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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7 Powerful Bible Verses About Stress and Hard Times
The awakening of spring feels like a rebirth of sorts. The pungent scent wafting from the once-frozen creek bed stirs life in my soul. Today, I’m in the woods with my Bible in search of Bible verses about stress and hard times. Bible Verses About Stress and Hard Times If you need encouragement today, I invite you to join me in the woods, and we’ll see what God’s Word says about stress and trouble. Bible Verses About Stress and Hard Times 1. Psalm 135:1-2 Praise the name of the LORD. Give praise, O servants of the LORD who stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of…
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10 Bible Verses About Glorifying God in All We Do
How do we glorify God in our daily lives? The Bible offers plenty of examples to help us glorify God in our everyday moments. Today, we’ll explore 10 powerful Bible verses about glorifying God. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you glorify God in all you do. 10 Bible Verses About Glorifying God According to God’s Word, our lives glorify God when his light and love shine through us, transforming our everyday places. Here are 10 Bible verses about living for the glory of God. Bible Verses About Glorifying God in our Everyday Places 1. 1 Corinthians 1031, ESV…
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7 Practical Ways to Show Grace to Others
Dawn came too early today—like an interruption to a night that went too fast. As the first rays of light poured through the windowpane, I asked God to fill me with his grace for the day ahead. Showing grace is never easy when we’re weary and on the brink of burnout. I went to bed late thinking about writing projects, our child’s science fair project, and what I was going to send to school for snack day. My mind raced for hours. When dawn came too soon, I had no desire to race into anything. I brushed my teeth thoughtlessly, and the impending nature of my to-do list weighed me…
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What Does God Say About Making Decisions?
When it comes to walking by faith, there’s one question I’ve grappled with more than any other: What does God say about making decisions? I want to follow God and honor him with my choices. Yet, at times, I’ve struggled to find his direction. The summer after my junior year of college, I found a job working in a deli thousands of miles from my home in Pennsylvania. For three months, I lived outside Denali National Park, Alaska. In some ways, I was running from the life I’d created for myself at home. On a different level, I was searching for direction from God. I invite you to return with…
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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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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. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free eBook to help you encounter God in difficult times. 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…
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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…
