I’m sure many of you can recount conversations where someone passed on unwanted “advice” or discouraging “warnings”.
“If you think this is hard, just wait until…”
”Get sleep while you can, because when the baby is born…”
”Enjoy this season while you can because when it’s over…”
Why do we do this to each other?
Hello! Yes, I am still alive! We welcomed our third daughter, Madelynn Jo Butler to the world on July 13th. I could write a book on the last three months but I think I will sum it up with a highlight, a lowlight, and something God has been teaching me in this new season.
Read MoreOne of the best ways to cope with the endless drama, the sleepless nights, the meltdowns in the grocery store, and the constant mess is to vent about it with other mamas who are in the same season. However, I think there is a way to do this that honors both your children and the Lord…
Read MoreOur family recently returned from a glorious beach vacation. It was probably the best vacation we’ve had post-kids. It was sunny, restful, and our kids actually slept well (What? Who ARE these kids?) But the week revealed something important to me… while vacations are lovely, they are not as important as REGULAR times of rest.
Read MoreOne question I’m often asked is what books I would recommend. So in honor of springtime, I decided to narrow the genre down to my current favorite books on spiritual growth...
Read MoreHow often do we allow fear to steer us down paths that lead our hearts away from God? Satan uses our anxiety to cut us off from God, which tempts us to doubt our creator, stew in our fears, and dismiss his promises. But what if God desires us to approach anxiety differently?
Read MoreTypically, I have lots of things I am thinking about, questions I’m asking, and ideas I want to put out into the universe. But lately…I’ve got nothing.The definition of uninspired is “to lack spirit, creativity, or zest.” Have you ever felt this way? Like your spirit is tired, your creativity is kaput, and you just aren’t really interested in anything? I’m there...
Read MoreResearch shows that moving is considered to be one of the top five most stressful life events. And if you have ever moved, (especially cross-country) you are probably nodding your head in agreement. Stressful isn’t the right word to explain a big move. It feels more like a trauma – especially the tough moves that call us to leave the places we love.
Read MoreIn a world that pressures you to keep moving, reflection helps you pause and remember how God has worked in and around you. And isn’t the end of the year the perfect time to reflect with the Lord?The discipline of Remembrance isn’t something I just made up. It is all over Scripture. Take a look…
Read MoreWhy is it so easy to assume the worst in others? Especially with those we know, love, and trust? Perhaps, it is because there is a small part of us that is afraid to be disappointed, rejected, or betrayed. Defenses are a natural part of the human condition, and our assumptions can often be used to protect ourselves.However, I wonder if maybe…just maybe… the best gift we can give each other this holiday season is the benefit of the doubt.
Read MoreInclusion can feel complicated sometimes. How do I include others when I have so little margin in my own life? Do I need to include others even when I rarely see my own friends? Do I have to include people I don’t like? What does it look like practically to include others? Are there some areas in life where it is okay to be exclusive?
Read MoreNothing steals your joy more than comparison. Maybe it’s just me, but the comparison game is strong over the holiday season. Advertisements with women dressed in stylish outfits pressure you into spending just a tad more than what is within your comfort zone. Photographs on social media of friends making merry at lavish parties, or family gatherings that look straight out of a Pottery Barn magazine...
Read MoreWhat makes some spaces feel more sacred than others? I am writing this as we head into the holiday season. Since I am a future oriented, I tend to wonder what the holidays will look like in the future. Right now my babies are with me all the time. Even though it is hard to imagine now, someday my girls will grow up and leave the nest. My hope for my own family is that I create a home that they want to come back to once they are grown and gone.
Read MoreI heard myself say, “Girls, you have to trust me. I guarantee you will LOVE what is ahead.” Then it hit me. I wonder if this is how God feels when I refuse to trust him. When I choose to stay in the safe and familiar instead of follow him down a new path. My little girls had no idea what was just around the bend. All they knew was that it was unfamiliar. And sometimes the unfamiliar just feels too hard and downright scary.
Read MoreI want to talk about something near and dear to my heart… sleep. Sleep is everything. When I have a string of bad nights I feel easily irritated, downhearted, and just plain crappy. Likewise when I get a strong stretch of good sleep, I wake up feeling like I can conquer the world...
Read MoreI don't know about you, but I am easily tempted to have the mindset that if I cant do something 100% then we may as well just not do it at all. A former spiritual director of mine, used to tell me “Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly." At first glance this doesn’t quite sit right.
Read MoreShortly after we moved, I began working on Bible Promises to Live by for Women. I honestly think God gave me this assignment at the right time. Being immersed in God’s promises was the thing that kept me going through that dark time...
Read MoreI am one of those crazy people who loves to run just as the sun is rising. While on my usual route that particular morning, something caught my eye that made me stop in my tracks...
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