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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…
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15 Bible Verses About Spiritual Growth (With Applications)
I once asked a friend how to discern spiritual growth. She said, “Are you more loving than you were a year ago? If so, you are growing.” I took her words to heart. After she left, I began searching for Bible verses about spiritual growth. Bible Verses About Spiritual Growth I found the following 15 Bible verses about spiritual growth. I pray these verses bless you as you apply them to your life Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you grow closer to God. 15 Bible Verses About Spiritual Growth 1. Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV) But the fruit of the…
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6 Prayers for Loving Others Even When They’re Hard to Love
Years ago, God brought an acquaintance into my life who was hard to love. She often called me multiple times per day. She was easily offended and didn’t respect my boundaries. I felt called to continue loving her, but it wasn’t always easy. Today, we’ll explore six prayers for loving others, especially when loving doesn’t come easily. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you connect with God so that you can be his vessel of love in this world. 6 Prayers for Loving Others Over time, I realized I needed God’s love to pour through me if I was…
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Bible Verses on Safety and Protection in God’s Presence
Throughout most of my adult life, I’ve held onto the following declaration: “The safest place in the world is the center of God’s will.” I cling to the promise that whenever I’m walking in God’s will, I am also safe with God. Today, we’ll explore 15 Bible verses on safety and protection in God’s presence. Then, I’ll share a way these Scriptures upheld me through a difficult time. We’ll explore the difference between safe with God and being secure in his love as I challenge you to redefine your perception of safety. I also invite you to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to…
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20 Bible Verses About Putting Others First
Most of us know God calls us to put others first, but living this out isn’t simple or easy. Today, we’ll explore 20 Bible verses about putting others first. We’ll also explore practical ways to make sure we are putting people ahead of tasks while also maintaining balance. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you put others first. Let’s begin by turning to God’s Word. 20 Bible Verses About Putting Others First Scripture has a great deal to say about putting the needs of others first. Bible Verses About Putting Others First 1. Romans 12:10 ESV Love one another…
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God’s Assignment for You: 7 Keys to Fulfilling Your Purpose
First light pours through the curtain slow and thick, like buttermilk. I am weary today. I want to embrace God’s assignment for my life, but there are days when I struggle to live with a sense of purpose. If you can relate, you’re in the right place. Today, we’ll explore seven insights about God’s assignment for you. Then, we’ll talk about the assignments that feel like interruptions. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you embrace God’s purpose for you. 7 Insights About God’s Assignment for You I’ve spent much of my life grappling with the idea of God’s assignment…
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How to Be Gentle With Yourself
Do you need to learn how to be gentle with yourself? If so, you are in the right place. Today, we’ll have an honest conversation about what it looks like to treat ourselves with kindness and gentleness. I’ve spent most of my life being unreasonably hard on myself. I stand in front of mirrors, roll my eyes, and commit to more rigorous ab workouts. I regularly push myself beyond exhaustion and feel guilty for taking naps—even after staying up all night tending to fevered children. Often, I tell myself to suck it up, try harder, go faster, and give more. You might not push yourself through exhaustion or condemningly grab…
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8 Bible Verses About Staying Positive in Hard Times
The cumulous clouds are stacked in a thick layer on the western horizon. I gaze at them from the room where I’m supposed to be writing inspiring words about life and God, but I’m too worn down to find a single thoughtful thing to say. Instead of writing, I open my Bible in search of Bible verses about staying positive in hard times. Bible Verses About Staying Positive in Hard Times Here are the verses I discover. 8 Bible Verses About Staying Positive in Hard Times 1. Galatians 6:9 “Let’s not become discouraged in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not become weary” (Galatians…
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6 Outdoor Hospitality Ideas for Autumn
There’s a single-file row of foxtail grass bending over the roadside like a line of school children dropping pennies off a bridge. Oddly enough, seeing them posed over the gravel gets me thinking about gathering with others and embracing autumn’s invitation for offering outdoor hospitality. It gets me thinking about standing with others to admire the season as it unfolds all around us. A few years ago, I wrote a series of posts on how to offer hospitality that changes lives (Check out the most popular post in this series here: 8 Surprising Ways to Extend Hospitality). The underlying message woven throughout these posts was this: Hospitality is the art…
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How to Have More Motherhood Joy in Challenging Seasons
A quiet undercurrent has been calling me into its flow throughout the past season. It’s a gentle voice that whispers, “Let these struggles of motherhood soften you. Lean into the transformation. In doing so, you will cultivate a deeper sense of motherhood joy.” Cultivating Motherhood Joy It is a gentle call to let these uncertain times chisel my rough edges, to learn to be a woman with less grit and more grace. Granted, throughout most of my life, my grit has served me well. My grit is my tenacity, my determination, my commitment to stay the course on the most rugged trails—my eyes fixed on the horizon, zeal goading me…
