When There Are No Words
I was in college when two of my classmates died in a boating accident. We were part of an intimate group of friends, and upon hearing of their death, we were utterly devastated. While I had been to several funerals up until that time, I felt the death of those young men stung me so much more...maybe I was at a level where I could understand the meaning of death or maybe I realized how young and vibrant they were when they breathed their last breath. I remember flopping down on my dorm room bed and sobbing while a friend
Nothing is Wasted
The beginning of a new year brings with it excitement and a momentum for change unlike any other time of the year. It seems that the whole world is wanting to use this as a time to reset and reboot and start something new. But for many, the previous year might not have been what they hoped it would be. The last year might have been a year of disappointments, loss, and pain. The new year might just feel like more of the same. But even if your 2017 was not what you expected, I believe that this new
He just didn’t get It…and neither did I
We had just sat down for family prayer when out of the mouth of my thirteen year old came these words, "Mama, You are so lucky. We all have issues. I've got eczema, Josh has feet issues (don’t ask) and Daddy has a cough, but you don't have anything...You are so lucky.” For the record, I do have my own set of issues...but that was besides the point. Lucky? Is he kidding me? And that's when it hit me. He just didn’t get it....Anything he carries, I carry. As his mother, I feel the weight of his struggles even more
My Christmas Favorite
I love the words to this song. The melody is hauntingly beautiful and it's on repeat at our house during this season! ~Shiney https://youtu.be/t-dGh5E_AQw
A New Day
I am by definition a morning person. Even on vacation, I am usually up around 6 a.m.. The upside of this is that I get to see the sunrise. The colors that light up the sky as the sun starts to come up is my favorite moment. To me, it represents the hope and promise of a new beginning and helps me look forward to things to come.Before beginning this Bible study, I saw the Old Testament as only the story of the Israelites being God's chosen people. I didn't think there was much application for me as a New
My Favorite Things
"These are a few of my favorite things..." - what comes to your mind when you hear that line? Throughout the month of December, you will be getting a glimpse of some of our favorite things as they relate to posts that we’ve written. Each week will be a different theme. This will only be on Facebook so check out our page to follow along!
Take the Training Wheels Off
My son learned how to ride his bike without training wheels this week. This has been a long time coming. He was very comfortable riding around our neighborhood with them. Several months ago, we took one wheel off and riding became a little difficult. A short while ago, we took the other one off, and the bike sat dormant. He had no interest in trying to ride without those training wheels. We talked about it, strategized it, rationalized it and tried in every way possible to persuade him that it was time, but he thought otherwise. So, the bike sat.
No Cruise Control Here
Why does life seem so hard sometimes? I may have wondered this a few times in my lifetime: My first job was so stressful, I woke up with my stomach in knots every morning wondering what I would be criticized for. Days prior to my first Thanksgiving as a newlywed, my husband and I were at a stalemate because neither of us would compromise about whose family to spend it with. As a parent, there are days I’ve felt dazed and confused when my children made poor decisions. A profession. Marriage. Parenting. It’s not for the faint of heart, is
Thanking God for Olives
Have you ever wanted to tell the world to just slow down and wait for you? I have. There was a season of my life when I felt as if everyone else was progressing to the next level of life while my life was in standstill mode. It’s hard to be thankful during these “standstill seasons,” but that’s when being thankful becomes a true act of the will. In Mac Lucado’s book, “Before Amen,” he dedicates a whole chapter to being thankful, and specifically to “A thankful list.” Max Lucado reminds us that ingratitude is the original sin. It started
Grateful Words
“Sometimes I wonder if you really like what you do.” The “I” was my husband talking to me about my involvement in ministry. “Well, of course I do! What would make you think that?” “The way that you talk about it…”. His response hit me hard. I love what I do in ministry. I feel called to it. It isn’t always easy but I really wouldn’t change it for anything. But my words were telling a different story. My husband was hearing more of the negative than the positive. He caught more complaining in my conversation than contentment. He sensed
