Last week I had one of those days. You know what I’m talking about, right? A day when everything that could possibly go wrong did. That night, as I sat nursing my infant before going to sleep, I silently rejoiced that the Lord promises us new mercies each day (Lamentations 3:22-23). As assuring as this promise is, sometimes meditating … [Read more...] about Hitting Reset After a Bad Day
spiritual growth
Intentional Acts of Kindness
Something really sweet happened when I was grocery shopping with my daughters a few days ago. As we were exiting the store with a cart full of groceries, my 3-month-old decided she was uncomfortable and was going to let everyone know about it. Her cries continued to escalate as I arrived at my car and unlocked my trunk. As this was … [Read more...] about Intentional Acts of Kindness
5 Ways to Stop Procrastinating
I occasionally find myself putting off some task that I really need to accomplish. Often the task relates to housecleaning, though sometimes it relates to budgeting, yard work, or home maintenance. I’m a little embarrassed to say that sometimes days, weeks, or even months will pass before I finally buckle down and complete it. Does this ever … [Read more...] about 5 Ways to Stop Procrastinating
I’m Done Pretending I Have It All Together
I had some friends over a couple of weeks ago and, much to my embarrassment, I noticed halfway through our lunch that I had not served them anything to drink. I had a drink in front of me and my oldest daughter had one in front of her (I’d poured both earlier in the day), but I simply forgot to serve drinks to our guests. I felt … [Read more...] about I’m Done Pretending I Have It All Together
Embracing the Present Season
Last week, during the prayer time following a small group Bible study, I sat with several other moms as we discussed the challenges of having young children in the home. As many of you know, these challenges are numerous. While we were wrapping up, one mom reminded us that this is just a season. As time passes, this season (with its many … [Read more...] about Embracing the Present Season
Christmas in July: Christ-Focused Advent Traditions
Traditionally, the term “Advent” has referred to the first season of the Christian church year. Advent is a period of prayer, reflection, and fasting that begins four Sundays before Christmas, preparing followers to celebrate Christ’s birth and building expectation for Christ’s final coming. Even for Christians who don’t use the church … [Read more...] about Christmas in July: Christ-Focused Advent Traditions
4 Things Christians Should Stop Posting on Social Media (Part 2)
Last week I posed this question: If all that non-Christians know of Christianity is what they see from Christians on social media, then what is their understanding of our faith? We then looked at the first of four types of posts that I think Christians should avoid posting on social media. Let’s examine the remaining types of posts … [Read more...] about 4 Things Christians Should Stop Posting on Social Media (Part 2)
4 Things Christians Should Stop Posting on Social Media (Part 1)
If all that non-Christians know of Christianity is what they see from Christians on social media, then what is their understanding of our faith? I’ve been pondering this recently because I’m often shocked at the things I see Christians posting on their social media pages. There are some things we just need to avoid sharing. Here are … [Read more...] about 4 Things Christians Should Stop Posting on Social Media (Part 1)