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Forgiveness Prayer Allegories

October 5, 2024

Preparing a Table for My Enemies

In a perfect world none of us would have enemies. I doubt very many of us set out to have enemies or wish for more of...
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Freedom Life With God Identity Spiritual Formation

September 5, 2024

Behind the Wall

So often God speaks to me in diagrams. I think this is very kind because I love to draw out what He gives me. Diagrams...
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Freedom Forgiveness

August 29, 2024

'The Unmerciful Servant' Reimagined: Safe Enough to Forgive

I don't know if I am the only one, but forgiveness has always been a difficult subject for me since I was very young....
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Freedom Life With God Spiritual Formation

August 14, 2024

The Elephant We Wear

Standing in church one Sunday, I felt a light tap on my shoulder. I turned around and the tapper whispered in my ear,...
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Prayer Poetry

June 27, 2024

Do You See Me Here?

Lord, what are human beings that you care for them, mere mortals that you think of them? Psalm 144:3
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Parenting Motherhood Relationships Prayer Spiritual Formation

June 19, 2024

Sabotaging My Own Prayers

I have made a startling discovery! I am seeing how often I stand in the way of answers to my own prayers. I do this...
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Life With God Allegories Spiritual Formation

June 12, 2024

Open Windows

It's been a while! In the past three weeks we've had a son get married and another move to Vancouver, WA for the...
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Identity Spiritual Formation

May 8, 2024

The God We See

Psalm 34:4-5 (CSB) "Those who look to Him are radiant with joy; their faces will never be ashamed."
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Life With God Prayers

May 1, 2024

I Am Forever Yours

Loving God,
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Freedom Life With God Spiritual Formation

April 24, 2024

Managing God or Caring God?

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd...
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Freedom Perspective Life With God

April 17, 2024

Safe Shores

"Umm.. I'm not sure because I can't really see a lot." Standing on the beach in Turks and Caicos, my husband tried...
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Lent

March 29, 2024

The Powerful Joy of Good Friday

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and...
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Freedom Fear Spiritual Formation Anxiety Poetry

March 22, 2024

All That You Hold

It's been a bit since I've written, but I've had a whirlwind two weeks with a shower for my soon to be daughter-in-law...
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Freedom Grief Life With God Fear Anxiety Disillusionment

March 8, 2024

But Also...

Yesterday, I sat curled up in my chair, green journal in hand. With my pink pen furiously writing, I was telling God...
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Life With God Fear Love Hearing God's Voice Anxiety

February 22, 2024

The God Who Sees Me

"You are the God of Seeing.
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Grief Perspective Life With God

February 15, 2024

The Witness of Presence

“But I don’t want to.” I heard myself say even though I knew He wanted me to. “I don’t want to be an imposition.” I...
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Relationships Spiritual Formation

February 8, 2024

Lessons from Hummingbird Rehab

"Surrender yourself humbly; then you can be trusted to care for all things." -Lao Tau
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Allegories Spiritual Formation

January 23, 2024

The Power of Wondering

There once was a little bird living in a large and comfortable cage in a dark room. In the corner he had the food he...
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Identity Spiritual Formation Learning to Hear the Voice of God

January 18, 2024

Just Come

Burdened and heavy I come; my face downcast, my mind full, my heart a whirl of chaos. Out of breath, my prayers come in...
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Life With God Prayer Spiritual Formation

January 4, 2024

Not On Our Own

"There is nothing you have to do that you have to do without Me." This is the thought God spoke to my mind not so long...
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Advent

December 20, 2023

Hope Will Be Coming

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Perspective Advent

December 14, 2023

God, You Are With Me

"The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" (which means "God with us")....
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Advent

December 6, 2023

Trust - An Advent Reading

Luke 1:46-55
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Parenting Motherhood

November 29, 2023

Meandering Thoughts on a Child Leaving Home

The sun shining on this uncharacteristically warm fall almost winter day, I walked kicking the last of spring and...
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Prayer

November 22, 2023

A Thanksgiving Prayer

Father,
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Freedom Life With God Identity Spiritual Formation

