When you feel like staying home

"You're awfully quiet tonight," my friend said from across the table as we waited for our Thursday night Bible study to begin. He was used to me teaching and helping with events like this one—and even as a participant, I’m rarely short on words. But this evening was...

What started around a table

When Rosemary and I began the LIFEstory journey, we spent a lot of time talking about what kind of resources would actually help people grow in their faith. We knew we wanted to point others to the hope found in God's promises. And we knew that spending...

Celebrating 3 years of LIFEstory!

If you had asked Cari and me three years ago what we were doing with LIFEstory, our answer would have been simple.  We felt God calling us to share encouragement and hope through one email each week. Each message would begin with a story and point back...

Do you feel like cleaning?

The weather had been gorgeous for the past week. After a long winter where the remnants of an ice storm lingered for weeks, spring temperatures had finally arrived, and I could not wait to sit on the porch and enjoy the warmer air. But just as...

Who else can’t sleep at night?

Startled awake by yet another nightmare, my body jolts into alertness. Each night, my subconscious paints vivid images, and my body wrestles as if they are real. My heart races. Sleep feels impossible. I yearn to feel safe.   When my flesh feels far from God's promises, I...

Tired of your own thoughts?

The wipers pushed away the raindrops the same way I wiped the tear from my eye. The gray, rainy day mirrored exactly what I felt inside My heart was heavy. I had been replaying a situation over and over in my mind, building a story around it...

What if you aren’t feeling it?

Yesterday’s motivation and energy stared back at me from the long list of ideas sitting on my table. I had worked late into the evening the night before. And with each completed task, I added another—writing them down so I wouldn’t forget by morning. But when morning...

What are you cultivating?

I have one cool plant in my yard - a lilac bush planted by a previous owner. Each spring, fragrant pale purple flowers bloom, filling the air with their beautiful scent. I adore this plant.  For the past few years, it has faithfully blossomed. I’ve clipped blooms...

What’s in your path?

Under the veil of darkness, a predator walked my path. Hunting, prowling - leaving his mark with every step. A path I walked daily, blissfully unaware of his presence.  This morning, the sunlight revealed his footprints. The size of the prints made me pause and ponder, "What else am...