My Pandemic Lesson

Whether the end of the pandemic is in sight or we have more to go, now seems like a good time to look back over the past year. What’s it been like for you? Here’s part of my list: More meeting, coaching, encouraging, listening by Zoom and by phone More walks and more praying for […]

Origin Story

In January, I look forward by looking back. This sharpens my vision on the big picture and clears my thinking about the things that are most important to me. Dawson Trotman, founder of The Navigators, memorized 20 verses before he decided to follow Christ. He knew 10 on salvation and 10 on how Christians grow. […]

Home Alone: Ideas for Extended Time with God

Long breaks can be a great time to focus a little more on listening, praying, or taking a nice long read in the Bible. We’ve interviewed a handful of folks and have gathered a variety of tips and practices. Angel, bank examiner The most recent and impactful extended quiet time I have had with the […]

New Normal, New Expectations

“My capacity is low. I’m tired a lot. I seem to have nothing to do, but then I never seem to have time to do all that comes up. EVERYTHING takes more time than I’m used to. Normal life activities (shopping, cooking, talking, thinking) take more energy than usual. Although I know I am where […]

New Prayer

The fire was coming up the mountainside, and we needed to evacuate. As I drove away, I wondered: Would I ever see this place again? Would I have a job? What is going to happen? The days to come were frustrating, confusing, and hard. I hated just waiting, unsure of what was next. And, I […]

Big Plans, Small Hoops, & Simple Surrender

One thing I wish I could figure out is how to stop dreaming about “big plans” for my life. I know the trend is to think big and ask God for great things, but when it comes to career choices, my experience has been the opposite: the thing God has consistently asked me to do […]

My 3 “Good Reasons” Not to Rest

For years, my husband, Chris, encouraged me in taking a weekly Sabbath, yet I resisted. How could that even be possible with the constant demands of a young family, a group of women I was investing in, events to plan, and the never-ending, bottomless dirty clothes hamper? A weekly Sabbath just wasn’t possible, at least […]

Christ & Culture 101

One of the most recognizable voices of television history is Charlie Brown’s teacher, Mrs. Donovan. You only have to listen to her voice for a few seconds for your mind and body to be jolted back into those hard, plastic middle school chairs. Often, and unintentionally, Christians who share the gospel with people from different age […]

What Happens When You Don’t Have Time to Walk with God?

In college, I had things down. I went to all our fellowship meetings. I spent consistent time praying and reading the Bible. I met with a mentor and mentored a couple of younger guys myself. When people told me things would be different after college, I believed them, but I didn’t really know what they […]

Psalm 16 – My Portion and My Cup

“I can’t do this.” After an hour of struggling to get our toddlers into bed, I sat weeping. I was nine months pregnant with our third child and thinking life was already overwhelming – living in a new city, learning a new job, raising two children, keeping up with the everyday craziness.  And now God […]