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When the Walls Are Closing in: 5 Suggestions
There’s a pileated woodpecker pounding at the bird feeder, and Caleb stands entranced at the window. The vibrance of autumn is a distant memory, and there are long, dark weeks until the first signs of spring. As I watch Caleb by the window, I admit it to myself: The walls are closing in, and I’ve discovered no helpful escape route just yet. What do you do when you’re in the middle of a long, dark season and can see no way out? Today, I’ll invite you into my journey with this. We’ll also explore some practical suggestions for when it feels like the walls are closing in. Be sure to…
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How to Have Faith in God During Hard Times
February came in waves of smoky grey. Patches of blackened snow lined the country roads, and overcast skies cast dim shadows. I was desperate for a quiet reminder about how to have faith in God during hard times. I went to the woods to find hope on a monochrome afternoon. Perhaps God’s created world would somehow breathe life into my faltering faith. Beneath the oaks, my mind drifted to the words penned by Henry David Thoreau: “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when…
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15 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 15 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. 15 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 Love Yourself: 15 Ways
Nearly ten years ago, I wrote a blog post titled “Go Ahead and Wear Your Fat Pants: How to Love Yourself Just the Way You Are.” It was a post about extending grace to ourselves and being kind to ourselves. Today, we’ll have a similar conversation. We’ll look at how to love yourself, exploring 15 practical ways to be less self-critical and more loving. How to Love Yourself: 15 Ways We live in a culture that is steeped in judgment and permeated with criticism. Learning to love ourselves doesn’t come easily; we need to intentionally swim against the current of the culture surrounding us. Here are some practical tips for…
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15 Bible Verses About Transformation
Scripture has a great deal to say about renewal and transformation. Today, we’ll explore 15 Bible verses about transformation as we seek to align our hearts with God’s heart. We’ll also discuss four practical ways to let God transform our minds. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook about letting God transform our hearts and minds. Let’s start by turning to God’s Word as we study these Bible verses about transformation. 15 Bible Verses About Transformation Here’s what Scripture says about being transformed by God. Bible Verses About Transformation 1. Romans 12:2 ESV Do not be conformed to this world, but be…
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What to Do When You Feel Spiritually Empty: 5 Steps
Are you struggling with what to do when you feel spiritually empty? Most of us face times of spiritual dryness. The disciplines that once helped us feel connected to God stop working. Instead of feeling life-giving, they begin to feel empty and dry. Today, we’ll talk about what to do when you feel spiritually empty. I invite you to join me as I gaze out the window feeling apathetic and disconnected from God on a cold winter morning. What to Do When You Feel Spiritually Empty The golden abundance of autumn has been swallowed by the monochrome grey of winter now. As I gaze into the ashen landscape, I wrestle…
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How to Be Satisfied in Jesus When You’re Struggling in Life
The lake is flat and grey today. The surrounding hills roll lavender beneath an ashen sky, and I pray for just a glimpse of blue overhead. I’m here because I long to be satisfied in Jesus, especially when the winter season feels like it might last forever. I close my eyes and ask God to speak to my soul. I want to know how to be content when the landscape of my days seems desolate. A startling truth settles upon me as a red-tailed hawk cries out to its Maker: I can spend all day seeking an emotionally riveting encounter with God by this water, and I may or may…
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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…