November 17, 2023

The Humble Life

In our culture and perhaps every culture since The Fall, we are inundated with the desperate need to find significance...
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Life With God Spiritual Formation

November 9, 2023

We're All Prodigals Being Called Home

The way we believe God relates to us will determine how we relate to Him. I keep writing about this, but I am more and...
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Life With God Spiritual Formation

November 2, 2023

Necessary Questions

Wow! Last week's blog, "Distorted Shepherds" really hit a nerve with a lot of people! I think it just goes to show that...
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Perspective Life With God Spiritual Formation

October 25, 2023

Distorted Shepherds

This blog is a bit different than my usual writings. It's a bit more interactive. Today, I did a little exercise with...
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Life With God Relationships

October 18, 2023

Mirror, Mirror...Becoming Brave Enough to See Ourselves

Are you a mirror looker or a mirror avoider? I have found I am prone to avoiding mirrors. Mirrors that would help me...
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Freedom Perspective Spiritual Formation Hearing God's Voice

October 4, 2023

The Unwanted Nap

This past August, as the week of live classes at my first residency week for Renovare Institute of Spiritual Formation...
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Freedom Perspective Life With God

September 28, 2023

Facing the Gaps

There is a stunning and heartbreaking story that soberingly shows us what happens when we live our lives from a lie. It...
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Life With God Relationships Devotionals Spiritual Formation

September 20, 2023

True Community

Posted originally on www.selahomaha.com If you are interested in checking out the site, there are a lot of great...
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Life With God Identity Spiritual Formation Disillusionment

September 13, 2023

Faulty Views

Hi friends! I realized today that it's been three weeks since I last wrote! It's been a very busy three weeks with a...
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Freedom Life With God Overcoming Sin Spiritual Formation

August 19, 2023

The Stories We Tell Ourselves

When our oldest three were toddlers, the dreaded moment came when every single one of them got sick at the same time...
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Life With God Spiritual Formation

August 10, 2023

Something New and Something For You!

This week I stepped into an exciting new two year season in my life!
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Freedom Forgiveness Relationships Spiritual Formation

August 2, 2023

Free to Forgive

I love how God leads us and guides us, don't you? He is continuing to invite me to lay down those things I am carrying...
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Perspective Identity

July 28, 2023

I am...

I didn't have time to write a full length blog this week, but wrote a little something I wanted you all to have. I hope...
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Freedom Forgiveness Life With God Relationships

July 20, 2023

Walled In

I spent some time on a silent retreat over the weekend at a beautiful, secluded retreat center. Spending time with God...
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Freedom Relationships Identity

July 12, 2023

Confessions of a Recovering People-Pleaser

I am a recovering people-pleaser. I don't know about you, but I love when people approve of me. At times, I've found...
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Perspective Life With God Fear Identity Love Spiritual Formation Anxiety

July 7, 2023

The Bookended Day

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about how I bookend my days and the impact it has. Those seemingly small moments at...
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Perspective Life With God Spiritual Formation Learning to Hear the Voice of God

June 30, 2023

Anticipated Moments

A little over a year ago, I sat on a Phoenix deck overlooking the Camelback Mountains. The sky was a deep blue and the...
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Freedom Life With God Spiritual Formation Anxiety

June 21, 2023

Is True Trust Possible?

I don't know about you, but I have found there are often repeated phrases in church that state how we should truly...
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Forgiveness Disillusionment

June 15, 2023

When Church Hurts

This morning, coffee in hand and curled up with my journal, I was talking with God about all that has been heavy on my...
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Perspective Life With God Fear Prayer Anxiety

June 7, 2023

The Lord is Near....

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Grief Perspective Life With God

May 31, 2023

Is God Good?

