Many of us will be sending our kids off to school in the next couple of weeks. We'll spend plenty of money, time and creativity to make sure everything is in place to set them up for a great school year. And after all the supplies have been purchased, organized, and labeled, we'll start slaying the fear dragons and calming the anxiety butterflies that come with the first day. We'll reassure them of how far they've come and where they're going. Each scribbled lunchbox reminder will encourage them to step out and believe in themselves, to make a friend, and trust that awkwardness will pass quickly. Through it all, we'll go above and beyond to make sure they know they are seen, understood, and known. Because that's what we do as parents. And we'll believe all the words we plant in Continue Reading
The Most Effective Way to Brave Anxiety
How many times in a day, week, or month do you ask, “What if…?” I know that when I start asking “What if…?” I’ve opened up the door to worry, fear, and anxiety. And that’s not a pleasant place to camp out. There is a reason God told us over 300 times in the Bible to “Do not be afraid,” “Fear not,” and “Be anxious for nothing.” He knew we would struggle. This year, as I worked on my next book for publication (releasing September, 2019) about exchanging our worry, fear, and anxiety for God’s promised peace, I had many opportunities to put it into practice. Many times “What if…?” got the better of me. “What if my husband and son have an accident on their cross-country trip to move him into his apartment?” “What if finances don’t improve?” “What if the diagnosis is cancer?” and Continue Reading
We are Made to Brave Change – Made For Brave Sisterhood
The most daunting task in life is not working towards change. Instead, it is the ability to fully embrace the change God is continually doing in and through you. It seems to me that God loves making Himself known more in the "question marks" of our lives rather than in our "exclamation" moments. Such was the case for me as I found myself at a complete stranger's house in Missouri at a retreat a few years ago. Just prior to arriving at the retreat, I was in the hospital recovering from a stroke. Doctors believe it was stress induced as we were losing our home, I had recently given birth to our third child and nobody in our family had a steady source of income. Stress? What stress? I was working hard for change and instead, I found myself literally stressed-out. I was in my Continue Reading
For the One Who Needs Hope in the Dark Places
It has been such fun meeting each of you here for the Back to School Identity Series, and hopefully, we are well on our way to a great year, right alongside our kids, ready to take one more step toward our calling with both courage and hope as our trusted companions. If you're anything like me, simply knowing our calling isn't enough. Often we find ourselves having to make brave choices and travel some very difficult terrain in the process of living out our deepest desire. Hard, rocky and even dark places are never easy. But when we know what we've been called to in this life, we understand it will demand everything and no stone will be left unturned in the plowing of our soul. I'm honored to be guest writing over at Nicole Kauffman's lovely website today, where she has been running Continue Reading