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God Is Always Listening and Hears Our Cries
Today’s devotional post is adapted from my new 31-day devotional Mornings With Jesus. If you enjoy this post, find your copy of Mornings With Jesus at the bottom of the page. I pray this new online devotional book blesses you richly! And now, a gentle reminder that God is always listening. God Is Always Listening and Hears Our Cries “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working” (John 5:17). We’re living in the grey days of winter as I write these words. Already, I find myself craving the light and life of springtime. The winter seasons of waiting can feel never-ending as…
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The Teens in Your Life Need This Book: Transforming Your Thought Life for Teens
I spent almost a decade teaching teens in a local public high school. Throughout those years, I also served as a youth leader and mentored dozens of teens through the tumultuous journey of adolescence. I wish Sarah Geringer’s book Transforming Your Thought Life for Teens had been available throughout those years! This book is a follow-up to Sarah’s book Transforming Your Thought Life: Christian Meditation in Focus, released in 2019. I was powerfully impacted by Sarah’s book Transforming Your Thought Life and appreciated the way Sarah was relatable and yet also pointed me back to the truth of God’s Word. When I heard she was writing a follow-up book specifically…
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Overcoming the Spirit of Frustration
Recently, I asked the kids what they wanted to do on a balmy afternoon, and the consensus was a trip to the local bike path. I had no idea that our adventure was about to be a challenging lesson on overcoming the spirit of frustration. Here’s how it all played out. Overcoming the Spirit of Frustration After spending an hour digging the bikes out of the garage, pumping air into tires, searching for helmets, and trying to figure out how to fit two bikes and a stroller into the vehicle, I felt like I’d endured a full workout (before we even pulled out of the driveway). After a short ride…
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8 Bible Verses for When You Feel Defeated
Most of us will feel defeated at times in our lives. In these moments, God’s Word offers encouragement. Today, I invite you to join me as we explore eight Bible verses for when you feel defeated. 8 Bible Verses for When You Feel Defeated I decided I wanted to be a teacher because I wanted to make a difference in the world. Like most 22-year-olds, I had high ideals and big expectations. Two months into my teaching career, I felt discouraged and defeated. Managing a classroom of teens with special needs turned out to be more challenging than I imagined. Most days, I felt like we were just trying to…
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Are You Tired of Feeling Like a Failure as a Mom?
I didn’t know I was aiming for perfection when I first laid eyes on the swaddled baby girl in the pink and blue hospital cap. She was beautiful, and I couldn’t wait to teach her everything I knew about God and life. In that precious moment, feeling like a failure as a mom was the last thought on my mind. I wanted to be everything she could ever need in a mom. I wanted to be the perfect mom, and I was pretty sure I could follow all the rules and pull it off. Most moms know all about the ideals of early motherhood. You look at your sweet little…
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5 Powerful Prayers for Strength When You Feel Weak
The poplar bows low like the weight of heavy sky has become too much to hold. I watch from the window with an empathetic heart, the weight of everything I feel like I need to carry bending me low in unseen parts of me. I’m praying prayers for strength, but I’m so bogged down that I wonder if God even hears. Perhaps you can relate. If you feel weary and need guidance as you pray prayers of strength, these prayers are for you. 5 Prayers for Strength Pray these prayers for strength as you continue to follow the One who carries your burdens for you. 1. “Lord, thank you that…
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5 Life-Changing Prayers for Hope in Difficult Times
Thin bands of ivory lace the spines of the spruce’s outstretched boughs. As I admire them, I wrestle with the difficult circumstances surrounding me. Closing my eyes, I ask God to guide me in praying prayers of hope in difficult times. If you’re struggling through challenging circumstances today, these prayers are also for you. God wants to carry us through our darkest days and fill us with hope when we feel defeated. Prayers for Hope in Difficult Times Let’s look at five powerful prayers for hope in difficult times. 5 Powerful Prayers for Hope in Difficult Times 1. Father, thank you for holding me close in every storm. We all…
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6 Powerful Bible Verses About Hope in Suffering
Pale winter sunlight slips through the curtain, and splashes of cobalt rupture heaven’s veil. Winter feels long in these parts. Hard circumstances are unfolding in the world around us, and I open crinkled pages in search of a few Bible verses about hope in suffering. Our family isn’t suffering hard this winter, but we know what it is to suffer. Perhaps you know a thing or two about suffering as well. No two kinds of suffering are exactly the same. I can’t pretend to know what yours looks like on this day. It might be the sting of a recent disappointment or a heavy cloud of grief. Regardless of its…
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7 Comforting Bible Verses for Miscarriage
If you are reading these words, you are most likely walking through one of life’s darkest valleys. My heart aches as I write these words to you today, precious friend. You might be navigating a miscarriage yourself, or you might be supporting a loved one who is coping with this loss. Today, we’ll turn to God’s Word for seven comforting Bible verses for miscarriage. First, I invite you into my own journey through this heartbreaking loss. From Chapter One of my book, Lean Into Grace, here is the story of one of my darkest days. After I share my story, we will look at these Bible verses for miscarriage. 7…
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When God Disappoints You, Find Your Hope Here…
Here in the glow of hope rising upon a new season, we look to the future and give our dreams permission to set sail. But let’s be honest, new beginnings are also invitations to gaze behind us. Every new season is an opportunity to pause and look square in the face of a year’s worth of disappointments in life. Where do you turn when God disappoints you? What do you do when your plans fall to pieces? Where do you turn when the bottom falls out? When God Disappoints You Some of us are disappointed in our friendships. We’re considering giving up on the whole idea of community and accountability.…
