Is it supposed to be so confusing?

If you've ever picked up a Bible, read a few passages, and quietly set it back down feeling confused or frustrated… you're not alone. Scripture can feel hard to understand. Some stories are complex. Some passages challenge our modern thinking. And sometimes we’re left wondering, "What...

What’s written on your heart?

My daughter had a difficult test coming up and spent several evenings studying. Remembering details and dates across a large amount of information was challenging. As I encouraged her to break it down into smaller pieces, I suggested she write out the hardest facts. Taking pen to...

What voice is louder?

Looking right at me, she said, “Would you mind speaking at our next meeting?” I inhaled sharply. There was no way she could know about the tongue-tied, sweaty ball of nerves I became when speaking in front of an audience. It hadn’t always been this way. In school,...

Maybe it’s time to start

“What in the world?” I said to myself as a careless, judgmental thought crossed my mind. It wasn’t just a one-time reaction - it had become a pattern I was slowly beginning to recognize. Sarcastic and cynical jabs toward people and situations were creeping into my...

October Recap

The leaves are changing, and the days are cooler here in Virginia. As I pause to breathe and reflect on the last few weeks, I am so very grateful for all God's goodness, and equally exhausted because the days have been filled with busyness and unexpected challenges. I'm...

What Are You Wearing Today?

Old egg cartons, an empty box, and a teal trash can clutter the floor of my kitchen. My son sits in the midst of the pile of trash imagining the transformation possibilities. In less than an hour, he converts the pile of waste into a...

Facing Battles You Can’t See?

Driving through my neighborhood, I’m always a little surprised at how early the fascination with the creepy and macabre begins. Reapers, witches, graveyards, and ten-foot skeletons pop up in yards long before the leaves even start to change. I understand that many people enjoy decorating for...

Are Your Eyes Open Today?

“Sweetheart, I need you to talk to me.” My husband requests as he stares out the window at the dark road before him. Out of words and ready to rest, I reply, “What do you want me to say?” “Anything! I need you to keep me awake,”...

Remaining Anchored When Life Gets Hard

My whole body held the low hum of panic while my mind raced. Stomach in knots, I was running out of time. A difficult conversation was imminent, and I had no idea what to say or how it would go. Father, calm my heart. Only you...