Life Stories/Lessons
Marriage: When Envy Destroys Trust
For many years I was a stay-at-home/homeschooling mom. During this time, there were days my husband traveled for work that felt endlessly tiresome. When my husband would call or send pictures of what he was experiencing without me, all I…
Marriage: What it looks like to “suffer long”
The meaning of long-suffering in I Corinthians 13:4 is that love is “long-tempered” or “long of mind or soul”. The Vines Expository Dictionary of the NT defines it as follows: “to be patient, longsuffering, to bear with,” lit., “to be…
What I learned from my Whole 30
A month ago, after being frustrated with not feeling well and struggling with daily heartburn and acid reflux that was causing a sore throat, I decided to search for a solution. A co-worker had often talked about doing a whole…
Valuing the Gift of Scripture
As I walked the halls of the local children’s home for at-risk children during a holiday open house, one of the young girls grabbed my arm in excitement to tour her room. She led me through a steel door into…
How my Walk of Shame Led me to Embrace Courage
Walking through the crowded, college cafeteria as students devoured their lunches after a long morning of classes, I sensed something was off. I was not a popular girl by any stretch of the imagination, and I was definitely garnering unprecedented…
Remembrance: A Gift of Grace in the Midst of Grief
I am currently looking out at a fresh white snow covering our front lawn. At the same time, I am feeling a new blanket of grief gently falling upon me as an anniversary arrives, reminding me anew of who is…
21 Rhythm Resets for Increased Creativity and Renewed Minds
It is no surprise that humans are creatures of habit. Routines ground us in healthy ways, but they can also become predictable, fostering complacency. There are times when our regular habits hinder creativity, stymie growth, and keep us from dreaming…
How a Close Encounter with Death Led me to a Deeper Encounter with God
Have you ever had a near death experience? In 1993, I did. It was the week before Christmas, and I was a senior at a small, Christian college living in the dorms. Everyone had left to head home for the…
3 Things My Youth Pastor did that Prepared me for Life.
Youth pastors often get a bad rap in our culture. Sometimes rightfully so. There has been a cultural trend to put greater emphasis on being relatable and fun than on being wise and knowledgeable counselors. Having fun is good and…
Being Trapped By Tradition
An imperceptible tension sets in on me as the holiday season draws closer by the day. There are moments of inner dread that sit heavy on what should be a joyous celebration of God’s goodness in my life. I stuff…