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Living in the Joy of the Lord: 6 Practical Ways
It’s an overcast evening with light air hanging over the black-eyed susans that blanket the fields behind the house. I’m not thinking about living in the joy of the Lord, but I’m about to learn a lesson that will forever change my life. I’ve spent most of the day cleaning the house, dealing with a frustrating computer issue, and searching the basement boxes for size 3T sweatpants. By the time the food is on the table and the family is gathered on the deck for dinner, I’m weary. Living in the Joy of the Lord We’ve just finished our meal when it happens. Our sweet little girl winds up with…
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How to Step Out in Faith When the Next Step Feels Scary
It’s late August, and the ironweed boasts deep purple blossoms among fields of green and gold. We stand at the end of the driveway with anxious hearts. Today is an opportunity to learn how to step out in faith. We all feel just a little bit scared. I honestly believed I’d be more nervous than our extroverted five-year-old when the first day of kindergarten came, but it seems she’s the one with the jitters. We review the directions to her classroom for the third time. I remind her to focus on eating her sandwich at lunchtime. We discuss important topics like hand sanitizer and hydration: the stuff moms worry about.…
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8 Bible Verses About Courage for Your Insecure Moments
The thick Carolina air presses on my lungs like I’m caught in a stranglehold. Running along this wooded path, I wonder if I have what it takes to do what God has called me to do. I try to conjure up some Bible verses about courage, but I come up empty. Lavender thistle blossoms bow and rise in unison, and yet there is no breeze. They must be praising their Maker. I join them, and the heaviness in my chest seems to lift. Perhaps it wasn’t the Carolina heat strangling me after all. I’ve been wrestling hard this weekend. I’ve wrestled with the realization that I am different than the…
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8 Bible Verses for When You Are Scared of the Future
Have you been looking toward the future and feeling uncertain or fearful? In these times, God’s Word offers comfort and hope. Today, we’ll explore eight Bible verses for when you are scared of the future. I invite you to join me as we travel back in time and talk about God’s care for us when we feel afraid. Then, we’ll see what Scripture has to say about overcoming the fear of the future. 8 Bible Verses for When You Are Scared of the Future I remember it as if it were yesterday. I’m fiddling with the latch on my green Care Bears lunchbox when Mrs. Nagel gently encourages me to…
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5 Uplifting Prayers for Joy and Peace
The box elder by the creek adorns herself in summer vestments before her taller cousins. I rest in her shade while the little one collects the wispy seedlings and sends them racing down the river. As I watch him play, I talk to God, praying through a series of prayers for joy and peace. Prayers for Joy and Peace I’ve been on a journey of slowing down to be more engaged in the quiet moments of our days. The following prayers flow from me as I watch the clear water flow past, cleansing the sandstone and washing away my cares in the process. If praying for joy and peace sounds…
