Naturally a pessimistic and skeptical person, I’ve struggled to maintain my hold on joy. Life often feels like a grind we just survive through till we can get to eternity and really relax. Obviously, Christ didn’t promise us a life free from pain–quite the opposite actually–but even so, He offers us satisfaction and contentment, joy […]
Rest
- Emotions
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Joy, I Miss You, But I Feel Guilty Around You Too
A few days ago, Jon Acuff posted of picture of himself in Austria, skiing these gorgeous slopes. Under the photo, he shared this: “I didn’t ski for 11 years. I grew up going in Massachusetts but then it was like I forgot something that gives me joy. Part of it was our stage of life, […]
- Perspective
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Debunking the Myth of Minimalism & the Mess-Free Home
This isn’t a post about how to have a mess-free home or why decluttering will save your soul. As I write, I can look over my shoulder and see sticker pads on the floor and Legos stacked in the corner. My desk is piled up with books and coloring pages and papers to grade. Shoes […]
And to all a Goodnight: Tips to Sleeping Better
Gayle Greene, author of Insomniac, says that “sleep is the fuel of life. It’s nourishing; it’s restorative. And when you are deprived of it, you are really deprived of a basic kind of sustenance.” Although we’d rank sleep up there with water, food, and shelter, we often act like it’s the least important–easily dismissed–aspect of our […]
- Rest
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Avoiding the Busyness Trap: Reset and Replenish
At Bible study yesterday, a sweet sister said, “I need this time! I’d rather come to this than get a massage.” We laughed but concurred that the group time of discussion ministered to our spirits in ways that nothing else that week did. In our time of community we are prioritizing the need for discipleship, […]
How to Keep the Sabbath with Young Kids
“Now I think that the principle in the New Testament is that God ordains that one day in seven be restful. I think that’s a creation ordinance for our good, for our health.” —John Piper Growing up a daughter to a Baptist preacher, I thought I knew what it was to “remember the Sabbath day […]
- Perspective
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Who Told You That?
Confusion and discouragement bruise my resolve. Have I done enough? Did I obey? Was there more to this? What should I do now? In January I published my first book, Navigating a Sea of Emotions. The journey of listening, writing, and editing took two years, but I persevered through the dry spells and continued to […]
- Creativity
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The Beauty of Boredom: Finding Creative Inspiration in the Bathtub
About this point in the summer, I start hearing echoes of that dreaded “b” word. “Mom, I’m bored.” I used to cringe at the thought of it, but now, I nearly get excited. You’re bored? Great! Go with that. What can you do to explore the world around you? Seeing boredom as a unpleasant place […]
Dear Tired One, Rest.
Last week I wrote a post, exploring some aspects of spiritual warfare (and how to fight it). Obviously, one can’t begin to span the depths in a few hundred words, but sometimes we just need a handlebar to grab into–some truth to motivate us onward. A friend thanked me for the reminders and I tried […]
Please Have a Seat
You would think after eight years of parenting, Aaron and I wouldn’t be playing musical beds at 2:00 in the morning. Alas, my youngest (who was up the last two nights for bed-wetting and coughing) slept sound till 7:30, but the other two circulated the rooms and ended up edged between two sleepless parents. You’ve […]