I believe faith found me. More specifically, God brought me to Him. And because this is true, I can’t help but share what I know with others. It’s a gift that I can’t keep to myself.

Our beliefs influence our lives and the decisions we make.  However, there’s one core set of beliefs that’s more powerful than anything else in directing our life’s decisions. These are the beliefs we have about our identity.

There’s a story in the gospels (see John 4) about a woman who met Jesus at a well.  She was at this well during the hot part of the day so she could draw water at a time when the others wouldn’t be there. She wanted to avoid them because she lived with shame.

She was a woman who had five failed marriages.  The man she lived with was not her husband.   She was a mess. Jesus knew all of this and he had a purpose behind what happened next.

There’s no other message that holds greater importance in this life than the gospel of Jesus Christ.

It’s easy in these modern times to know a lot about a person without actually knowing them.  Scrolling through my Facebook feed the other day, this truth stood out starkly.  I noted the many people I had only a surface level acquaintance with.  Often, I knew where they went on their last vacation, what sports their kids played, where they worked, etc.- but that’s not the same the thing as really knowing them.

The gospel, which encompasses the story of creation, the fall, our redemption, and renewal, is God’s story.  The most wonderful news is that we’re invited into this story. 

I remember well the wondrous anticipation I experienced every Christmas Eve throughout my childhood.  I couldn’t wait to get up the next morning and run out to the tree to see what was under it.  In those years, it would still be dark outside when my brother, sister, and I would wake our parents on Christmas mornings.

Last Friday a gunman entered a mall and killed five people.  My mind has gone back to this news, over and again, often, over these past days- more than is usual for these types of things.  It happened less than sixty miles from where I live, and when I first heard the news, I had only just returned from a shopping trip at a different mall.  I know people in the community where it happened.  It was too close to home

I had the great privilege of listening to Dr. John Perkins speak last Sunday.  His message was so good, that I couldn’t keep it to myself.  I had to share some of his story and some of the highlights of his talk with you.

I can’t say that I’m fearless (yet) but I do, more than anything, want to make an impact for the gospel.  So I was intrigued by the title, Fearless Impact,  a new course taught by my friend Alison.  I want my life to be lived for Jesus- and I know that fear is an issue that can hold me back when I’m not fully trusting in Jesus. 

Christians were made to be part of a community. We can pull some truths from the analogy of sheep to God's people in the Bible to understand more deeply why this is so. 

Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.' Isaiah 41:10 (NASB)

It might be tempting to feel forgotten by God.Sometimes I even feel justified in thinking that way.

After all, it’s been a rough year. Scratch that, it’s been a challenging couple of years.

I really don’t want to seem ungrateful and believe me, I’ve been trying really hard to keep a positive spin on things.

If there’s something to worry about, I will probably be the first one to grab that what-if out of nowhere and contemplate all its possible outcomes. It’s my way of feeling like I can spot trouble before it happens so I can do something to prevent it from becoming my own horrible reality.

“but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. “ Isaiah 40:31

There have been a few times in my life when I’ve wanted something desperately.  I’ve prayed and believed for it, I’ve done everything in my own power to make it happen, and I’ve asked for help.  But the door to that thing I wanted remained closed. 

I can still remember my fourth grade teacher telling me I was a good writer.  I had never thought about myself that way, not until that moment.  I believed her when she said it because I respected her. I’m thankful Mrs. Larson took the time to encourage me the way she did.  It had a lasting impact.  Today, I’m a writer, doing exactly what I love most.  She probably had something to do with that.

Stepping into the unknown is seldom comfortable. Yet, we do it every day.

But somehow life has a way of lulling us into a false sense of control. Maybe it’s those routines we love.

Those patterns we find ourselves repeating day after day.

“Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour” (John 12:27, NASB).

We need direction.  Day by day, hour-by-hour, for us to live our best lives according to the unique purpose that God has called us to, we need the word of the Lord guiding us.  Surrender is what brings the peace that surpasses all understanding (Phil 4:7)…no matter our circumstances.

I'm happy to welcome Lori Schumaker, who writes at Searching for Moments, to share with you today as part of the Summer Sizzle Blog Hop.  Lori is a precious and dear friend who has what seems to be an endless supply of compassion. She loves people and she loves pointing them to Jesus. I believe her words will be as much a blessing to you as they were to me.  

