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
Can We Really KNOW God?
My son received a new video game system this Christmas. Subsequently, he spent a massive fair amount of time over his school break playing one of his new games.
As a mom, I felt some tension in wanting to limit his screen time, hoping he would do something more “constructive”. At the same time, I understood.
Read more16 of the Best Books I Read in 2016
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.
Read moreFear Fighting By Knowing Who IS
My son and I drove over a bridge we’d driven over a hundred and one times. It happened to be dark. Very dark.
Son, let me ask you a question, “How do you know that water is still there?”
Read moreHow Receiving God's Gift, Like a Child, is the Only Way
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.
Read moreMaking More of Jesus at Christmas with Teens
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.
Read more5 Ways to Seek Truth
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.
Read more31 Days of Proverbs, A Gift for You
When I was a little girl, there used to be a little plastic box (that looked like a loaf of bread) sitting on my kitchen table. It was full of cards that I would pull out and read while I was eating breakfast. Each card had a different Proverb on it. Those were some of the first scriptures I remember reading on my own. I have always loved the Proverbs. They're straightforward, practical, and all about wisdom.
I was thinking about that box of cards the other day when I got the idea to make something for you, dear readers, a free printable booklet with Proverbs. I've combined my love of designing graphics with my love of scripture in a way that I hope will be useful to you.
Read more5 Reasons We Can Find Joy When Life Is Difficult
“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.
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