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God Endures
I often read Hebrews 11 when I need a reminder that hard and perplexing circumstances can be endured by faith. It helps me to persist, seeking to honor God by faith when my sight feels dim. But. Recently it struck me that the “heroes of the faith” remembered in the passage weren’t the only ones…
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My Favorite Tree
Meet my favorite tree. If you look closely you’ll see that only half this tree’s trunk is present, and there’s no middle inside. Still, it bears leaves every year, and its branches stretch higher and higher. Against the odds, this deformed tree is strong because of its roots. Every time I see it, I am…
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2024 Good List
Keeping the tradition alive! Here are some good gifts I’ve been grateful for in 2024. -Matt’s persistent, consistent patience -Seeing the first two Abigail books in readers’ hands -Returning to favorite vacation spots -Discovering the joy of a well-producedaudiobook -Hosting friends from near and far -Hearing from readers and marveling at God’s kindness! -Sweetwater’s hot…
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Kids Need to Know Faith Is More Than “Being Good”
“Be good,” we say to little ones as the babysitter arrives. “Be good,” we say to school-age kids before they go over to a friend’s house. “Be good,” we say to teens before they drive off in their own car. This familiar phrase is one kids hear all throughout their childhood, and the meaning differs…
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3 Ways to Encourage a Child Who Leans Toward Legalism and Perfectionism
“Ready, set, let’s head out,” I told my Sunday School group. Everyone clamored into line eagerly except for one little girl. I urged her to join us. “But you didn’t say go,” she uttered dejectedly. It wasn’t the first time her precision overtook her participation. She was always the first to duck out of unstructured…
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Sometimes Growing is Shrinking
Someone told me recently that living within our God-given limits is good. A lot of someones have told me similar things, almost like I’m bad with limits… Ahem. God has been reinforcing the message, putting limits in place that I simply can’t control or push out of the way. I’m having to rethink some commitments,…
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Q and A with Lois Flowers
One of many ways God has wonderfully surprised me is through the community found when writing about Him publicly. Several years ago, I met Lois Flowers as we both joined the same blog link-ups. We became friends – and I also consider her a mentor! Her wisdom, practicality, and kindness are a gift to me.…
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God is Sufficient for Your False Guilt
“I feel bad about…” I began. My husband joked it was time for my daily list of “things I feel guilty about that I probably have no control over anyway.” If only he wasn’t right! Too often, I find myself stuck replaying all the ways I could have done better, loved more, anticipated and therefore…
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Helping A Child Through a Big Life Change
Change is messy. Even when we’re well-prepared. Even when we’re excited about it. This is true for kids experiencing seasons of transition, like when they move homes or schools, get their first job, or join a new club. However they feel about the change before it happens, there’s a good chance there will be bumps…
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3 steps to helping kids grasp God’s grace when they’ve messed up
She proudly led me into the hall, demanding I cover my eyes first. When she said “open them!” my jaw dropped. The surprise was a drawing done in pen and marker…first on paper, then all over the wall. “You drew on the wall?!” I asked, flummoxed by her surprise and trying to remember where her…