“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…
When You Need to Know You are Crazy-Loved
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…
Totally Out-of-Tune and Fighting the Fear of What Others Think
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…
God Only Gives – Tsunami of God’s Love
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…
How Zero Effort Beats Perfectionism
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…
Why Dusting is Overrated – The Happy Geranium
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…
Hope for the Directionally Challenged – Happy New Year!
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…
Halfway to Bethlehem – Guest Post on (in)courage
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…
The Liebster Award
So this post is a little different than the usual… It’s a celebration of being awarded The Liebster Award! Liebster is a German word for “dearest”, and the award started about five years ago, by bloggers for bloggers as a way to spotlight smaller, new-ish blogs. Thank you, Carol Graft of https://carolgraftblog.wordpress.com for nominating me! I met Carol at the…
FREE Giveaway & Book Review of A Song of Home
Hello Friend, From today until December 15th, you can enter to win a FREE signed copy of a newly released book I’ve enjoyed and highly recommend. (If you’re itching to know how to enter, scroll to the bottom. If you want to know what you’re winning first, keep reading!) I’ve been privileged to be part of the launch team for…