden of life, so to speak, and you are free to order it and plant it as you will. But all great works of life must be planned in order to make them productive, useful, and flourishing. With a garden, the more ground that is planted, the...
What is a Girl Worth? #MeToo
August 4, 2016 10:32 a.m. To whom it may concern . . . I didn’t expect to be writing an email that morning. With three children under five, I wanted, and needed, to spend my daytime hours savoring the simple, rich delights of my kids—and getting in a few hours...
Christmas activities for your family
The fun and excitement of the Christmas holidays can leave both adults and children drained, and short days and winter weather can make things worse. Making sure that life has homey pleasures gives grace to those long, cold days—so while I’m doing my serious planning, I try to dream up...
What do you do when a friendship goes wrong?
In an ideal world, we would all be surrounded by throngs of people who want our best, know our story, share our deepest convictions, and are willing to walk with us through life. However, as so many of us are keenly aware, this is not usually the case. Unfortunately, the...
Gather: We Come Together around the Table
The idea of gathering to eat is a somewhat fluid one. We can gather in the kitchen to graze on food options. We can gather in the living room with plates in laps. We can gather in the family room to eat in front of a screen. We can gather...
What Does Love Look Like as God Intended?
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matthew 22:36-39...