The story of the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4 has always been a favorite of mine. Perhaps because our first meetings with Jesus were so similar: a thirsty and hopeless heart living an ordinary day suddenly transformed by an extraordinary encounter with the Savior of the world. Jesus went out of His way to pass through Samaria. Most Jews of His day avoided the land because the Samaritans weren’t considered “true” Jews. This is why the ... Read More about She Left Her Water Jar
Rachelle Rea Cobb
Rachelle is a freelance editor and an author.
When You and Your Husband Have Opposite Personalities
No other test I took in college changed my life like the MBTI personality test. I was just chatting with a friend today about how we both first took the MBTI during our college years. We both found it so freeing to discover that we are wired this way. And that's okay. Other people are, too.Not my husband, though.One of the first questions I asked my husband after we met was whether he'd taken the MBTI. I confess, I was ... Read More about When You and Your Husband Have Opposite Personalities
For When You Want to Cry on Christmas
This will be our eighth Christmas without him.My grandfather was a man of few words. The adjective "quiet" fit him to a T. Still, he was there for everything. Impromptu dinners, horse-riding competitions, graduations, and especially Christmas. There's just something about sitting on the couch next to your grandpa while watching "Miracle on 34th Street" together.The first Christmas was definitely the hardest holiday ever. We did well, ... Read More about For When You Want to Cry on Christmas
a Cinderella novel that makes you ponder the heart of God
I wish I had been able to read this book back when I was single. Then (and now!) I devoured love stories left and right. There is just something about a love story, isn't there? I can't get enough. If you're also a love story aficionado, allow me to introduce you to one of the best love stories I've read all year--and the heroine who is nothing like you might expect. "It all began when I was three. At least, that’s the story my mom used to ... Read More about a Cinderella novel that makes you ponder the heart of God
How to Foster Effective Communication in Marriage
When my husband and I bought a new-to-us car right after Valentine's Day last year, we immediately fell in love with the sleek white minivan. There was only one problem: we couldn't find the CD player.If it hadn't come with a CD player, that wouldn't have posed a hardship (okay, maybe a little). But we knew it had to be there. Several buttons hinted at its existence. We just couldn't find the magical button combination that made the slot ... Read More about How to Foster Effective Communication in Marriage
12+ Historical Novels to Fascinate Every Age
As a historical fiction author, I'm often asked what gems of the genre I recommend. I love being asked for book suggestions, but I always follow up with a few questions first because there are so many facets (and sub-genres) to historical fiction! Here are my questions and answers, and most importantly, the titles of my favorite historical novels for every age.Whatever your taste in history or books, browse the list below for ideas on where ... Read More about 12+ Historical Novels to Fascinate Every Age
How to Keep Long-Distance Friendships Strong
On a sunny Friday in October, I sat in my friend's hallway and helped her pack up her husband's office. We chatted as we have on countless other Fridays about love and marriage, children and parenting, faith and loss.Neither of us wanted to dwell overlong on the fact that this would be our last Friday together, at least in this house. In a few days, the possessions we packed would be stacked in boxes lining her driveway. Within the week she, ... Read More about How to Keep Long-Distance Friendships Strong
I will show up to Heaven like this.
She thought she'd get to keep her.Katie Davis, a missionary in Uganda and founder of Amazima Ministries, has adopted 13 daughters, but once she had 14.At 17 years old, Katie moved from a suburb in Nashville, Tennessee all the way to Uganda to teach kindergarten. Why move halfway across the world when her parents wanted her to attend college? Because she had fallen in love with Uganda during a high school mission trip and, with her ... Read More about I will show up to Heaven like this.
how to look at loss when fear strangles
At noon on a hot July Friday, my husband, Devin, and I both had routine appointments scheduled with our dentist. After my appointment was concluded, I stood up from the dental chair with cleaned teeth and a clean bill of health. The dental assistant led me to the chair where Devin was still mid-appointment. Our dentist, who had just left me laughing about some joke he had told, was checking my husband's lymph nodes.He hadn't checked mine, so ... Read More about how to look at loss when fear strangles
If You Want to Learn How to Be Gentle and Quiet
When my professor told me I wasn't participating in discussions enough to earn an A in his literature course that semester, I had an idea. Confessing that my heart stopped beating if I so much as thought about speaking up in class, I told him that if he would just call on me and save me from having to initiate speaking up, I'd know the answer. And if he could please call on me toward the beginning of class so as to get it over with, I'd ... Read More about If You Want to Learn How to Be Gentle and Quiet
How to Pray for Other People
My husband and I trooped to three antique stores in one weekend looking for one thing: the perfect prayer bench to put in our bedroom closet. I confess, when it seemed as if we would never find the perfect narrow bench to fit in our small closet, I mentally began to plan what else I could do with the limited space. After all, we have only two closets in our apartment, so space is precious.Then we found it.The darling green cabinet that ... Read More about How to Pray for Other People
How to Speak Life and Truth into the Hard Moments
I had spent too long in front of the mirror that Sunday morning. After swapping with a friend a bag of clothes we no longer wanted, I had a new-to-me lacy top to wear to church. That Sunday morning also happened to be one of those first indecisive spring days: the morning began with a chill in the air, but my weather app promised it would be balmy by noon. So my new shirt was perfect for the weather. Still, for some reason, I felt self-conscious ... Read More about How to Speak Life and Truth into the Hard Moments
