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10 Ways to Connect With God When He Seems Distant
Most mornings, I gaze at our bird feeder as I sit by the window to connect with God. Today, we awoke to an empty birdfeeder—scant sunflower seeds, black as coal, scattered beneath their plexiglass home. I watched as goldfinches and house sparrows searched the bottom of the feeder for seeds. They all flitted off disappointed, determined to search for sustenance elsewhere. As I considered the disheartened birds, I read the prophet Jeremiah’s words about God’s people: “They have abandoned (rejected) Me, The fountain of living water, And they have carved out their own cisterns, Broken cisterns That cannot hold water” (Jeremiah 2:13, AMP). The empty feeder and the ancient words…
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A Mother Daughter Devotional With 60 Devotions for Teen Girls
Do you want to help your daughter connect with God while growing closer together? Last year, my daughter, Bekah, and I co-authored a mother daughter devotional called Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith. This powerful book is packed with 60 devotions for pre-teen and teen girls and moms to read together. Each devotion offers the following: A focus Bible verse A section called “Mom’s Thoughts,” written by Stacey A section called “Girl to Girl,” written by Bekah A prayer to read out loud together A journaling section for mother and daughter to complete at a later time These mother-daughter devotions are heartwarming and…
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14 Free Devotionals for Women Who Want to Grow With God
Would you like to connect with God in deeper ways and experience his presence like never before? I hope to help you encounter God in ways that transform your life forever. For this reason, I have written a collection of free devotionals for women. I pray these devotionals bless you deeply and lead you closer to God’s heart of love for you. Free Devotionals for Women Below, you will find a collection of free resources to help you connect with God in your daily devotional time, bolster your prayer life, and provide healing in difficult seasons. I pray these words bless you and lead you straight into the arms of…
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The Importance of Quiet Time With God (and 3 Tips)
Last week, I spilled a handful of birdseed on the deck, and I’ve been watching cardinals and house sparrows clean it up for days. The scene is a daily reminder of one of Jesus’ parables, and I’ve been pondering it as I consider the importance of quiet time with God. Here are Jesus’ words: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and…
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Spiritual Renewal: 5 Fresh Ways to Connect With God
A rumble of thunder pulled us from sleep, and we spent the morning in stillness while God washed the world with warm, summer rain. The thin pages of his Word rustled in the breeze while the rain crackled like fire licking up dry grass. Something about a slow morning felt like an invitation to encounter God for spiritual renewal. Summer tends to be a full season for our family. The kids are home from school. Days fly by quickly. My time with the Lord is often short and almost always interrupted. Maybe you can relate. Perhaps you want to connect with God, but you’re pulled in so many directions that…
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How to Be Still Before God When Your Mind Is Racing
After a few dry days, the rain returned this morning. Torrents fell in silver swaths that drowned out the melody of birdsong and swept us into the synchronous song of the sky. I sat by the window and let the crackling hush of falling water wash over me as I resisted the urge to begin the work of the day. It felt like an invitation to learn how to be still before God all over again. Being still before God has never come easily for me. I find a quiet place to sit, and within three minutes, I’m writing my grocery list or planning dinner. Perhaps you know how it…
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A Calming Prayer for Anxiety, Worry, and Fear
The hollow growl of a thunderstorm awakens me well past midnight. I turn to look out the open window and watch the skyline flicker white. Four sleepless hours later, I lie on my back and utter a calming prayer with the hopes of quieting the noise inside my head . . . A Calming Prayer for Anxiety, Worry, and Fear My calming prayer goes like this: “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you.” The prayer is from Isaiah 26:3. It’s a promise for peace to cover us as we place our trust in God and keep our thoughts fixed…
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Pursuing God: 15 Ways to Stir Your Longing for Jesus
Last summer, I decided to write our eleven-year-old daughter Bekah a note for each day she would be away at summer camp. After writing a note for each day of the week and tucking them into her backpack, I thought about how excited sweet Bekah would be to read them. I had no idea that the experience was about to become a heartwarming lesson about pursuing God. The day she left for camp, I spotted a stack of envelopes labeled with the days of the week on top of the bookshelf in our hallway. Had she removed my notes from her bag? Looking closer, I realized that I couldn’t have…
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12 Free Online Bible Studies and Devotionals
Instead of my typical devotion, this week’s post is something special. My vision is to provide tools to help you encounter God in your everyday life. For this reason, I have written a collection of free online Bible studies and devotionals to help you draw closer to the Lord. Below, you will find 12 free eBooks to help you connect with God in your daily devotional time, bolster your prayer life, and provide healing in difficult seasons. I pray these words bless you and lead you straight into the arms of our Father! Simply click on any of the links below to receive your free online Bible study or devotional. Free…
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Check Out This Tween Girl Devotional Online and in Print
Do you want to help your preteen daughter grow in her faith while also deepening your mother-daughter relationship? I am the mom of a preteen girl, and these are my heart’s desires as well. For this reason, my 11-year-old daughter and I recently wrote a new tween girl devotional online and also a book called Girl Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith. A Tween Girl Devotional Online and in Print My tween daughter, Bekah, and I write together on a blog just for tween girls. Check it out right here! We also invite you to download our seven-day free online devotional, The Girl to Girl…
