Tag Archives: God
Morning by Morning
This past week while I was stuffing my pie hole with a loaded baked potato at our BSF Fellowship, our leader posed a question: “Looking back over this year’s study of Isaiah, what do you think the Lord’s been teaching … Continue reading
Posted in Faith, Following Jesus, God, Growing Pains, Heartbreak, Matters of the Heart, Prayer, Seasons of Life, Uncategorized
Tagged Asia, Bible, BSF, BSF Fellowship, Christian, God, Isaiah, Isaiah 50:4, Jesus, Religion and Spirituality, Scripture memory
6 Comments
Leaving Breakfast at Tiffany’s
I’ve never been a big “shopper”…if by shopper you’re picturing a classy, well-manicured Breakfast at Tiffany’s 30-something clicking through the mall with a bouquet of bags bursting from the nook in her elbow. I prefer flip-flops and I’m not all that … Continue reading
Posted in Discipline Issues, Faith, Family, Following Jesus, God, Growing Pains, Home, Kids, Matters of the Heart, Prayer, Uncategorized
Tagged Audrey Hepburn, Banana Republic, breakfast at tiffany's, budget, Costco, Easter, Florida, God, Kohl's, Lent, sacrifice, snorkeling
2 Comments
Counting the Cost at Lent
My school year has been transformative for several reasons, but the most notable has been joining BSF, Bible Study Fellowship. This international Bible study brings over 200,000 students together over 38 countries each week; it’s truly mind-boggling to think that … Continue reading
Posted in Compassion, Discipline Issues, Faith, Family, Following Jesus, God, gratitude, Growing Pains, Heartbreak, Home, Matters of the Heart, Prayer, Seasons of Life
Tagged Africa, Bible Study Fellowship, God, Jesus, Lent, Pharisees, South America, West Michigan
3 Comments
Building Trust in the Small Things
When the lights fall and I’m lying motionless in a smudge of darkness, my prayers become loose and frayed and worry sets in. While many contend that worrying is “normal,” I know that many more would suggest it reveals my … Continue reading
Posted in CRAZY kids, Discipline Issues, Faith, Family, Following Jesus, God, Growing Pains, Home, Kids, Matters of the Heart, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Prayer, Seasons of Life, Uncategorized
Tagged aluminum in deodorant, Christian, computers, God, hyperactivity, Jesus, Luke 16:10, Parent, Playboy, red meat, Television program, Trust, Worry
4 Comments
Hearing Isaiah in a Painted Sky
“Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales … Continue reading
Posted in Art/Beautiful Things, Faith, God, gratitude, Home, Matters of the Heart, Nature/Outdoors, Prayer, Seasons of Life, Things I Love!
Tagged beauty, Faith, God, Great power, Holy Spirit, Isaiah, Isaiah 40, Jesus, Nature, Religion and Spirituality, Sunsets
6 Comments
Family Friday: Compassion Project
I don’t know about where you live, but the past few weeks have blasted West Michigan with painfully icy wind and record-breaking snowfall. I wish I could say that I’m loving it, but in truth, I’m counting the days until … Continue reading
Posted in Compassion, CRAZY kids, Education, Faith, Family, Family Friday, Following Jesus, Gifts, gratitude, Home, Kids, Marriage, Matters of the Heart, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Neighbors, Random Fun, Seasons of Life, Social Justice, Things I Love!
