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How to Stay Focused on God: 8 Tips
As our family adjusts to a new season, I’ve been feeling pulled in dozens of different directions. By the grace of God, all three kids are participating in the same sport, cross-country, but we still feel stretched. I’ve been considering how to stay focused on God amid the noise and activity of this season. A conversation with our six-year-old, Aiden, recently came to mind. As I’ve reflected on his words, they’ve prompted me to come up with practical ways to keep my focus on Christ. I pray these insights bless you. I also invite you to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help…
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God’s Purpose for the Storms of Life
The sky opened wide this afternoon, and raindrops the size of marbles splashed in tiny pools upon our faces. We ran through the forest as thunder growled, surprised that the canopy overhead did so little to protect us from the rain. I had no way of knowing that the afternoon thundershower was about to be a reminder of God’s purpose for the storms of life. God’s Purpose for the Storms of Life As the dusty trail turned slick with mud beneath our feet, my son’s laughter was drowned out by the roar of falling sky meeting leaves and earth. We reached the truck saturated and mud-covered up to our knees,…
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A Boys’ Devotional Book for Courage and Strength
Over the past few years, after writing two mother-daughter devotional books with our daughter, Bekah, many people have asked if I’ll ever write a boys’ devotional book with our sons. We have news to share today! We finally did it! Our Boys’ Devotional Book Throughout the summer months, Aiden, Caleb, and I worked together to write a boys’ devotional called God’s Warrior: Devotions for Boys Who Want to Grow in Courage and Strength. Now more than ever, our world needs more warriors who know what it means to walk with God and shine his light in the world. We hope to help young boys grow into God’s warriors by teaching…
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10 Spiritual Warfare Prayers for Such a Time as This
The spiritual climate surrounding us is becoming increasingly evil. As we aim to shine God’s light into this darkness, let’s not forget that spiritual forces move in response to our prayers. Today, we’ll join together in praying 10 spiritual warfare prayers for our personal lives and for the world around us. We’ll also look at some powerful Bible verses to help us fight life’s spiritual battles. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free eBook to help you live in victory. 10 Spiritual Warfare Prayers At times, we might feel tempted to assume that our prayers don’t make an impact on the world around us,…
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15 Back to School Bible Verses for the New Year
Daylight met us softly this morning, tenderly folding its arms around us, maternally. It seemed fitting as the kids waved goodbye and headed to school. When they left, I opened my Bible in search of some anchoring back to school Bible verses to help our children navigate the challenges this time of year brings. 15 Back to School Bible Verses It is a time of transition. Most parts of the transition are positive, but the adjustment is rarely seamless. When the waves of life threaten to shake us, we need an anchor. Here are the verses I found to anchor our kids as they settle into the new school year.…
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The Power of Imaginative Prayer
I sincerely enjoy hosting other writers as they share their words in this space. Today, I’m happy to introduce my friend Traci Rhoades as she shares a personal experience involving imaginative prayer. Traci has been a great source of encouragement to me as a writer, and I’m honored to share her story here today. The Power of Imaginative Prayer By Traci Rhoades At the teacher’s request, we closed our eyes and settled into our chair. There was a time of silence. For nearly a decade, I’d prepared myself for moments like this one, learning and unlearning how to sit in a posture of silence. What it felt like to still…
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Has God Abandoned Me? 7 Promises for Your Hurting Heart
I awaken to the sound of wind rattling the windowpanes. Rain beats against the house like an intruder attempting to break through the walls, and I pray the old windowpanes can keep it at bay. When the storms of life rage, it’s easy to look to the ominous sky and ask, “Has God abandoned me to weather this storm all alone?” Has God Abandoned Me? Perhaps you know how it feels to cry out to God in your storm and find only silence. Maybe you’ve been looking heavenward and wondering why God seems to have left you to navigate your storm without his help. I’ve faced plenty of battles, but…
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15 Bible Verses About Fitness and Caring for Your Body
Caring for our bodies is important, but it’s not easy to find balance in this area. It’s easy to vacillate between neglecting our bodies and putting excessive energy into caring for them. Today, we’ll explore 15 Bible verses about fitness and health as we seek this balance. I also invite you to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you honor God with your body. 15 Bible Verses About Fitness and Health “I’ve been struggling with taking the time to exercise and keeping up with the rest of my life,” a friend recently admitted. “I know I honor God when I care for…
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10 Refreshing Bible Verses to Replenish Your Heart and Mind
After a day of rain, we awaken to glimpses of blue above the canopy. The forest is alive today. Songbirds I cannot name greet the dawn with cheerful chatter, and I open my Bible in search of refreshing Bible verses to match the brightness of this morning. We are at the cabin again this weekend. The air is pouring off the hillside with the brisk remnants of the night, and I am thankful to be here on this porch. Inside, our boys play a card game—war, I think—and my husband cooks pancakes over the blue flames of the old propane stove. The air smells like freshly cut firewood and damp…
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10 Prayers for Teachers This School Year
Over the years, the end of August has always marked the beginning of the new school year, a time filled with expectant prayers for teachers and students. Twenty years ago, this time of year meant something very different to me than it does now. As a high school teacher, this season was filled with anticipation as I prepared my classroom for a new year. Now that I’m no longer working in a classroom, the anticipation is different. As a mom, I scramble to make sure everyone in the house has what they need for the new year. The boys need at least a handful of unstained, untorn T-shirts, and we’ll…
