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Casting Our Nets
Today isn’t my usual day to post, but I’m excited to share the words of one of my dearest lifelong friends today. I met Courtney McNamara when we were in fourth grade at East Lawrence Elementary School, and we’ve been friends ever since! Courtney is a gifted artist, a talented published author, and a tender soul with a huge heart. Her friendship is a treasured gift. She’s one of a small handful of friends who receives my 6:00 a.m., “I need prayer” texts. As we all know, these friends are rare gifts! Courtney’s wisdom on the topic of casting our nets challenged me and blessed me, and I trust it…
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8 Hope-Filled Bible Verses About the Storms of Life
We all face storms in life. If you feel like your ship is about to sink, let’s dig into God’s Word together as we uncover eight hope-filled Bible verses about the storms of life. Bible Verses About the Storms of Life The summer I lived in Alaska, we took a ferry through the fjords near Seward. A cloud of mist shrouded the bay like a crumpled quilt as our small vessel inched closer to a mammoth glacier. Without warning, a chunk of ice the size of a small house broke free from the ancient ice field and crashed into the cobalt sea. Our tiny boat rocked and bobbed like a…
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Is God Mad at Me?
Smoky wisps of fog wrap their fingers through the goldenrod as I sit by the window in prayer. I’ve been distracted lately, and my thoughts have been far from God. A familiar question runs through my mind: Is God mad at me for neglecting my relationship with him? Summer days are full in these parts. I rarely find a quiet moment in this house filled with life and activity. Life has me stretched thin, and by the end of most days, I’m running on fumes. I imagine you know all about the rhythm of the ragged. Maybe you’ve felt guilty for neglecting your relationship with God, but you’re not sure…
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When I Am Weak, Then I Am Strong
“That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10). The morning after our first child was born I stared at the ticking clock on the white-washed hospital wall and counted the minutes I had slept the previous night. The total came to 55 minutes, which didn’t feel like enough. My abdomen ached from an emergency C-section, I could barely stand up, and little Bekah was less-than-patient with my lack of breastfeeding experience. It felt like a lot. You’ve probably endured a few seasons when life felt like a lot. …
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God Loves You Even When You Don’t Feel Worthy
A few years ago, an epic parenting failure left me feeling like the worst mom in the world. I imagine you’ve had a few of your own failures—moments when it was hard to believe that God loves you in the middle of your messiest moments. The evening of my failure, the sun was sinking low. It was time to clean up the house and relax for a few minutes before going to bed. I’d put away the toys three times throughout the day, and I told five-year-old Bekah it was her turn. I was ready to crash onto the couch and clock out for the day. On cue, our sweet…
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Are You Afraid of Missing God’s Plan for Your Life?
I walk the country road at dusk—twilight folding over the path behind me like a parted sea falling back into place. I’ve been thinking about staying in step with God’s plans lately, and my heart feels bogged down by worries that I might somehow botch his plan. I wonder if you can relate. I wonder if you’ve ever felt fearful that you just might miss God’s plan for your life. You probably know how it feels to be desperate to hear from God about something important to you. You fasted and prayed and scoured your Bible in search of direction. All the while, you wondered if you might be heading…
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Is God Calling You to a Balanced Life? (10 Insightful Scriptures on Balance in Life)
A pale moon hangs casually above the tree line tonight—like it’s in no hurry and has nothing to prove. I watch its slow ascent toward the heights of inky blackness, and I feel remarkably out of balance. I pull out my Bible in search of encouraging Scriptures on balance as I aim to align myself with God’s perspective. I feel out of balance because our kids have been sick for weeks. I’ve crossed everything else off the schedule, set aside writing projects, and canceled plans with friends. Every ounce of energy has gone into caring for their needs. I’m tired, and I need the Lord to speak into this daily…
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5 Bible Verses About God’s Faithfulness in Life’s Storms
Are you searching for Bible verses about God’s faithfulness? I invite you to join me amid a raging storm as we open God’s Word together. 5 Bible Verses About God’s Faithfulness in Life’s Storms The other night, a storm rained itself empty like it was working something out. Sometimes life is kind of like this—you wrestle with God until you’re spent and poured out. The aftermath might look like everything thirsty has been watered, or it might look like the carnage after a tempest unfurls in anger. We’ve wrestled with God more than once throughout this past year. At times, life hasn’t gone according to our plans, and we’ve faced…
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The Power of Trusting God in Hard Times
Layers of altostratus rest above the western tree line like wet towels hastily folded. Splinters of sapphire peer through their sparse creases and remind me of promises for better days to come. Closing my eyes, I remind myself of the power of trusting God in hard times. The darkness will pass. Light is coming for us all. We all need this reminder from time to time. The Power of Trusting God in Hard Times Not long ago, I sat with a friend whose heart was broken. We talked about how to find healing when we’re hurting, and I shared as much insight as I could offer. Whether you’re sitting beneath…
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Has God Forgotten Me?
A single oak leaf glides on the breath of dawn like it’s in no particular hurry to meet its final resting place on the icy earth. I watch from the window and reflect on the events of the past day. We’ve been walking through some long months here, and a painful question lingers in my mind: Has God forgotten me? I long for the gentle reminder that God is still at work in the areas where I’ve been waiting on him for years. Most of us know how it feels to wonder if the Lord has forgotten us. Whether we’re trudging through dark valleys of life-shattering losses or walking through…