Starting to Journal I was ten years old when I first started keeping a journal. I’ll spare you the details of what I wrote in my first journal, but it was far from a Christ-centered record of life. The topics frequently covered were: the boys I liked, the friends I had, and what I did […]

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 […]

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 […]

Early Morning Moments The time was 2 a.m. I could hear the deep, rhythmic breathing of my husband as I fed our newborn son. Since I don’t fall asleep easily, I had already been awake most of the night. A few years earlier this would have been really stressful for me, but after four children […]

the cycle of seclusion It’s been a long day. You are exhausted as you pull into your garage and close the door behind you, grateful for a neighborhood that values seclusion as much as you do. Life regularly looks like closed doors and quiet evenings. On Sunday your pastor might mention hospitality. You cringe a […]