Hygee: it's not a new idea (particularly if you live in Scandinavia) but for me, it's a fresh way of looking at life, something I've embraced whole-heartedly- and it's just too good not to share. Pronounced, (hue-gah) this is a Danish concept, and it doesn't have a literal English translation, but the basic idea of it is that it's a state a mind that includes three main concepts,

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” James 1:2-3

Joy is not usually the first word that comes to mind when I’m frustrated and overwhelmed.  I’m still a work in progress.  Self-pity is too often something I struggle with.  But I want more joy in my life.   I read the words of Jesus’ brother, James, to “count it all joy” even in trials, and I know that these hard words were inspired by God.  They’re true and they’re helpful. The testing of my faith does produce steadfastness.  I’ve experienced it and I’ve seen it experienced in other people’s lives.  By the grace of God, I trust, that as I grow and mature in Christ, someday it will become ever more of a part of who I am.  I want to be the kind of person who counts it all joy, even the trials.  I pray the same for you. 

Recently, I read C.S. Lewis’s account of his early years called, Surprised by Joy.  In it, Lewis tells how he ended up becoming an atheist (as a teen) and what, ultimately, led him back to Christianity. 

What is your definition of joy?  There’s one thing I know for sure; I want more of it.  My definition of joy?  That has been a bit harder for me to pin down.

The Bible has a lot to say about joy.  The more I study the Word, the more I realize that joy is different than happiness.  It’s a settled assurance, a quiet confidence, and a choice to trust God, no matter the circumstance.  (Romans 15:13)

To read more, click here to read the rest at Being Confident of This. 

We were greeted this morning by a magical winter wonderland outside our windows.  I sat at the table and leisurely sipped my hot coffee, watching thick snowflakes blanket our street, thinking of no school, no appointments, and no lessons.  There were wide-open possibilities.  

Last year I set out to learn all I could about trusting Jesus.  Trust was my word of the year.  This year, the word joy, is what God seemed to place on my heart.  Initially, my reaction to the word, joy, was…great; this year is going to be all about fun!  And maybe it will be.   But that’s not what joy is all about. 

God's love is amazing.  Today, let's just soak in the goodness of that love.  I pray the following words of truth will encourage and strengthen you.  Here are twenty of my favorite quotes, from some of Christianity's great thinkers, on the love of God.

The mortgage was due on 1st.  It was the 3rd- and there sat the envelope on the front table, waiting to go in the mail.  My heart sank.  As a rule-following kind of girl, it really bothers me when I mess up like this.  I expected a late payment would be incurred and that there would be a ding on my credit rating.  I was upset with myself for forgetting to get the check in the mail before I left on vacation. 

I remember well the wondrous anticipation I experienced every Christmas Eve throughout my childhood.  I couldn’t wait to get up the next morning and run out to the tree to see what was under it.  In those years, it would still be dark outside when my brother, sister, and I would wake our parents on Christmas mornings.

We had been trying to teach our four-year-old the importance of telling the truth.

Jokingly, Derek told Trent that his nose would grow long, like Pinocchio's, if he told lies.

If only we had known then, what problems this would cause. Poor Trent. He really believed Derek- and no matter what else we said, he was still scared of his nose growing long. He also started checking out everyone else's noses. It wasn’t a healthy fear.

I could hear my seven-year-old happily singing from the bathroom as I loaded the dishwasher.  It was almost time to leave for school.  His big sister pointed out that he’d been in there a long time, and that he was probably getting into stuff.  It was the same suspicion I had.  His bathroom shenanigans were usually no more harmful than the occasional overzealous application of his Daddy’s cologne- and sometimes, he used way too much toilet paper, causing the toilet to overflow.  I’m an expert with the toilet plunger.  I have a lot of practice.

Showing grace to others is about showing kindness even when they don’t deserve it.  God has shown such grace to us.  We, in turn, are asked to show grace to each other. Here are nine ways to extend grace to others.

Grace.  Unmerited favor from God, all because of Jesus Christ.  It's a word I love to think about. I've combined some of my favorite quotes on the topic of grace with some photos I took last week.  Enjoy!

The day I got married, I met a charming elderly man in the parking lot at the church. His name was Joe Bananas.  He stood by his black Cadillac, wearing a black suit, patiently waiting to take my husband’s grandparents home after the reception.  He greeted me with an Italian accent and kisses on both cheeks. 

