I first met Brenda Yoder at a breakout session at the Breathe Christian Writers Conference last October. She has a wonderful mix of get ‘er done attitude and compassion for those trying to get ‘er done. In her latest book Fledge, she pours out her heart about what it looks like to release kids from the nest while still having…
Today I’m participating in the Five Minute Friday community. We’re supposed to write for five minutes and not edit. I take these rules as a kind of loose suggestion. The word prompt is: REGRET. I had a post all set to send you today, but I deleted it. Maybe I didn’t want you to know writing is a struggle right…
“Don’t be afraid. God is for you. Nothing is impossible with Him.” Shannon Popkin made those three points in her speaking engagement at my church a couple years ago, and they’ve stuck with me all this time. That was the first time I met Shannon. That’s how she is – memorable. I sense God’s Spirit in her words, spoken and…
I had just settled on the couch, grateful to have crossed the day’s finish line with two kids intact and in bed. I eagerly reached for a book I’d been longing to read, when my six-year-old padded out of her room – one bare foot and one slipper-socked foot. I bristled, wondering with the psalmist how long, O Lord? Dear…
I love music. Since I was five, I’ve sung in choir. In high school, I attended a school that consistently placed in the top ten at state every year. I spent hours singing, almost daily. I also competed individually as high as the state level. I won awards and accolades, and it warped the way I viewed my identity. But…
I swept crumbs from under the dinner table deep in thought. Three separate sources of words – a book, a phone conversation, and a question – collided, and I puzzled through the fragmented thoughts. Maybe Christ doesn’t want codependence so much as He wants co-laborers? But I don’t even know what that means. I’m all in, God! Even if it’s…
I’m not a photographer, but I like to occasionally snap photos. I attempted some one day, intending to give them as a gift. If the photos were good enough, maybe the recipient would use them in advertising. So I felt pressure, albeit self-induced since the recipient knew nothing about my intentions. Some I shot quickly, but on others I spent…
Hello friends, awhile back I about died laughing in the car rider line. I was reading a blog post on The Happy Geranium by Debbie Scales. Laughing burns calories, right? And it’s definitely heart medicine. Debbie and I first met through the Jerry Jenkins writers guild and have been online friends for over a year and a half. I requested…
Happy New Year, friend! I am thrilled to journey into another year alongside you. If you, like me, feel a bit directionally challenged wondering where this new year will take you – take heart! And join me over at the Breathe blog for a short, powerful piece of encouragement. Don’t let the graphic fool you – you don’t have to…
I’ve waited for THREE MONTHS to share this post with you today!!! I am SO EXCITED to share my guest post on (in)courage’s website with you!!! It’s a game-changing message of hope that pulled me through the second-lowest point of my life but continues to encourage me when times are good. It started as a Christmas gift idea gone disastrously…
