As we prepare to start our journey into Dreaming God-Sized Dreams, I had asked Holley Gerth if she wanted to say anything as we got started. This is such a wait to get started. Thanks for stopping by, Holley! (and if you haven’t yet, be sure to grab her book, You’re Made for a God-Sized Dream and join us on this journey. …
Speak Life
My friend Beth Vogt had a great blog post this week on compliments. She starts with a great quote from Mark Twain that I have stolen and redesigned here. Who doesn’t love a good compliment? I sometimes have a hard time receiving compliments because I see all the areas where I fall short. But I’ve started asking people to tell …
Word of the Year: Restoration
In the past, I’ve asked God for a word for the year. One year it was believe. This was the year of my first miscarriage. Things were moving forward in writing with contracts. But I couldn’t reconcile my faith with what had happened and was scared to ask for more in any area of my life. Another year it was …
Transformationally Loving God
Some big changes are coming in my life. Good changes. God changes. But with change, there’s always a sense of seeking God. What does He have for me in this new season? How does He want to use me? How does He want me to grow and mature? One thing that is crystallizing in my heart and soul is that …
Riding the Emotional Waves with Our Kids
Some days just don’t start well. One of the kids wakes up on the wrong side of the bed – and it’s so bad you wonder who replaced your sweet, fun-loving kids with this surly grouch. What really makes it bad is one bad mood spreads like the most effective virus…especially when the younger kids watch and decide it must …
Grief and Kids: a Hard Combination
Recently I learned of a 36 year-old mom in our neighborhood who died. Unexpectedly. Her family is emptied. Earlier this year I lost my grandpa and uncle in close, unexpected succession. One week a part. My 4 year old poked my grandpa’s cheek as she tried to understand how he could be there in the casket, but so utterly not …
Treasuring the Life I have
Summer is here…and with it I keep waiting for life to slow down. To settle into a dull, boring routine. We haven’t found that yet in Putman-ville. How about y’all? It has me on a quest to define normal. Yesterday we went strawberry picking and to the library. Follow that with a chaser of school (yes, I am that mom …
When the Storms Blow…
I am resurrecting this post that first ran in June 2011. As we watch the devastation in Moore, it reminds us too much of what happened in Joplin. Let’s remember the best place to turn in storms! Today a truck loaded with diapers, food, baby food, toiletries, and kids clothing is headed to Joplin, Missouri. The picture doesn’t begin to …
In the face of disaster, what can we do?
Here is a post I wrote in the face of Joplin. As we pray about Moore and how we can help another community that is devastated, this post from May 2011, seemed more than appropriate to share again. Let’s determine to be intentional about helping those confronted with disaster. I’ve been burdened by the tornadoes and their horrific paths of …
More of You, Lord
This morning I wanted to share a couple things that are bubbling in my spirit. I seem to be in a season where God is challenging me to dare to ask more of Him. And it’s a season where the thought wearies me. How terrible is that? God dares me to ask for more. And all I can think is “God, …