Tagged blankets, donations, faith training, Florida, God, Homeless, homeless shelter, Homelessness, Jesus, Love, Mel Trotter, Michigan, projects, quilts, sharing love, Spiritual Development, spiritual formation, United States, West Michigan
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Take Care of Your ‘Neighbs With Some Simple Compassion
Today, one of our local news reporters delivered his thoughts on this record-breaking weather while stationed up to his thighs in snow on a fake deck. Nice touch, I thought. One leg was in a “normal” section of the snow … Continue reading
Posted in Art/Beautiful Things, Book Review, Compassion, Contest, Faith, Family, Following Jesus, FREE BOOK, Friends, Gifts, Giveaway!, God, gratitude, Home, Kids, Literature/Books, Matters of the Heart, Prayer, Seasons of Life, Things I Love!, writing/work
Tagged Blog Giveaway, Book Giveaway, Book review, Contests, Faith, Family, FREE BOOK, Giving/Sharing/Generosity, God, Seasons of Life, Spiritual Development, spiritual formation, Zondervan Publishers
3 Comments
Family Friday: Spiritual Formation
I’ve been thinking about posting this for awhile now, and thanks to the encouragement of a friend am finally getting around to it. This Friday I thought I’d share an idea I had for bringing Scripture into the kitchen–which we … Continue reading
Posted in Art/Beautiful Things, crafts, CRAZY kids, Decor/Organizing, Discoveries, Faith, Family, Family Friday, Following Jesus, God, gratitude, Growing Pains, Home, Kids, Matters of the Heart, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Prayer, Recipe/Kitchen Success!, Seasons of Life, Uncategorized
Tagged Bible, Candice Olsen, Christian, Divine Design, Family, Genevieve Gorder, God, Holland, Home, Home and Company, Kids, MI, Mothers, Parents, prayer, Scripture, spiritual formation, teaching your kids
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What Women Tell Me: Finding Freedom From The Secrets We Keep, by Anita Lustrea
“As a girl and young woman, I memorized hundreds of Scripture verses in vacation Bible school and in Sunday school. I grew up memorizing the hymn book. I didn’t, however, grow up understanding much about God’s grace and freedom.” [pg. … Continue reading
Posted in Chores/Duties/Jobs, Discipline Issues, Discoveries, Faith, Family, Following Jesus, Food, Friends, God, gratitude, Growing Pains, Heartbreak, Holidays, Home, Kids, Kitchen/Culinary Woes, Literature/Books, Marriage, Matters of the Heart, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Music, Nature/Outdoors, Neighbors, Play, Prayer, Seasons of Life, Social Justice, Summer, Travel, Uncategorized, writing/work
Tagged Anita Lustrea, Bible, Christianity, Divine grace, God, Moody Bible Institute, Moody Radio, Religion and Spirituality, secrets, Sunday school, theology, United States
3 Comments
Settling for Reflections
Last week wasn’t the first time that I’ve learned something new–or remembered something old–because of the words or actions of a child. Usually it’s my own kids convicting me of something, perfectly reciting words I wish I never would have … Continue reading
Posted in Faith, Family, Following Jesus, God, Kids, Matters of the Heart, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Seasons of Life
Tagged Advent, Child Jesus, Christ, Christmas, Christmas Tree, God, Holidays, I Corinthians 13, Jesus, Love, Paul
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Birds in Cleveland
Sitting alone in the terminal, windows revealed thin, glinting silver tubes slicing through July’s muggy atmosphere. I hovered over carry-on bags while the revolt in my stomach was slowly being quelled by the lunch spread across paper on my lap. … Continue reading
Posted in Family, God, gratitude, Literature/Books, Seasons of Life, Travel, writing/work
Tagged banquet, baskets, birds, cleveland airport, Columbus, convention, Gifts, God, Ohio, Provision, sparrows, Tami Longaberger, The Bee, Weaving Dreams, writing
4 Comments
A Lovely and Thankful Wreck
I’ve been a wreck lately. My emotions on have been arching between profound gratitude to God and utter disbelief and, on the far spectrum, sadness that our kids are growing up so fast. It seems I’ve been waiting for years … Continue reading
What I Can’t Carry
Today I just needed a little time. Some space to breathe and room to think. Looking outside, the gray ceiling of clouds promised a harsh cold, but I didn’t care. I found my running shoes, clicked my dog to his … Continue reading
Posted in Faith, Family, Following Jesus, God, Growing Pains, Heartbreak, Matters of the Heart, Nature/Outdoors, Seasons of Life, Uncategorized
Tagged "Black River", Amos Lee, Bible, Christ, Church, Ephesians 4:26, Ghost, God, I Peter 4:8, Indigo Girls, iPod, Jesus, measuring sticks, Reuben, space to breathe, validation, winter walk
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Four More Days
One of the great joys, and simultaneous “pinch-me’s” of my days, is a more fervent awareness of the slipping away. Time slipping away. Childhood…slipping. Days, seasons…slipping. It sounds depressing, I know, but actually I feel joyful that God has given … Continue reading
Posted in Family, gratitude, Growing Pains, Heartbreak, Home, Kids, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Play, Seasons of Life
Tagged Berenstein Bears, boys, Changes, Children, Chocolate Milk, Family, God, Kids, kisses, Love, Motherhood, Seasons of Life, snuggling
7 Comments
A Slow Burn
