“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.
Read moreLook to Jesus: How to Let Go of Worry and Trust God, is the title of my book that came out in January. It has been exciting to see how God has been using this little book. I love hearing from people who've read it, who've shared with me how it has served as an encouragement to them.
Read more“I don’t really care if I get it or not. I just want to see what happens.”
How many times have you heard this phrase (or a variation of it) from someone you know? Maybe that someone was you. Did you believe it? Sometimes indifference is a mask for fear.
“Don’t get your hopes up.”
This is too often the response that many of us receive after setting a high goal. Why shouldn’t we have high hopes?
“Well, it’s all in God’s hands….”
There’s truth in this statement. God IS in control. But my feeling is, that too often, this phrase is used as an excuse, to avoid the work that’s required on our part, when we dare to hope for what we really want.
BEING BOLD MEANS DARING TO HOPE.
I'm guest writing for the #BeBoldGirl series at Rachel Britton. To read the rest click here
Read moreDo 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.
Read moreWhat an honor it is to welcome a dear friend, Melanie Redd, to share with you all today. For those of you who already know of this sweet woman, I don't need to tell you that the following words come from her heart. She's a lady who stands out as one of the most encouraging people I know. She's the real deal, people. She practices what she preaches. Please, be encouraged by her words- and then, go on and say hello, visit her blog. You'll be glad you did!
Read moreMaking 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.
Read moreUnknowns make me uncomfortable, but they’re a part of life, and learning to accept that I can’t control and plan everything that happens to me or to those I love is how I'm learning to trust in Jesus. I rest in the knowledge of Romans 8:28, which says,
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Read moreI was thinking about the word, redemption, which is what brought this story to mind. The story is about a man named Andy Dufresne who's sentenced to two consecutive life terms in prison for the murder of his wife and her lover- a crime he didn't commit. Life in prison is brutal and isolating, but Andy forges a friendship with a man named Red, a man who's been behind prison walls for most of his life.
Read moreYesterday, 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.
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