This week, I realized I am once again late to the party - the Friendsgiving party. It seems this festivity has been rapidly gaining popularity in our culture, and although I was initially among those so-called skeptics who surmised this was one more opportunity to remove God from the season, I soon came to realize it can easily be considered an extension of Thanksgiving. Friends are such a valuable and necessary part of life, and the gift of friendship is a rich blessing to treasure and offer up gratitude for. "Make new friends but keep the old; one is silver and the other is gold." For many years, a picture with these words hung on the wall, welcoming friends to our home. I'm not sure who authored this quote, but it's long been a favorite. Opportunities for friendship have Continue Reading
5 Steps to Bravely Embrace God’s View of Success – Made for Brave Sisterhood
Over nine years ago I was in a frustrated and not-so-successful place—by human standards anyway. I had stood by my pastor husband’s side in ministry for many years doing whatever I could to contribute and serve there. Yet I still longed for something more. Something unique to my wiring and giftedness. For years the doors for that kind of role seemed to stay closed for me—that was until I felt God opening the door through the avenue of a blog. My blog became the spacious place (Job 36:15-16) where God lit my heart and mind on fire for helping people find healing and perspective in the mess that marriage can sometimes be. If my definition of success had been to simply write and minister on my blog, I would have faced each day's challenges with bravery—inspired and fueled by God. I would Continue Reading
Brave Enough to Leave – Made for Brave Sisterhood
I've invited Sarah Geringer to share a bit of what it's been like for her to step outside of her comfort zone and embrace the kind of brave that has led her to become who God created her to be. I know you will be encouraged by her story and how God always continues to gently lead throughout every part of our journey. Some people are born brave. I’m not one of them. On every personality test I’ve ever taken, I fall in the “cautious” category. I don’t like heights or speed, which means amusement parks don’t amuse me. For every decision I make, I waffle between the pros and cons before I finally decide, even if it’s just a restaurant menu. I’m a security seeker through and through. Yet one year ago, I was brave enough to leave a dead-end job. And I’m so glad I Continue Reading
Liebster Award Nomination and Pay It Forward
I was really happy to hear that Lou&Lea liked my blog so much that she nominated me for the Liebster Award! For anyone who doesn’t know what the Liebster Award actually is, it is a virtual award that is passed on from blogger to blogger as a show of support, and it also helps to promote any fellow bloggers that we enjoy reading. Here are the rules~ You must acknowledge who has nominated you and also share their links. Share 11 facts about yourself. Answer all 11 questions asked. Nominate 11 more bloggers whose blog you would recommend. Ask 11 questions that you would like those bloggers to answer. Include an image of the Liebster Award either in your post or in the sidebar of your blog. Let the bloggers you have nominated know that they’ve been Continue Reading