Earlier this month my husband and I joined a small group that traveled to Istanbul, Turkey. We had a week there, exploring the city, interacting with locals, and learning about the culture while also encouraging and living life with a team there. I can’t say that Istanbul had necessarily been at the top of my list of places to visit, …
One Word 2019: Post 1
When I consider or meditate on BELOVED, one of my words for 2019, I keep coming back to this thought. BELOVED is really two words, Be Loved. Someone who is beloved is dearly loved by someone. That means the beloved person has to know they are loved. They have to allow themselves to be loved. To receive the love that …
My Word 2019
January 1st is around the corner, and that means I’ve been praying about my word for 2019. I first started doing this probably 10-12 years ago. It’s become a way to set a theme for the year about what I think God wants to teach me. What’s your Word for 2019? @cara_putman shares hers and a #giveaway of her latest …
It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way
It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way: Finding Unexpected Strength When Disappointments Leave You Shattered by Lysa TerKeurst My rating: 5 of 5 stars This book came exactly when I needed it, and I haven’t stopped recommending it since. In It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way Lysa addresses the things and hurts that happen in our lives that leave …
Brave
We’re in a season as a family where a lot has changed. After twelve years, I’m not homeschooling. It has honestly been odd. And the kids have been amazing. Sometimes others have to call out the BRAVE they see in us that we can’t see. @Cara_putman #Faiththoughts Click To Tweet But what’s caught me off guard is the word several …
Where I go for Encouragement
If you follow me on social media, you know I am often sharing images that hopefully are as encouraging to you as they are to me. In a world that can beat us down, it’s good to know where we go for Biblical encouragement. There’s nothing like diving into Psalms, but sometimes you need a reminder of what you already …
Release: 16 months in
This has been an odd 16 months for me. I’ve talked some about how my word for last year–and now this year–is RELEASE. I knew it wouldn’t be an easy word, but I had no idea just how deep and hard this period would be. If you feel God has lead you to a wilderness place, lean into Him. And trust that He will work it for your good as He speaks tenderly to you. And then we can compare notes.
Daily Reminders to Pray
I left part of my heart in Germany.
And I began to pray almost immediately about whether we could do something like that again. It was a dream, but a backburner dream. After all, God had already done the impossible once.
A Life Well Lived
Today in honor of his life, I want to giveaway two copies of my WWII collection Ohio Brides. The reason is because the middle book in that trilogy is my first book where the heroine comes to faith. The book I’m writing now is the second. Most of my novels contain characters who are learning and deepening their faith. But A Promise Born was different. I didn’t want to write it that way, but it was very clear that Evelyn was not a Christian. The journey to faith was a precious thing to write.
A Perfect Love is Possible
Valentine’s Day is tomorrow, and everywhere I turn this last week, God has been teaching me anew about His love and where mine falls short. This song is one that is cycling through my heart. It’s lyrics are a beautiful reminder of God’s love. If I compare it to people around me, I don’t even see a shadow of God’s …