Purposeful Living
Creative ideas for enjoying your family in all seasons of the year, including spending time in nature, creative ways to celebrate holidays, and ways to teach your children the art of hospitality.
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Five Benefits of Spending One-on-one Time with Your Child
“Want to go on a date?” I ask my 6-year-old daughter, Bekah. She glances up from behind the laptop, where she’s been watching online reruns of 1980’s cartoons for far too long. “Yeah!” Her eyes light up. I don’t even have to tell her where we’re going, and she’s ecstatic. “I was thinking of a walk at the bike path and a trip to the thrift store. Deal?” It’s not an extravagant scheme. I simply need some exercise, it’s a rare sixty-degree winter day, and I need lamp shades from the thrift store. We’re out the door in less than ten minutes, and a short drive to the bike path…
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Joy in Jesus: How to Cultivate It in Your Life
The yard is muddied with footprints and tire tracks, and a warm front blows in from the south. I’m thankful for the early thaw. Winter was long, and I grew weary from completing the same tasks day after day. I want to live with joy in Jesus, but this kind of joy can be challenging when the daily grind is wearing. Sometimes my life feels like an endless cycle of the same tasks. The tasks roll on, day after day, and I wonder if it will ever end. There are days when I’m disappointed with the ordinariness of it all. But I’m learning to find joy in Jesus in the…
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10 Bible Verses About Celebrating Life
God is pleased when we cultivate joy and celebrate his goodness. Even in difficult times, focusing on God’s blessings can lift our heads. Today, we’ll look at 10 Bible verses about celebrating life. Then, we will examine practical ways to celebrate in even the most mundane seasons. Let’s start by soaking in God’s words about celebrating life. 10 Bible Verses About Celebrating Life As you read these Scriptures, I encourage you to soak in God’s invitation to praise and worship him. Thank him for the gifts in your life. He is pleased when you focus on what is true, good, right, and pure. Encouraging Bible Verses About Celebrating Life and…
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How to Encounter God in Your Ordinary Moments
I’m not thinking about how to encounter God as I wash the crusty marinara sauce from a plate that sat too long. Sweet Bekah comes to me in my silent revelry and wraps her little arm around my thigh. “Come with me, Mommy,” she beckons. “Just as soon as I finish these dishes,” I tell her. “No, Mom—now. You have to come now,” she begs. She’s been playing on the deck, and I’m sure there’s a caterpillar making an escape or a tower built from rocks on a patio chair. I really just want to clean the kitchen. Nonetheless, when I look into those sparkling blue eyes, I surrender my…