“Men did not love Rome because she was great.  She was great because they had loved her. “ 

-G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy

The statement above, in its context, is part of a chapter in the book, Orthodoxy, called “The Flag of the World”. Chesterton talks about going back to the darkest roots of civilization and how the cities that have grown great are all knotted around some sacred stone.  First, honor is paid to a spot and later it gains glory. The chapter, as a whole, is setting up the case for Christianity and the doctrine of the fall.

“Please Jesus, help me out here!”

I said the words, out loud, in a moment of frustration, as I fought to remain calm.  My son was buckled in his car seat, waiting expectantly for me to drive him to preschool.  I was scheduled to be the parent helper that day.  I sat in the driver’s seat on that cold winter morning, still parked in my driveway, turning the key in the ignition… hearing nothing but silence from the engine.

A year after I graduated from high school I left everything I knew and traveled to Texas, far from my home in Washington State, to work as a live-in nanny for a family that I had never met before.

I have something I need to confess today. 

I absolutely love to eat!  

In fact, it’s part of our family tree—to love good food, love eating, and talk about eating. We are food people. Foodies. 

There’s no other message that holds greater importance in this life than the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I’m a water-skier.  

At the age of 6, I started skiing on two skis behind a pontoon boat. Then, in middle school, I began my love affair with the slalom ski. One ski, both feet, smooth sailing. 

Her voice was so loud that I almost dropped the phone. 

She was crying and extremely upset. 

Her marriage was in trouble, and she called me to talk about it. 

The mortgage was due on 1st.  It was the 3rd- and there sat the envelope on the front table, waiting to go in the mail.  My heart sank.  As a rule-following kind of girl, it really bothers me when I mess up like this.  I expected a late payment would be incurred and that there would be a ding on my credit rating.  I was upset with myself for forgetting to get the check in the mail before I left on vacation. 

Over the course of the year, my friend Melanie Redd and I have been writing articles about doctrine, theology, and significant Bible topics. 

These articles have been carefully researched, prayed over, and shared with the hope that many people will want to dig in and learn more. 

The time and place was Germany after WWII.  The church was divided and the hurt ran deep.  In the year’s prior, Hitler had commanded all religious groups within the country to unite. It wasn’t a unity of the Spirit, however, that brought them together.  Rather, the unity was forced upon them so Hitler could better control the churches.

She gave them to us almost every Sunday in church. 

They were the coolest little pencil puzzle books. If you would turn your pencil to the side and brush it back and forth across the page, an image would “magically” appear.  

My brother and I would enjoy page after page of these magic puzzle books, anticipating what images might be revealed. 

I’ve sent up more than a few frantic, “help!” prayers in my lifetime.  There have been times when I just didn’t know what to say how to pray.  There have also been times when I’ve prayed those quick prayers and experienced what I can only describe as a supernatural power shortly afterwards.  My faith has been strengthened from these events and I want to give full credit to where that power came from: the Holy Spirit.

“If destruction fails to entangle us, distraction will do it’s best.” – Beth Moore

As I sit here at my desk preparing to write, to share something that I hope ministers to you, dear readers, I find myself needing to practice first, the very thing I want to share with you today.  I need to stop and listen. I need to quiet my mind and listen for God to speak. 

A friend once came to me and told me about her burdens she was bearing through at the time. She was expressing so many different types of emotions; anger, sadness, despair, and helplessness. My heart went out to her, I truly wanted to bring comfort to her.

This week I have the great privilege of welcoming my friend Valerie Murray, writer at Cord of 6, here for the #SummerSizzleBlogHop. This beautiful lady has so much wisdom to share.  I have learned a great deal from her as I've been an avid reader of her blog for a couple of years now.  This essay that she is going to share with you today, on prayer, is one of my favorites!  

I learned something interesting about prayer a couple of weeks ago at church.  Judah Smith was preaching and he said, (paraphrased) that with every example of Jesus praying in the Bible, Jesus started talking to God by saying Father or Abba.  All except once. The one exception was when Jesus was dying on the cross and he cried out,

“Please Jesus, help me out here!”

