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Sowing Spiritual Seeds: 8 Truths for When You Doubt Your Calling
When I became a teacher, I remember looking around and thinking, The needs are so great, and I’m only one person. What difference can I possibly make? The idea of sowing spiritual seeds for God’s glory felt like a long shot. I was just trying to survive. Two decades later, I’m no longer teaching in a public school. But I often look at the world’s condition and have similar sentiments. The needs are so great. I feel so small. What impact could I possibly make? Maybe you’ve experienced similar thoughts. Sowing Spiritual Seeds When You Feel Insignificant Not long ago, I read the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000. The…
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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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10 Bible Verses About God’s Timing and Faithfulness
It’s a cloudy Monday morning when I open my Bible in search of Bible verses about God’s timing. Beside me, the amaryllis has burst into full bloom. It bows low under the weight of its heavy blossom. It seems ironic that after waiting for it to bloom for so long, the weight of the blossom might crush it. I watch the amaryllis become its fullest self, and I wonder about my own growth. I’ve been waiting on God this year. Reflecting on my waiting season, I wonder if waiting on God has been more purposeful than I’ve imagined. Maybe God knows that if I bloom before I’m ready, the weight…
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10 Prayers for Direction and Clarity
The old poplar stretches toward a cloudless sky as yesterday’s snowflakes swirl in tiny cyclones below. I’ve been counting the lessons of winter as the snow piles higher. As I gaze out the window, I take the time to assess my life, my daily rhythms, and the state of my soul. I find myself lifting prayers for direction and clarity for the next season of life. Perhaps you need this space, too. Today, we’ll talk about how to find God’s direction and the importance of seeking his guidance. We’ll explore ten prayers for direction and clarity. 10 Prayers for Direction and Clarity We all need spaces where we can step…
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God Knows Your Pain and Cares About Your Suffering
Several years ago, our family endured a painful series of events. I felt alone and forgotten by God when a friend gently said, “God knows your pain, and he hasn’t left your side.” Her words carried me through that dark season. Join me as I stroll down our country road, reflect on my journey, and explore God’s purpose for pain and suffering. God Knows Your Pain The forest shivers as the first signs of a cold front exhales over the rolling fields surrounding me. Above, a ragged edge of cirrus clouds warns us of what’s to come. We’re in the thick of winter in this part of the world. I…
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How to Stop Worrying and Start Trusting God: 8 Ways
Wolf Creek swells with freeze-up. Spilling its saffron onto the bleach-white bank like an unwanted stain on a clean tablecloth, I wonder how far the water will rise before the ice has done its work. I decide not to worry about the way this valley will soon change. Meanwhile, the scene leads me to think about how to stop worrying and start trusting God in the other realms of my life. I want to trust him with our kids as they navigate the challenges of life. I want to trust him with our future as we step slowly into change. As I walk along the riverbank, I talk to God. …
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I Have Called You By Name: Let This Change Your Life Forever
“But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine” (Isaiah 43:1, ESV). We’re sitting in the fading light of a late-summer evening when Aiden, our youngest son, runs to me and nuzzles his cheek against mine. As if he just can’t get enough, he plops onto my lap, wraps both arms around my waist, and buries his face in my T-shirt. “I’m glad you’re my mom,” he declares. “And I’m so glad you’re my son,” I answer. From the deck, his older brother notices us,…
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God’s Restoration: 3 Steps to Healing and Peace
A full moon lifts her pale face above the horizon as I amble along the snowy path. Blinded by the brilliance, I breathe deeply as God’s restoration washes over me. As often as possible, I walk through this field as the late afternoon daylight fades to dusk. Here, I find space to let go of my cares and connect with my Creator. Here, I find peace. Perhaps you long for God’s restorative touch as well. Today, we’ll discuss how to embrace God’s restoration, peace, and healing as we follow his directives in Scripture. This might include taking an evening walk in the moonlight, but we don’t need to leave the…
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11 Ways to Get Closer to God This Year
Not long ago, as I hustled from one task to the next, I slipped on the wet floor and fell with a thud. I had no way of knowing that the moment was about to be a lesson on how to get closer to God. As I grabbed my knee and writhed in pain, I suddenly felt two tiny arms holding me. Five-year-old Aiden had witnessed the scene from the living room and rushed to my side to comfort me. My heart melted. My little boy did more than merely call out to ask if I was okay. He didn’t come to my side and stand beside me looking concerned. …
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5 New Year Prayer Points for a Fresh Start
I meander slowly through a forest encased in white. Strangers’ footprints delineate the path through crusty layers that have thawed and frozen a dozen times. I’m in the woods today to regroup and focus on the months ahead. The New Year always feels like a fresh start. Today, I invite you to join me as we explore five New Year prayer points to help us begin this year with focus and hope. 5 New Year Prayer Points for a Fresh Start I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of picking a word, a verse, or a resolution for the New Year. This year, as I stroll through the forest, I…
