Life Stories/Lessons
Reflections on Grace: Reader Testimonials
In one of my newsletter issues, I asked my readers for responses to these two questions: 1. How do you define grace in your own words? 2. What is an example of God’s grace in your own life? I would…
How a Round Table Discussion Softened the Rough Edges of My Grief
As I sat down at one of the round, white folding tables at the Wednesday evening ladies’ meeting, I began to question if I should have shown up at all. I had spent the day caring for my mother who,…
Pursuing and Being Pursued: How a Spirit of Cynicism Hurts the Church
Walking with my daughter through the dark parking garage, I could sense someone bounding up the stairs multiple steps at a time. Thinking someone was in a hurry for their movie, I nudged my daughter to the inner rail while…
How to Find the Grace of Humor in Heavy Times
A few years ago, after my grandparents had moved into an assisted living facility, my grandfather was diagnosed with throat cancer. Being ninety and dealing with serious health issues, he couldn’t pursue a treatment plan. My sweet yet spunky grandfather…
Living in the Reality of Grief and the Promise of Hope
I can lose track of the days easily at times. It seems like I constantly find myself wondering how a new month has already begun. Most days simply run together through the rhythm of monotony and routine. Except days like…
3 Tips for Parenting Your Kids with Grace
As first appeared on The Joyful Life Magazine blog. As I pulled into the garage after running my son and daughter from activity to activity one evening, I was tired. Before I had even put the car in park, they…
Unity in Diversity: 5 Ways to Fulfill Your Role in the Universal Church.
By: Terri Prahl A few years ago, we welcomed two girls into our home who had entered the foster care system due to parental addictions. Over time, these girls felt at ease in our home that looked starkly different than…
How He Spoke Comfort Through the Silence of Grief
A faded hospital gown hung loosely around my disproportioned torso as I laid hugging my belly on a cold, metal triage cot. Moments earlier, the nurse had left the room after solemnly removing the fetal monitor from my belly, announcing…
Pursuing the New We Already Possess: How to Overcome by Faith in 2022
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 Every year around this time I ask my husband if he has any goals for the…
From Ashes to Beauty
The Testimony of Sue Corl One night as I was putting my ten year old daughter to bed, she asked me, “Mommy, can you tell me a story about something fun that happened to you in school when you were…