"If God is so good then why did this happen?!" cried our oldest son at just six years old. "I prayed for a baby sister...
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Life With God Love

May 17, 2023

Sure Love

As a child swinging, toes pointed to the sky, I loved pretending I was soaring high above the clouds. I was mesmerized...
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Freedom Life With God Overcoming Sin Spiritual Formation

May 10, 2023

Soul Song

Sitting at the Holland Performing Arts Center, I become lost in the swells of the cello, imagining myself playing the...
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Perspective Life With God Spiritual Formation

May 3, 2023

Subversive Beauty

We were made to create beauty. This unhindered desire to create beauty is best seen in young children. Having little...
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Perspective Life With God Parenting Fear

April 26, 2023

Good Worry?

Waking up yesterday, I immediately felt the weight of some things I am carrying infiltrate my mind. It didn't take long...
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Life With God Prayer Spiritual Formation

April 19, 2023

Small Prayers

Praise the Lord; praise God our savior! For each day he carries us in his arms. Psalm 68:19 NLT
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Forgiveness Life With God Parenting Relationships Love Spiritual Formation

April 13, 2023

Loving When You Can't

A few weeks ago, I shared at a small retreat. As I was working on the message, the truths God showed me in the process...
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Freedom Forgiveness Overcoming Sin Lent

April 9, 2023

Resurrection Sunday - Hope Exceeded

"On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the...
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Grief Fear Lent

April 8, 2023

Saturday - The Day In Between

The next day.....the Pharisees went to Pilate. "Sir," they said, "we remember that while he was still alive that...
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Forgiveness Lent Identity

April 7, 2023

Good Friday - Worth the Pain

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which...
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Life With God Spiritual Formation Hearing God's Voice

March 29, 2023

When Listening is Scary

I remember in my childhood bedroom, I had one of those famous 70's pictures of Jesus sitting under a tree with children...
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Life With God Prayer Spiritual Formation Hearing God's Voice

March 15, 2023

Learning to Hear God's Voice (Part One)

Lately, I have been fascinated with the story of Eli and Samuel. If you are unfamiliar with the story in I Samuel 3,...
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Perspective Parenting Motherhood Relationships

February 28, 2023

20 Things I've Learned Parenting Teens

We are now nine years into what will be our fourteen year teen parenting journey and I have learned so much! Mainly how...
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Life With God Overcoming Sin Spiritual Formation

February 21, 2023

In God's Way

Sitting quietly in church service every Sunday, my legs swinging under my too big chair, I would listen carefully to...
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Forgiveness Allegories

February 15, 2023

The Kid Judge

God speaks in many ways and one of the ways He often speaks to me is through stories and pictures. For me, they usually...
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Perspective Life With God

February 7, 2023

The God Who Celebrates

Today, on this bright Saturday morning, I slowly got up, gathered my journal and Bible and curled up in my favorite...
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Life With God

February 1, 2023

Cultivating God Spaces

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Forgiveness Life With God Overcoming Sin

January 28, 2023

Scars that Heal

“Will you let me wound you?” Sitting in my chair, journal open with the bright, spring sun streaming in, I tried to...
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Life With God

January 25, 2023

Disappointing Faith or Loving Invite?

Our first summer married, John and I made the long drive with our very few things from Florida to small town Nebraska...
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Grief Perspective

January 18, 2023

Where Faith Can Shatter

Faith lies in the deciding spaces; the place where fear, questions and hope mix and it will either grow or shatter....
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Forgiveness

January 12, 2023

When Unforgiveness Feels Safer

“Are you willing to be willing?” The question hung in the air like a weighty cloud full of the promise of rain along...
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Perspective Forgiveness Life With God Identity

January 10, 2023

Depth Matters More

Thirteen years ago, I stood staring at a display in a room above a deep South Dakota cave. Truthfully, I am not easily...
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Freedom Grief Forgiveness Life With God Overcoming Sin Identity Prayer Love

March 12, 2022

Disappointment to Deeper Intimacy (Soul Care Retreat transcript)

Sometimes we have a longing in our heart to grow to a deeper place with God but we aren’t really sure how to move...
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Advent

December 24, 2021

Joy

Luke 2:8-10 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An...
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Advent

December 14, 2021

Tender

For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty...
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Advent

December 6, 2021

With

John 1:14 NIV
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Advent

December 2, 2021

One Silent Night

Isaiah 9:6
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Parenting Motherhood

