Most Americans, whether they’re Christians or not, celebrate Thanksgiving. However, for those of us who are Christians, the holiday has a special significance. Though I often listen to Christmas music in the weeks before Christmas in order to help prepare my heart to celebrate the birth of Jesus, I’ve never considered doing something … [Read more...] about Thanksgiving Playlist
spiritual growth
5 Habits That Quell Gratitude
We talk a lot about gratitude during the month of November. Though I try to focus on gratitude all year long, I appreciate the heightened focus on gratitude around Thanksgiving. The more I think about gratitude, the more I realize that it’s not enough to engage in activities that foster gratitude. If I’m going to be grateful every day, … [Read more...] about 5 Habits That Quell Gratitude
The Great Halloween Debate: Should Christians Take Part in Halloween?
In the fall of each year, Christian families face the question of whether or not to celebrate Halloween. I know a lot of families who struggle with this question, so today we’re going to consider some different ways to answer it. Before we explore these answers, let’s review the history of Halloween. The history of Halloween has more … [Read more...] about The Great Halloween Debate: Should Christians Take Part in Halloween?
Inspiration for When Your Prayers Feel Redundant
When I pray during my devotional time in the morning, I often feel that my prayers sound like a broken record. I pray the same things for the same people over and over again! I know that persisting in prayer is a good thing, but when should I keep praying and when should I “take it to the Lord in prayer” and then move on because I trust … [Read more...] about Inspiration for When Your Prayers Feel Redundant
Storybook Bible Comparison
There are so many storybook Bibles available that it is hard to choose which is best for your children. We own two, and we’ve read through one of them so many times that I practically have it memorized. I’ve been considering getting another, namely one that has additional stories. I checked out a few storybook Bibles from our local … [Read more...] about Storybook Bible Comparison
Do Hardships Indicate That You’re Not Blessed?
In my region, we’re recovering from massive floods precipitated by Hurricane Harvey. On my block alone, 18 of the 29 houses took on water. The devastation is unimaginable. My family’s home didn’t flood. When the rain finally stopped falling, people started asking how we were. My initial thought was to say, “We got really lucky.” Of … [Read more...] about Do Hardships Indicate That You’re Not Blessed?
Looking for Jesus on Every Page
I read to my kiddos from a storybook Bible each day. My older child, who is nearly 3, recognizes the illustration that depicts Jesus. This illustration is on nearly every page of the New Testament stories. Each time I turn to one of these pages, she finds the image, points to it, and says, “There’s Jesus!” Of course, this image isn’t on … [Read more...] about Looking for Jesus on Every Page
4 Ways to Embrace Inconvenience
I don’t like being inconvenienced. When I’ve got my 3-year-old by the hand, the diaper bag on my back, my 14-month-old on my hip, and we’re headed out the door, I don’t like having to stop and reverse because my younger girl just pooped in her diaper. I don’t like when we’re poised to arrive at an appointment in the nick of time, but then … [Read more...] about 4 Ways to Embrace Inconvenience
