Our Story and Theirs A few years ago my husband and I were invited to dinner at the home of a sweet family in our church. We didn’t know them very well at the time, but what we did know about them we loved. They were clearly devoted to the Lord and loved one another […]

Loving Others, Yourself and the Lord The key to loving others well isn’t learning to love yourself first. I know, I know. That’s not what you’re hearing from the world right now, but it’s true. As good as it may sound, loving yourself first isn’t the answer.  Maybe it’s just me, but it feels like […]

Confession: I sometimes think quantity is better than quality. Two peanut butter cups is always better than one, even if they are two Reese’s versus one Justin’s. Four pairs of Gap jeans is surely better than one pair of Sevens, because what mom is willing to risk getting snot and strawberry hands all over her […]

A New Mindset “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”  (Isaiah 55:8–9) Wait, child. The phrase spoken into my situation after I talked […]

In the Night I pull my coat on, grab my bag, and head out into the night—though sometimes I’d prefer to be heading to bed instead of to work. But work is a privilege. I, along with an amazing team, look after some of the very vulnerable, who know their days are counted, and provide […]

More than Entertainment Streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime are a delightful convenience. The myriad of choices has us queuing up our watch lists until our eyes glaze over and, within this world of high stimulus entertainment, we become blind to the pitfalls that threaten to undercut our spiritual zeal and steadfastness.   […]

Studying the Bible I started reading the Bible when I was a teenager. I knew it was important, and I wanted to obey God. But it didn’t take long to feel discouraged and confused. I wasn’t sure where to begin. If I tried reading a passage, most of what I read didn’t make sense. If […]

An Unexpected Invitation “Hey, are you free if I stop by this afternoon? I’d love to talk something over with you…” I saw the text pop up from a friend in the middle of a morning that was less-than-amazing. I had been up a good part of the night with my baby, so I was […]

From Dark to Life One of our favorite things to do as a family is growing a garden. But the vegetables, flowers, and fruits won’t grow right away. We have to tend the tiny seeds first, planting them in tiny planters in our sunroom. Often, we use old egg cartons. Our family will fill the […]

Submission: Good or Bad? “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their […]