Transformation
Encouragement on how life's trials and struggles can lead to the transformation that will shape your heart to be more like Christ, bring greater joy, and usher in the fulfillment you crave.
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Transform Your Mind by Overcoming These Toxic Mindsets
There are monarchs on the milkweed, and the sun sinks fiery white above the overgrown weed fields behind the house. “They’re not weeds,” five-year-old Caleb contends, “They’re flowers.” I smile at his words. Maybe he knows the hidden secret about how to really transform your mind when the weeds creep in. “I guess it depends on what you want to call them,” I tell the little guy. “One person’s weeds are another person’s flowers.” We walk to the spot where the fields border the yard – where the monarchs stretch their marmalade wings on the sticky milkweed leaves – and I clip a bouquet for the dining room table. A…
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Rewire Your Brain and Get Unstuck in Your Life
A menagerie of black walnuts has fallen from above and is crushed on our gravel road. I walk over the coffee-colored streaks and consider the months ahead. When the walnuts fall, summer is nearly over. Looking ahead, no part of me is ready for the long winter months to come. Just how do you rewire your brain when your future feels bleak? I cringe at the thought of long evenings inside the house, whiteouts rolling in from the west, and evening walks down this same country road with toes numb from the cold. How to Rewire Your Brain I’m mulling it over when the words of Dr. Caroline Leaf come…
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Drowning in Life? This is for You
I feel like I’m drowning in life the day we take the kids to my parents’ pool for a reprieve. Life has been full, and my to-do list threatens to suffocate me. Caring for the needs of three young children, juggling my writing work, maintaining friendships, investing in our marriage, and making time for self-care is nothing short of exhausting. Perhaps you can relate. Maybe the demands of your days feel crushing, and you feel like you’re drowning in life, too. Today, I invite you to join me at my parents’ swimming pool, and we’ll have an honest conversation about what to do when we feel like we might just…
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How to Overcome Toxic Thoughts With God’s Help
A dandelion releases her ashen fuzz to the sky, and I stand at the window to watch. The window is strong and clear, but a year ago, it was fractured into a dozen tiny lines. I’m not proud of the moment I shattered the window with my bare hand. Nevertheless, the incident eventually helped me learn how to overcome toxic thoughts with God’s help. Maybe it’s taken a year for me to write about this because I was ashamed I had it in me. Maybe you’ve been here, too. Perhaps you’ve yelled just a little too forcefully at your kids, lashed out a little too ferociously at that guy who…
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8 Reassuring Bible Verses About Patience
Most of us are waiting for something. We’re waiting for dreams to come to life, prodigals to return home, and babies to sleep through the night. Some of us are waiting for God to heal our bodies or the bodies of our loved ones. Waiting on God is never easy. Let’s dig into some reassuring Bible verses about patience together today. Bible Verses About Patience The Bible has a lot to say about waiting on God and being patient. I invite you to soak in these Scriptures. Also, be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you experience God’s presence and…
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14 Bible Verses About Speaking Positive Words
We all deal with frustration. It’s not wrong or sinful to feel frustrated or disappointed, but our responses can lead us to sin. Today, we’ll have an honest conversation about how to respond in these moments. We’ll also explore a list of Bible verses about speaking positive words. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you draw near to God. 14 Bible Verses About Speaking Positive Words Let’s see what God’s Word says about our words. Bible Verses About Speaking Positive Words 1. James 1:19-20 ESV Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to…
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15 Bible Verses About Attitude: Why It Matters
My high school volleyball coach often reminded our team that the most important factor for success was attitude. I’ve carried his words with me for 30 years, and they hold true. Today, we’ll turn to another source of wisdom as we explore the importance of attitude. We’ll look at 15 Bible verses about attitude and learn why a positive attitude is so vital. I’ll also share some mindsets that lead to unhappiness as we aim to apply these verses to our lives. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you align your attitude with God’s attitude. Bible Verses About Attitude…
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Bible Verses to Calm Anxiety: And 6 Steps to Take
I sit beneath the hemlocks while my little boy throws rocks into the water. I’m thankful we have a place to slip away from the demands of our days. Today, I’m desperate to overcome anxiety with God in this quiet moment by the water. Pulling out my Bible, I make a list of Bible verses to calm anxiety. The words bring me comfort and peace. I’m sharing these Scriptures with you today because God’s Word is an anchor in the storms of life. God wants to calm you with his love. We’ll look at 15 Bible verses to calm anxiety. Then, I’ll share six steps to help you overcome anxious…
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How to Stop Comfort Eating and Turn to God Instead
It’s 9:00 p.m. on a Thursday, and I stare at the cupboard with an insatiable appetite. I want to learn how to stop comfort eating and find my comfort in God, but when I’m honest about it, chocolate feels more tangible at the end of a long day. Several cookies, way too many chocolate chips, and an hour later, I lie in bed and ask God to help me find freedom. The heavens are silent, and I open my Bible for inspiration. What the Bible Says About How to Stop Comfort Eating My bookmark leads me to an unnamed woman in the fourth chapter of John’s gospel as she walks to…
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15 Bible Verses About Breakthrough
“I’ve started to wonder if my breakthrough will ever come,” a friend recently remarked. “I’ve done all I know to do, given my best effort, read countless Bible verses about breakthrough, and prayed for months. I feel like God isn’t listening.” We were sitting by the creek on an unseasonably warm autumn day. The firmament hung low and grey, like maybe the underbelly of heaven was brushing against us. “I don’t know why God gave me this dream and then slammed the door closed in my face,” my friend added through tears. I sat with her words and offered her space to be honest about what she felt. We’ll return…