February 21, 2020

Mamas, Keep on Keeping On

Standing with fellow Sunday School kids adorned in ’80’s culottes, I recited The Lord’s Prayer with the gusto only...
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June 19, 2019

Actually Not Enough

In our culture, the message “You are enough” is everywhere. From T-shirts, to book titles, to cute mugs and wall...
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Fear Devotionals

January 23, 2019

Learning to Trust

My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this...
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Overcoming Sin Devotionals

January 9, 2019

Not On My Own

Psalm 11:1-4 (CSB)
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Perspective Fear Devotionals

December 5, 2018

The Power of a Name

BUT THESE ARE WRITTEN SO THAT YOU MAY CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS THE MESSIAH, THE SON OF GOD AND THAT BY...
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Devotionals

November 29, 2018

When I Can't Change

BUT THE HOLY SPIRIT PRODUCES THIS KIND OF FRUIT IN OUR LIVES: LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS,...
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Identity Devotionals

November 27, 2018

God Confidence

BUT MOSES PLEADED WITH THE LORD, “O LORD, I’M NOT VERY GOOD WITH WORDS. I NEVER HAVE BEEN, AND I’M NOT EVEN NOW, EVEN...
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Perspective Overcoming Sin Identity Devotionals

November 22, 2018

Purpose for Today

FOR WE ARE GOD’S MASTERPIECE, HE HAS CREATED US ANEW IN CHRIST JESUS, SO WE CAN DO THE GOOD THINGS HE PLANNED FOR US...
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Life With God Devotionals

November 20, 2018

Soul Unrest

Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again.” John 6:35
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Allegories

November 18, 2018

Casper and the King Who Never Forgot (Allegories for Children)

Laying his head in his lap, Casper closed his tired eyes. He stretched out his sore legs and drifted off to sleep...
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Perspective Life With God Fear Devotionals

November 15, 2018

For I Am With You

ISAIAH 41:10 “DON’T BE AFRAID, FOR I AM WITH YOU. DON’T BE DISCOURAGED, FOR I AM YOUR GOD. I WILL STRENGTHEN YOU AND...
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Identity Devotionals

November 13, 2018

I Am

Sometimes my days are cloudy and my mind has a hard time staying on what is true. Regardless of the season I am in, who...
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Life With God Devotionals Love

November 10, 2018

Because He is Near

WHEN THEY HEARD THE LORD WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THEM AND HAD SEEN THEIR MISERY, THEY BOWED DOWN AND WORSHIPED. EXODUS...
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Forgiveness Overcoming Sin Love

September 13, 2018

No Longer Slaves

Breathless, shamed, fearful and wondering. The son looked down at his torn, dirty and tattered robe that had seen...
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Fear Identity Devotionals

February 11, 2018

When I am Overwhelmed

FROM THE END OF THE EARTH I WILL CRY TO YOU, WHEN MY HEART IS OVERWHELMED: LEAD ME TO THE ROCK THAT IS HIGHER THAN I....
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Perspective Parenting Motherhood

January 5, 2018

Remembered

Sitting in church last week, still shaking from the record cold temperatures outside, snow melting in small, dirty...
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Grief Perspective Life With God Fear

June 16, 2017

The Power of a Name

As any mom knows, there is power in a name. Just the other day, Drew came to me with a complaint about one of the other...
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Perspective Forgiveness Parenting Overcoming Sin Motherhood Love

May 4, 2017

Love Undeserved

One of my favorite things in our home is a gift John recently gave me. It’s not particularly sentimental, but it...
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Grief

March 16, 2017

When Grief Gives Way to Hope

Today I am overcome with our God who loves to restore. He restores broken lives, broken hearts and broken worlds. March...
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Life With God

March 4, 2017

Spiritual Rest Through Journaling

I have been buried in journals of all shapes and sizes the past few weeks, pulling out the beautiful words that God has...
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Parenting Motherhood

