Love and encouragement from an imperfect mom and her fun teen daughters. We welcome you to live life with us.
articles on making and keeping friends
Having felt close to God before, I thought my busy life, as a new mom (of two year olds at that time) had come between God and my love for him. I told God I wanted to bathe in his love, and I tried to seek him, still thinking my busyness was at fault for … Read more Hiding from Love?
In last week’s post, “When Christian Phrases Seem Meaningless,” I mentioned my inability to apply the phrase “Keep your eyes on Jesus,” because I had not grieved and released my sorrows and traumas. Pain blocked my ability to fully embrace this idea of “keeping my eyes on Jesus.” I did not realize I was allowed … Read more Scripture Gives Permission
Long ago, I pretended to understand people who reassuringly said, “Keep your eyes on God (or on Jesus or on The Father).” But when I struggled with problems, I had no idea how I could keep my eyes on Jesus. Yes, I knew he was required to love me (I did not even understand that … Read more When Christian Phrases Seem Meaningless
Last week I mentioned seeming contradictions, in the glimpses of heaven we find when we humble ourselves and then feel God’s peace. The discrepancy comes when we experience turmoil rather than peace, yet we are not sinning. We see this in sinless Jesus who fought evil, and grieved over sin. His most intense time of … Read more Glimpses of Heaven While Fighting on Earth
I have yearned to pray boldly and then go witness boldly like Elijah in Scripture. But sometimes I hit resistance to this goal. During times of joy and peace, I felt powerful in the spirit and prayed for the ability to share the Gospel fearlessly, and then I actually did so! But soon after this … Read more Praying Boldly not Always Speaking Boldly
During this election, many worldly people scoff at Christians. Bad propositions and unjust politicians are up for vote, and Christians who oppose them receive the world’s scorn as it calls us fools, intolerant, bigots, and any other bad name they can think of. But remember God’s perfect plan, because His wisdom will prevail. Now please … Read more God’s Wisdom vs. the World’s “Wisdom”
Too many of us have been hurt (abused) in the church, but Jesus did not do it. Many people turn from God and blame him for what unjust, ungodly humans did. I know, because I was harmed in the church and in a Christian mission. I do not blame Jesus, because he did not condone … Read more Hurt by the Church, Not by Jesus
While last week’s post “Same Problem, Different People,” briefly explained why we repeat the same mistakes with different, difficult people, this week we can dig deeper. If we were mistreated in our youth, we may believe lies, based upon that treatment. Then we might attract, even pursue, unkind people who mistreat us, especially if we … Read more Same Problem, Different People, part 2
Patterns We Didn’t Learn From… When we find ourselves having the same problems with different people (or with God), we might be living out lies we learned in our youth. We needed love from our family of origin, and if we didn’t get it, we will struggle in our relationships with others and with God. … Read more Same Problem, Different People?