I said the words, out loud, in a moment of frustration, as I fought to remain calm.  My son was buckled in his car seat, waiting expectantly for me to drive him to preschool.  I was scheduled to be the parent helper that day.  I sat in the driver’s seat on that cold winter morning, still parked in my driveway, turning the key in the ignition… hearing nothing but silence from the engine.

Heavenly Father, as we celebrate this Christmas season, we want to take a moment to express our gratitude for sending your Son, Jesus.  Thank you for the gift of this precious baby who came to Bethlehem so long ago, for us, the Savior of this world, the One who brings joy, hope, and peace to all those who believe and place their trust in Him.

Yesterday, Trent was telling me how sad he was because he missed his friends in Wenatchee.  I pointed out that he had a lot of friends at school, but he said that none of them were friends that he "could just call up".  My heart ached for him, so I prayed a little prayer.  One hour later, there was a knock on the door, and an invitation for a play date was extended by one of our neighbors.  Today, he was cruising around the neighborhood with these two sweet boys while I had a cup of coffee and a chat with their grandma.

Here are ten of my favorite quotes and verses on prayer. I've paired them with some of my favorite photographs that I've taken over the years.  You're welcome to share and pin, but please link back to this site. 

Sometimes I don’t know how to pray.  I don’t even know where to start.  But I’m learning.  Recently I stumbled onto a concept that has really helped me in my prayer life.  I’ve been using the Bible as a prompt.  This, of course, isn’t a new idea at all.  Jesus prayed scriptures (Lk 4:16,17)- lots of people do.

Christians were made to be part of a community. We can pull some truths from the analogy of sheep to God's people in the Bible to understand more deeply why this is so. 

“but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. “ Isaiah 40:31

Our beliefs influence our lives and the decisions we make.  However, there’s one core set of beliefs that’s more powerful than anything else in directing our life’s decisions. These are the beliefs we have about our identity.

The most famous Passover meal is best known as The Lord’s Supper. This Seder meal marked the last time Jesus ate with his disciples before his arrest and crucifixion. Observed for over 4,000 years, Passover is the oldest known religious ritual in Western history. While Passover is a part of Jewish cultural and faith traditions, it has relevance for Christians as well.

This week I hope to inspire us to look at the habits we keep- specifically the habits that help us to grow into more mature Christians.  Habits for Our Holiness is the name of a book by Philip Nation.  In it, he says,

“The things we plant in our lives are the things that grow in our lives.”

Stepping into the unknown is seldom comfortable. Yet, we do it every day.

But somehow life has a way of lulling us into a false sense of control. Maybe it’s those routines we love.

Those patterns we find ourselves repeating day after day.

Do you remember the first mobile phone you ever saw or used? 

My dad had a huge box that sat under the dash in the front of his car. In this box was the most wonderful contraption. It was a gigantic mobile phone.  

“Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour” (John 12:27, NASB).

We need direction.  Day by day, hour-by-hour, for us to live our best lives according to the unique purpose that God has called us to, we need the word of the Lord guiding us.  Surrender is what brings the peace that surpasses all understanding (Phil 4:7)…no matter our circumstances.

As Christian women, we’re often well acquainted with the idea of self-sacrifice.  Our calling is to be like Jesus.  He literally laid his life down for his friends.  We want to serve God by serving others.  This is good- and it’s as it should be.  Love God and love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:30-31)

We all need to retreat every once in awhile.  A change of pace from the ordinary refreshes the body, mind, and spirit.  Different types of retreats serve different purposes, but I believe there are three primary types of retreats that all people need: solo, community, and Sabbath.  These retreats don’t need to involve large quantities of time or travel.  You can create mini-retreats, at home.  All you need is a plan and a few minutes set aside for this purpose.

I hurled his bag down the stairs and screamed, "THERE'S YOUR STUPID SUITCASE!!!  JUST GO AHEAD AND LEAVE ME!"

My husband picked up his busted luggage, stared at me in disbelief, and spoke an apologetic goodbye.

Throwing myself on the bed for a good cry, I agonized over why our marriage wasn't turning out like I expected.

Marriage and dating advice isn't something I write about too often in this space, but I hope you'll enjoy this little departure from the norm today. 

I believe that regular date nights with my spouse are an important way to keep the spark alive.  

It's summer, and wedding and anniversary season is upon us!  I love this time of year, partly because I often get to attend weddings and also because my husband and I celebrate our own anniversary in August. We just hit 21 years together!  