February 26, 2017

Embracing the Present with the Future in Mind

Today finds me drinking my over important coffee in my favorite chair, feeling a dull ache as I think about the...
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Perspective Life With God

February 16, 2017

Catching God

In the past few weeks, I have begun a monumental task – something I have been meaning to do for a very long time, but...
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Parenting Motherhood

February 7, 2017

The Days are Long and the Years are Short/Things I Have Learned Along the Way

Next month we will have a driver. I can’t even believe that I just typed that. If someone said that Josiah would be...
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Life With God Relationships

January 6, 2017

A Safe Place

A safe place. Isn’t that what we all long for? A place to be ourselves, a place to stand in complete vulnerability and...
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Life With God Overcoming Sin

December 15, 2016

Love Conquers All

To really understand and comprehend that we are completely known and loved by God is life changing. When we truly...
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Advent

December 1, 2016

When Love Came Down

A long time ago on a starry night, love was born. The Father who IS love, sent Jesus in love to demonstrate love to all...
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Allegories

November 21, 2016

King Amator and Little Amorette (Allegories for Children)

In a place far away, there was a beautiful land named Efas with rolling green hills and sparkling blue creeks that...
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Life With God

November 2, 2016

When Hurry Steals the Present

All day long I have had the word ‘presently’ going through my mind. I’m sure it has everything to do with the fact that...
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Forgiveness Parenting Overcoming Sin Motherhood

October 5, 2016

When Our Eyes are Closed to Grace

Head pounding and thoughts racing, I would lay on my pillow at night rehearsing all of the day’s events. The thoughts...
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Parenting Motherhood

September 23, 2016

My Ways Your Ways

Having entered the Preteen/Teenage Years with three of our four children, I have been dismayed to find how much...
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Motherhood

August 31, 2016

To My Beautiful Daughter

To My Beautiful Daughter,
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Parenting Fear

July 31, 2016

Held

A year ago, I received a call that no mother ever wants to take. My husband, John, and two older sons, Josiah and...
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Perspective Motherhood

July 12, 2016

Cathedral Builders

When our four people were small ones with big needs, I often felt like a child making a block tower in a room full of...
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Grief Life With God Fear

June 17, 2016

Repositioned Hope

One bright morning several years ago, I hurried around the kitchen with a baby on my hip while the three older kids ate...
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Life With God

May 27, 2016

The Unhurried Life

It is the unhurried life that draws near.
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Perspective Overcoming Sin Motherhood

May 11, 2016

Remembering Who We Are

Looking in the mirror, I hurriedly brushed back tears and threw my hair in a ponytail. The day had started out fine,...
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Freedom Forgiveness Life With God Overcoming Sin

April 5, 2016

Inside Out - Living Whole

Many years ago, I was working for my father-in-law’s business and the snack area was filled with many healthy things...
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Forgiveness Life With God Overcoming Sin Identity Love

March 16, 2016

When You Can't Seem to Love Well

I don’t know about you, but it seems to me that love is difficult. You don’t have to look very far in this world to...
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Grief Perspective Lent

December 6, 2015

Saturday: The Day Stuck Between Despair and Hope

Saturday. The day stuck between the broken day of Good Friday and the triumphant day of Resurrection Sunday....
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Grief Perspective Life With God Fear

December 5, 2015

But As For Me

BUT AS FOR ME, I will watch expectantly for the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me. Do...
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Life With God Parenting Motherhood

November 30, 2015

When You Desire Everything But God

“Be the driving desire of my life.” – Beth Moore
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Parenting Fear Motherhood

November 19, 2015

Dear Kids, Our World is a Little Shaky (an open letter to our kids)

Dear Kids,
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Perspective Parenting Motherhood

November 16, 2015

When Thankfulness Comes

Just earlier today I announced to our youngest that the time has come for him to enter the chore rotation. He was...
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Parenting Motherhood

October 29, 2015

Teens, Pre-Teens and Learning Gentleness

Gentleness. I have not been able to get this out of my mind lately. Maybe it’s because I need a special kind of gentle...
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Motherhood

September 10, 2015

A Night of Non-Solitude

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