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How to Cultivate Contentment When You’re Tempted to Grumble
A grey sky hovered over the mountains as we climbed out of the valley. Cloaked in wildflowers and the viridescent glow of summer growth, the hillsides held us in welcoming arms. The scene felt like a gentle invitation to cultivate contentment and peace. As we traveled up the mountainside, the tender growth of flora was gradually replaced by tall stands of conifers—lodgepole and jack pine surrounding us like protective guardians. We spotted elk grazing in meadows and moose meandering through willows. The shift came slowly at first. The trees began to thin and give way to more expansive meadows. Before long, the scant trees all clung to the mountainside below…
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8 Prayers for Advent and Christmas: Hope, Peace, Joy & Love
Advent is a season of preparation. On the Christian calendar, it is a season for preparing to celebrate the incarnation, the arrival of God on earth in the form of a Man. Today, we’ll explore 8 prayers for Advent and Christmas as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ. Share these prayers with family and friends or use them in your own quiet moments of reflection. May these prayers help you fix your eyes on the reason for Christmas. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free Advent devotional and a link to a library of free devotional books and eBooks! 8 Prayers for…
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12 Godly Habits That Can Change Your Life
A pewter sky threatens rain, and I stand at the window as the little one calls from the living room. He wants to know what we’re doing for fun today. I’ve been deliberately turning to my mental list of godly habits daily, and I decide on a trip to the woods. “Let’s head to the creek,” I declare, and within minutes, we’re strolling down the road. “Better hurry up. It might rain, Mom,” he urges. “A little rain won’t hurt us,” I tell sweet Aiden. He makes a comment about melting, and we both laugh. Much to our delight, the rain holds off. We spend an hour throwing rocks into…
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Characteristics of a Cheerful Giver: 4 Ways to Shift Your Attitude
Welcome to another sneak peek into our mother-daughter devotional book, Heart to Heart: A Mother-Daughter Devotional With 50 Devotions for Teen Girls. Today’s devotion explores shifting from grumpiness to joy as we aim to be cheerful givers. We’ll also talk about the characteristics of a cheerful giver. This is written for teen girls, but I have a hunch most of us, regardless of age, can relate. Be sure to read to the bottom of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you draw near to God for a transformed heart. Characteristics of a Cheerful Giver Then the people rejoiced because they had offered so willingly, for they made…
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How to Keep Your Joy in the Lord: 7 Ways
Daylight met us without hesitation today—clear and blue as infinity. As I sat beside the window and prepared for another day, I felt the heaviness in my chest and realized my joy was lacking. Perhaps you can relate. You want to learn how to keep your joy in the Lord even when life feels challenging. In challenging times, it’s easy to take our eyes off God and get swept into the stress and anxiety surrounding us. Today, we’ll talk about keeping our joy in the Lord. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you keep your joy in the Lord.…
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What Is the Joy of the Lord? (Plus, 6 Ways to Have It)
What is the joy of the Lord? The joy of the Lord is a deep sense of peace that isn’t contingent upon circumstances. This peace is found in God’s presence. It trusts in God’s promises and rests on his faithfulness. It offers hope in hardships and eternal perspective in temporal struggles. Today, we’ll explore the question, “What is the joy of the Lord?” by looking at practical ways to cultivate God’s joy. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you experience more joy in Jesus. I invite you to join me in the woods as I cultivated joy recently. What…
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5 Encouraging Quotes for Struggling Moms and Weary Women
Throughout the past 13 years, I’ve spent most of my time caring for our children. As we push through the end of another long winter, I hope to offer a few quotes for struggling moms and weary women. I pray these words will bless and encourage you as you continue pressing forward. You are not alone, and your humble, hidden work matters deeply. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you find strength in God’s presence. Quotes for Struggling Moms and Weary Women A friend recently sent me a text that went something like this: “No one tells you how…
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How to Have More Joy in the Lord—Even When Life is Tough
We are at the creek again today—hoping to imbibe the scarce rays of golden sunlight peering at us from behind the wooded knolls. I long to live with deep roots of joy in the Lord, but the winter months are often challenging. We’re on the cusp of springtime now. Nevertheless, the winter months have worn on me. Maybe you can relate. You might not have to fight for joy in the wintertime, but perhaps you’re navigating a difficult season in your life. Today, we’ll talk about how to have more joy in the Lord when life is challenging. No matter what your challenge looks like, I pray these words offer…
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An Advent Devotional for Less Stress and Deeper Peace
After years of writing, I finally decided to release an online Advent devotional this year! I pray these readings help you slow down, cultivate wonder, and connect with the Lord. I’m releasing it a few weeks before Advent begins so that you can have it on hand and start reading in December. Here’s a glimpse into this new online devotional. I pray it blesses you deeply. Still My Soul: An Advent Devotional for Deeper Peace I sit with the dawn and let my thoughts gather. The grey morning light lifts her sleepy head, and the thin air is embroidered with a crimson cardinal’s song. My mind is scattered, and I…
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8 Bible Verses on Breaking Negative Cycles
I stand in front of the cupboard and stare blankly. I’m not hungry, but this cupboard is where I come to escape when the kids are fighting and the walls are closing in. I know what I should do. I should open my Bible and read through my list of Bible verses on breaking negative cycles of escapism and sin. Instead, I indulge. The cycle of my escapist eating continues, and I feel trapped and ashamed. Bible Verses on Breaking Negative Cycles Perhaps you can relate. Maybe you’ve been trying to overcome a destructive habit for decades, but you can’t seem to find freedom. Today, we’ll explore eight Bible verses…