With that milestone, it seemed appropriate to make a list, some ideas for love in action that speak loud and clear.    Some of the most powerful ways to say, I love you, don't even use words....  

My husband and I were high school sweethearts.  We met in 9th grade and starting dating in 10th. We got married after our second year of college. That was over twenty years ago.  There have been ups and downs, as there is in any marriage, but we have a love that has continued to grow throughout the years. 

The story of us has always been my favorite love story. And if you're married, I hope the story of you and your spouse is your favorite love story! These are stories worth preserving.

The more we love God, the better we are at loving people.  Our individual relationship with God needs to take priority over our relationships with each other- even our spouse.

I love being able to bring a smile to my husband’s face, encouraging him when he most needs it.  You probably feel the same way about your spouse, right?  I know I certainly enjoy receiving encouragement, most of all, from my spouse- so I try to be intentional in how I encourage him.  I won’t pretend that I’m always on top of it- but I try. 

I recently had the opportunity to review a book, called 9 Traits of a Life Giving Marriage, by Sue Detweiler.  I thought the title was perfect- as the book really did deliver on its' promise. 9 Traits of a Life Giving Marriage was a straightforward and honest look at what it takes for a Christian marriage to thrive.  I appreciated the vulnerability shown throughout the pages, along with Sue's willingness to share personal stories from her own marriage- the good and the bad.  We can learn from each other, and this book had the tone of a wise, older sister, sharing her wisdom out of love, with a desire to see marriages succeed.  

As a new mother, I was on the receiving end of some really sweet encouragement.  I remember the feelings of gratitude, of wanting to pay it forward- and I remember how hard it was to do much of anything, beyond taking care of my baby at that time.  

Shortly after we were married, my husband and I moved hundreds of miles away from our hometown to go to college.  We were strangers to nearly everyone in our new town. Not long after arriving, we ended up going to a church where we were warmly welcomed and shown what Christian hospitality is all about.

Afternoon tea.  You don’t have to be British and you don’t have to be a six-year-old girl to have fun with this idea.  Hosting an afternoon tea is a sweet way to let your girlfriends know you appreciate them.  

When we think about preparing our homes for guests, I think a good question to ask is,

“What can we do to make people feel honored and loved?”

Doing what we can to make other people feel loved is the heart of hospitality. 

Over the next few weeks on this blog, we’ll explore different ways to connect with other people and welcome them into our homes and lives.  These types of efforts are often rewarded by stronger community bonds and new friendships.  Those are wonderful blessings: good for your heart, mind, and soul.  But as Christians, there’s another, more important reason behind our desire to love our neighbors

In my early 20’s I met Jeanne Garison. Jeanne was wise, gracious, funny, and for some reason, loved me. She showed it by pouring her wisdom into me, her time into my time, her life into my life. Living life with Jeanne alongside made all the difference.

Cozy Minimalist is the name of an online decorating course, by Myquillin Smith (also known as The Nester).  You may already know her from her blog and/or book called, The Nesting Place. After being on the waiting list for the months, anxiously waiting for her class to re-open, I finally had the privilege of taking her course- and now I'm happy to welcome you into my home, to share some before and after photos and tell you some of what I learned. 

Because who doesn't love a good before and after!

Hygee: it's not a new idea (particularly if you live in Scandinavia) but for me, it's a fresh way of looking at life, something I've embraced whole-heartedly- and it's just too good not to share. Pronounced, (hue-gah) this is a Danish concept, and it doesn't have a literal English translation, but the basic idea of it is that it's a state a mind that includes three main concepts,

The first time I experienced a broken heart was because of a boy.  His name was Alex.  I was sixteen.   He changed my life.

Alex was a two-year-old orphan boy that I’d bonded with over the time I’d been living and working in Săvârșin, Romania, at a summer camp tucked away in the hills of Transylvania. 

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me. -Mathew 25:35-40

The Bible verse above, from Mathew, is a practical “how-to” of hospitality.   I see four basic human needs that are directly addressed in this passage: food, clothing, shelter, and companionship.

Holy in the Moment, by Ginger Harrington is a book that I'm excited to tell you about- not only because Ginger is a beautiful writer,  someone I've followed and been encouraged by for years, but because the message of her book is one that is simple, true and necessary for everyone who wants to live a life of faith for God. 

