Acceptable and Reasonable Sacrifice

            “It is not supposed to be this way” is a common refrain in this generation. I do not ever remember my grandmother complaining about the trauma she endured throughout the dust bowl and Great Depression, though I do know she was shaped by those experiences. Neither of my grandfathers served in World War II …

Back to School: A Study of 1 Peter

            School supply lists and new teacher meetings announce the return of the orderly routines of another school year. The children groan and the parents cheer this day every year, unless the parents homeschool, which is a post for another day! 😊 With the new school year comes the teaching and the testing meant to …

What Have You Learned on Your Spiritual Journey Thus Far?

A Titus 2 Command, Part 2.          ETA: I need to be up front and honest about this—I got this mentorship program all wrong. It is such a blessing when the Lord meets you in your mistakes and literally redirects you to a better way. Because I am a product of the previous generation, this …

Spiritual Motherhood: A Titus 2 Command, Part 1

Life is busy. Family units are often separated, leaving young mothers to navigate family life with little to no older women in her life to help with questions or support. Church classes are usually separated by age, disallowing the older women and younger from getting to know one another. Sometimes there is little time for …

Welcoming Leviathan

The description of the fire-breathing dragon in Job has always intrigued me. You can find it in Job 41. The King James renders its name “leviathan,” and the end of the chapter calls him the king over all the children of pride. This is the very last thing God describes before Job declares his repentance. …

Informing Intercession with Worship

If you have been following this prayer series so far, we have discussed worship, thanksgiving, and confession. The next topic embodies the bulk of what most people consider prayer. That is the intercession or requests made on the behalf of others such as praying for salvation, health, or help in trials that others are facing. …

The Blessing of Baca

I have been through the valley of weeping, Where the onslaught halted my pace. The mire and mud held me captive, Tears and rain washed down my face. Each step forward fell with great effort, The weight on my heart left me numb. Confusion and fear mocked Faith’s sronghold, Words and thoughts lay tangled on …

Running Toward the Physician

Our newest, furry addition underwent surgery for several issues last week. We brought Kai home from the vet sporting his cone of shame and with a lot of pain medication. When the pain meds ran out, he was a wreck, finding ways to scrape his wounds and lick them, even while still sporting his cone. …

Women Who Pray Influence the Future

Last week, a small core of six praying women met for the last time for this school year. Nearly every Thursday throughout the year, these women faithfully got together to go over the burdens and needs of the Christian school their children attended. I had the privilege of joining them, running straight over to teach …

Prioritizing Worship When Life Is Hard….And When It Is Good.

If you have ever entered church, barely putting one foot in front of another because of the swirl of out-of-your-control circumstances going on in your life, you have prioritized worship over fear of the unknown. If you have ever chosen to make your reason for going to church God alone, amid church hurt, you have …