Speak to me inside of her. That was the word the Lord whispered into my heart the day I hit my knees in prayer for a friend.I had struggled in our relationship. We were in a Bible study together and it seemed that no matter how I tried to encourage her in her walk with the Lord, my words were ... read more
How to Make It Feel Like Christmas Even When You’re Newlyweds
My husband and I will celebrate our first married Christmas this December. Although we were dating last Christmas and spent some of Christmas Day together, it feels different this year in a lot of ways.For example, practically, we're making a home together, so we have decorating decisions to ... read more
books on motherhood that have challenged me
Now I know why my mom never really finished books when we were growing up. Because now I have those same stacks of half-finished books everywhere -- by the bed, near the couch, on my desk beneath my Bible. Each one is supposed to inspire me just by sitting there, right? Can I absorb traits of ... read more
books for when motherhood becomes a full-time job
When my eldest children grew out of naptimes and into kindergarten, I hit what I call "full-time motherhood". Truth is, when they nap, you get a break; when they don't nap, you don't. I was facing more than twelve hours a day caring for children whose needs and desires were maturing beyond food and ... read more
“You are loved with an everlasting love…”
“‘You are loved with an everlasting love,’ that’s what the Bible says, ‘and underneath are the everlasting arms.'”If you, like me, grew up listening to “Gateway to Joy” on the radio every morning, you knew the next line was going to be, “This is your friend Elisabeth Elliot.” That soft, deep ... read more
How to Find the Fountain of Youth
When I was an awkward, anxious twenty-something who felt hopelessly crippled by shyness, it dawned on me one day that even a stick-in-the-mud might actually be transformed into the kind of person who joyfully welcomes new people, new adventures, and new growth in my heart.It might be possible to ... read more
skip the identity crisis & choose freedom
If I could write a letter to myself ten years younger, I wouldn't write wistfully: you have zero gray hair! you aren't yet jaded by burnout! you have so much enthusiasm! I know now how much joy will come wrapped up in the painful lessons of life and I will almost pity the shallow happiness of my ... read more