In my early 20’s I met Jeanne Garison. Jeanne was wise, gracious, funny, and for some reason, loved me. She showed it by pouring her wisdom into me, her time into my time, her life into my life. Living life with Jeanne alongside made all the difference.

It’s a feeling I know well….wanderlust.  This is strange because I can also be a homebody, a woman who craves routine and needs quiet solitude on a frequent basis.

"Things like wall colors and candles mattered to me more than I had guessed, and it felt freeing to admit it. I wanted to sink into the unpredictability of a cross-cultural life, yes, but I also wanted a bona fide home. This was a season of refinement, of acknowledging there were multiple sides to me that were equally true.  I was infected with an incurable sense of wanderlust, but I was also a homebody.
I matured into adulthood when I acknowledged this truth." -Tsh Oxenreider

Every January, it seems that there’s an abundance of recommended reading lists that populate the blogosphere.  “Tis the season.  I love reading these lists.   

I used to read book lists while trying to file away a few ideas in my memory.  Sadly, I probably missed out on quite a few great books this way.  My memory isn’t the most reliable filing system.  Things get lost in there.

I have four new books to tell you about today!  One of the joys of writing a blog is that, sometimes, I get to read books before they're officially published.  I was busy this summer reading advance copies of several books, written by some of my favorite faith bloggers.  Finally, I get to share them with you! The fact that these books are all written by faith bloggers makes me feel proud, particularly because they're all so great!

Do you love to read?  I sure do.  I don't have as much time as I'd like to have for reading- so I'm picky about the books that I choose.  I love a great novel that makes me think, something I can get lost in, and I enjoy a light beach read, when the time is right. But most often, the books I gravitate towards are the ones that can teach me something (and get straight to the point), books that make good use limited precious time.

The following list of books that I've compiled were chosen with three criteria:  

• I've read them (and wholeheartedly recommend them)
• They encouraged me in my Christian faith (and I believe they'll encourage you)
• They offer solid, no-nonsense, Biblical teaching in a compelling manner.

As parents, our children have our hearts- no question about it.  Often times, it feels like our hearts are walking around outside our bodies.  There aren’t adequate words for how deep this love is. We want the best for them and quite naturally, we want their hearts, too. 

I can’t say that I’m fearless (yet) but I do, more than anything, want to make an impact for the gospel.  So I was intrigued by the title, Fearless Impact,  a new course taught by my friend Alison.  I want my life to be lived for Jesus- and I know that fear is an issue that can hold me back when I’m not fully trusting in Jesus. 

Raising Godly Children:  Children Who Courageously Follow Their Lord, is a new book by my friend, Aimee Imbeau (A Work of Grace), that I have the honor of sharing with you today.  It’s a Christian parenting book that takes a look at marriage, sibling relationships, parent-child relationships, how to effectively disciple children.

I recently had the opportunity to review a book, called 9 Traits of a Life Giving Marriage, by Sue Detweiler.  I thought the title was perfect- as the book really did deliver on its' promise. 9 Traits of a Life Giving Marriage was a straightforward and honest look at what it takes for a Christian marriage to thrive.  I appreciated the vulnerability shown throughout the pages, along with Sue's willingness to share personal stories from her own marriage- the good and the bad.  We can learn from each other, and this book had the tone of a wise, older sister, sharing her wisdom out of love, with a desire to see marriages succeed.  

Making much of Jesus over Christmas isn’t only about commemorating our Lord’s birth.  Making much of Jesus is about following his example and living in a way that brings glory to God.  As Christians, this what we are called to year-round, but the holidays are a special time of year, where people are often particularly sensitive to the things of God.   @@We can use the holidays as an opportunity to be a light in the world for Jesus@@ and we can lead our kids, through our example, in what this looks like. 

“If our kids never struggle with their faith, they will have borrowed convictions.” –Josh McDowell

I was raised in a Christian home. My mom was a children’s pastor.  I felt like I was always at church.  But when I got to high school, I started having doubts about my faith.  I was no longer interested in taking everything my parents said at face value.  I had to figure it out for myself.  More importantly, I needed the Holy Spirit to help me…to change my heart.  I could no longer rely on my parent’s faith.  It had to be my own.