Last week I told you about Daisy Chain, a rare and wonderfully gripping piece of Christian fiction from author Mary DeMuth. The first in her Defiance Texas Trilogy, Daisy Chain weaves a tale of suspense and fear, grace and deliverance, … Continue reading
Posted in Faith, Heartbreak, Literature/Books
Tagged A Slow Burn, Changes, Children, Church, Daisy Chain, Defiance Texas Trilogy, Disappointment, Emory Chance, Faith, Family, Friends, Giving/Sharing/Generosity, God, guilt, Hope, Jesus, kidnapping, Longing, Love, Mary DeMuth, Motherhood, Rejection, Seasons of Life, Spiritual Development, Zondervan Publishers
6 Comments
Lessons from the Orchard, Part 2
Yesterday I talked about the stunning day we had outside at Crane’s Orchard. It was lovely. Absolutely lovely. Now that I’m at home, sitting in the quiet listening to Fernando Ortega, my mind spins both with things that I saw … Continue reading
Posted in Faith
Tagged Crane's Apple Orchard, Faith, Fernando Ortega, Fruits of the Spirit, Galations 5, Giving/Sharing/Generosity, God, Honeycrisp Apples, Hope, husbands, Jesus, John 15:5, Kids, Longing, Lord Jesus, Love, Spiritual Development, Suburbia, The Vine, utopia
2 Comments
Chasing Pavements
Before anyone gets all “copyright lawyer” on me, I will admit the obvious: I’m “using/borrowing/adapting” Adele’s song title for my own use and express benefit. I was going to say, “So sue me,” but actually, no. Please don’t. I just … Continue reading
Posted in Faith, Heartbreak, Nature/Outdoors, Seasons of Life
Tagged Adele, Chasing Pavements, Church, Disappointment, Faith, God, Hope, Jesus, Longing, Love, Nature, Photography, Running, Spiritual Development, Urban Dictionary
4 Comments
Moments With Love
Ever since I was little I’ve had a nudging–gentle, but there–prompting me to act of behalf of those with small voices. Or no voices. I remember vividly lying in bed one night when I was probably 11, drawing a picture … Continue reading
Posted in Faith, Family, Friends, Heartbreak, Home, Kids, Marriage, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Seasons of Life
Tagged adoption, capitalism, Children, Faith, Family, Giving/Sharing/Generosity, God, Hope, Jesus, Kids, Longing, Love, mission trips, mission work, Motherhood, Seasons of Life, Spiritual Development, Uganda
2 Comments
Teaching Kids About Friends
When I was in grade school I was teased mercilessly. I remember, shortly after having moved to a new school in the 5th grade, crying in bed at night and having to confess to my mom that I just didn’t … Continue reading
Posted in Education, Faith, Family, Friends, Home, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Play, Seasons of Life, Uncategorized
Tagged betrayal, bullies, Changes, Children, Disappointment, Faith, Family, Friends, Friendship, God, Jesus, Kids, Seasons of Life, Spiritual Development
3 Comments
My Quarterly Bonus
Being a stay-at-home mom is something that I love and worry about in equal measure. I love it because I get to have a front-row seat to the lives of my children. It’s messy, both in literal and figurative terms, … Continue reading
Posted in Chores/Duties/Jobs, Faith, Family, Home, Kids, Marriage, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Seasons of Life
Tagged Africa, babysitter, business lunch, Children, Deuteronomy, Faith, Family, God, Hallmark, Hope, Jesus, jobs, Kids, Love, Lunch, manners, Messy House, Mother Teresa, Motherhood, quarterly bonus, recognition, Serving, Spiritual Development, stay-at-home mom, success, Sunday, white-glove
11 Comments
I Couldn’t Sleep, So I Thought About Names
The other night I went to see The Proposal at the movies with my BNE. It was really cute and I have to say, I was even a little surprised by some of the elements that I thought would be … Continue reading
Posted in Faith, Family, Kids, Motherhood/Mommy Duties
Tagged C.S. Lewis, Chuck Swindoll, Clive Staples, crystal ball, Dietrich Bonhoffer, Faith, Family, God, Jesse James, Jesus, Kids, Love, Motherhood, Names, Rob Bell, Ryan Reynolds, Sandra Bullock, Scarlet Johansson, Spiritual Development, The Proposal
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Bedtime Prayers
It’s exciting and gratifying to share this post today. I have been feeling badly that I don’t give enough attention here to the wonderful, curious, and edifying things our children do; after all, silliness and general chaos often make for … Continue reading
Posted in Faith, Family, Home, Kids, Motherhood/Mommy Duties
Tagged bedtime prayers, Children, Church, Faith, Family, Giving/Sharing/Generosity, God, Hope, Jesus, Kids, Love, Motherhood, Spiritual Development
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Wells and Fences
This past weekend I had the pleasure of listening to author Mary DeMuth speak to a small crowd of conference attendees in Chicago. While I was only able to hear the last of her three nights of ministry, I’m certain … Continue reading
White Buckets = Love
I was sitting at a stoplight lost in the silence of our car when the solitary, melancholy piano took me away. In an instant there was a loneliness–an isolation conveyed on the ivory that made me think of him. The … Continue reading
Posted in Faith, Family
Tagged Brothers, Church, Disappointment, Faith, Family, Giving/Sharing/Generosity, God, Hope, Jesus
2 Comments
Communion
This past Sunday I had the privilege of sharing in a most sacred mystery by helping serve Communion at our church. When my best friend asked me if I’d be interested, I didn’t know how to respond. Even though I’ve … Continue reading
