Good Friday isn’t really that good if you don’t need what was offered on that Jerusalem cross two thousand years ago.  Our needs drastically influence how we see and value things. 

What we do matters. Whether we’re typing at a computer, stocking shelves, welding pipes, prescribing medicine, or changing diapers, what we do matters if we do it for Jesus… if we do it with the love of Jesus.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Gal 6:9

I later told Jacin that I laughed more during that five-day Arizona trip than I had laughed over the last 12 months combined. And that makes me sad.

My tag-along trip to Arizona was wonderful!

When my energy and faith are on empty, what I need most is not a break or chocolate. Lord, I need YOU. Just you.

Given these new discoveries, it’s easy to see why Sunday afternoons on Greenleaf Drive quickly became a weekly routine for me.

 But (hallelujah!!!) my faith and future reward don’t hinge on me or my “mostly but not always” life. My foundation isn’t built on the mostly or kinda-good life I’m living. Nope. My foundation, my faith, and my future reward all rest on the “completely and always” character of Yahweh.

Welcome to Mom Central! While your mom is currently unavailable, we realize you probably have a burning, super important question that simply can’t wait. We value your time and questions, so we’ve included a list of frequently asked questions below.

Dad’s selected fast food establishment gets everyone’s order totally wrong, and the only thing worse than the food is the condition of the restrooms. 

Though I’m not proposing a life without a calendar (or 3), I am ready to step back and relax a little. And summer offers the perfect opportunity to do just that. So a few days ago, I wrote down a few simple summer goals.

What if He really is all He says He is? What if He can do everything He says He can do? What if He really is the resurrection and the life? What if life lived His way is life truly and fully LIVED?

That baby boy with a brain bleed is now the young man driving my car. What a beautiful reminder that God sees, knows, and has a plan for our helplessness. He never wastes a moment, and He helps, heals, and redeems.

There’s not much worse than a feeling of complete and utter helplessness. Ever been there? Ever felt it? Helpless is when you’re intimately involved in a situation, and directly affected by the outcome, but you have absolutely no control or influence over the course of events.

Giving protects our hearts, keeping us righteous and whole. Generosity keeps us from harboring the sins of pride or selfishness. It helps us maintain proper perspective, reminding us that everything we have is God’s, not ours. Giving helps us focus on building God’s kingdom, not our own. 

You know, it’s funny.

When I blogged about walking through the wilderness two weeks ago, I never could have known that a surprise trip through my very own wilderness was quickly approaching.

It’s ok to grieve when the door closes. It’s ok to stand, shut out and and staring, to sort through feelings of rejection, shock, and resentment. It’s ok to grieve when the door slams shut. 

We all go through times of uncomfortable waiting or even desperate need. When we do, we can look to Exodus to learn the lessons God taught the Israelites during their wilderness wandering. 

 Who you are and how you treat people should never be dictated by how others treat you. There’s not a single one of us who’s perfect. So if you’re relying on other people’s behavior to inform your own living, you need to reevaluate your role models.

When all they see of me is the “put-together” look, they never get to see how real faith works. They never get to see how some days I’m faithless but God is always faithful. They never get to watch me run to God with doubts and questions and then find peace and rest in Him.

Things I tried that just didn’t work out for me in 2024.