The past month has been a challenging one in a number of ways.  I’m not ready to share my story quite yet, but what I can tell you is that God continues to grow me through difficult circumstances.  A few years ago, after several traumatic events took place in our lives, I began to think that certainly God wouldn’t give us anything else hard because “I can’t handle it, Lord!”   And then I remembered Job.  He lost everything.  It wasn’t because God was angry with him or wanted to make his life difficult through loss.  God wanted Job’s worship no matter what.  It was through the stripping…

    The skies are a bit more blue these days, the weather has warmed up, the azaleas are blooming and our front porch swing is back up and in use.  April, we are glad you’re here.  My children keep telling me they have a whole list of April’s fools jokes planned for us today and quite honestly, I can’t wait to see what they’ve been scheming.  It’s been a long week in some ways, so a little levity might be the perfect way to enter this weekend.   If you have some extra time to read, I’ve gathered some good pieces for you from around the web.  There’s a…

  Last Saturday night a thunderstorm rolled in while I was putting the finishing touches on dinner.  It’s not often that we experience this in February, but lately the temperature has felt more like late spring/early summer, and with the warmer temps we’ve been able to watch some non-winter-like weather patterns.  I snatched Cooper up and took my phone outside to capture what was happening in the sky.  It was truly stunning.  The clouds were  highlighted in brilliant orange hues and you could see the lightning flashing behind the black darkened clouds.  We never did get the rain and severe thunderstorm that was forecasted–it rolled away–but we had the privilege of experiencing…

  My favorite tree in our yard is about to burst into pink blooms and I keep walking outside to check on its progress.  It’s also that time in winter when I start to feel kind of antsy for Spring, but also still somewhat hoping for another snow day.  Just another one of the tensions of this life, and I’m slowly learning how to embrace each one.   Praise the Lord that one day we will experience complete peace when Jesus returns and sets everything right again.  Oh, how I long for that day!   In the meantime, may we know Jesus more fully as we embrace the mix of…

  May you remember that the power of Christ is made perfect in your weakness, May you be reminded that your life has a purpose because you are made in the image of God and created by him to do good works. May the work of the Holy Spirit in your life to convict, instruct, remind and enable be a comfort, a gentle reminder that God is with you. May your heart be full of the knowledge of God’s immeasurable love for you.   Some encouraging reads for you:   When You Don’t Want to do the Dishes — Kimberly Coyle   Psst, Mama: You Do So Many Things Right —…

    May your weekend be filled with regular moments that remind you to celebrate the ordinary and embrace the gift of Jesus in your everyday life.     I Returned My Instant Pot and I’m Not Even Sad About It  — Mary Carver   The Everyday Mundane and the Favor It’s Doing Us — Amanda Bacon, for the Masterpiece Mom   Secure in His Love — Glenna Marshall   A Prayer for the Anxious Heart — Faith Gibson   On Making Plans and Hearing God’s Voice — Emily P. Freeman   Living Within the Tension — Kristen Strong   And finally, because sometimes a space just isn’t working in your…

  As we slip into this long weekend that concludes summer, I’m reminded that even though seasons come to an end, the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. This weekend may we have open hands to receive what God chooses to give. May we have outstretched hands to give to others out of God’s graciousness to us. May we have lips to speak truth in gentleness and love. May we have mouths that break forth in song to our Creator. And in all things may we lift high the name of Jesus, clinging to His work accomplished for us on the cross. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Because the end of August is…

  This weekend, may we find joy in the journey, peace in the midst of uncertainty, hope in our desperation, and delight in the Lord.  May we be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to become angry.  May our hearts be tuned into the needs of others, laying aside our own wants in order to give selflessly that we might point others to Jesus, the One who came not to be served but to serve. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ A few roundups from around the world of the internet… Julie shared their most recent living room look.  David and Julie recently adopted two precious little boys, which means their family went from 4 to 6…