The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it,     the world, and all who live in it;  for he founded it on the seas     and established it on the waters. Psalm 24:1-2 I never thought my kids playing Minecraft would drive home a key belief about God. But that is precisely what happened this week. As we were driving home from the grocery store we were in conversation about what is right and wrong and who gets to decide. I can't remember why we started the conversation. Probably because mid-way through my 12-year-old blew me away with his ..read more

Grow in Truth:   May it be that when I say to a young woman, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too’—let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.” Gen 24:14 "Wow, God! Even in a totally unrelated story you are reminding me of this truth!" I proclaimed excitedly aloud during my morning Bible and prayer time. I had been sitting alone (though never truly alone,) in the semi dark house, the skyline just turning blue, with the rest o ..read more

Blessed is the one     who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take     or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,     and who meditates on his law day and night. Psalm 1:1-2 We had a 180 happen in our homeschool this past week that had me in grateful tears. When I first started the homeschool journey three years ago, I was shocked to learn that my then 3rd grader was already so indoctrinated by evolution theory he was convinced that God ..read more

By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith. Hebrews 11:7    What do body tracings, obedience, and sheer delight have to do with each other? An amazing God, that is what. But let me explain because God is just too good. This past week during Bible class in our little homeschool I had an idea come over me to add to our lesson. We are studying how God sees us this semester and our key verse for the week was Psalm 139. We we ..read more

So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father. Romans 8:15   God has recently shown me I am not nearly as creative as Him. Especially in my thinking. You see I am prone to black and white thinking when it comes to circumstances. They are either bad or good. And I am the one defining them. Just recently, I found out that the editor for my second book was taking a break from editing. Another editor would need to take over. I was also told this may require more ..read more

  Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. Ephesians 1:4-5 There is a little tattoo on the small of my back that I have regretted for nearly 15 years now.  I got it when I was 21 and still searching for myself. After a hard childhood, especially teenage years of being bullied, I made a few bad choices from that place of low self-worth. These choice ..read more

Three years and a handful of months ago I started a new journey with God. An unexpected one. I was coming off a mountaintop experience and was more confused about my faith than ever before. Just months before this invitation, I had received the new job I prayed for and decided to move forward with publishing my first book. But it was nothing like I thought it would be. Instead of running across mountain tops, I quickly descended into a valley of fear, self-doubt, and faith-testing like I had never known before. Instead of walking confidently into my new job and publishing my first book ..read more

  The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. Psalm 23:1  Psalm 23 has been following me all year. Seriously, it's been everywhere I am - devotionals I read, books I am reading, Bible Studies I've done, podcasts I listen to, and now a 5 part sermon series at the new church God led us to. Obviously, God has something to teach me about Him being the Good Shepherd, and I know why. I have not always been a good follower. As a natural-born leader and planner, I have a tendency to try and lead out my life, asking God to bless my plan rather than let Him led out the plan. Especially th ..read more

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.  Romans 8:1-2   I have a world class attorney who lives in my head. No kidding. She can make a defense like no one I know. The problem being she is also the best prosecutor I know. The prosecutor of me! Just the other day, I made a small mistake at work. On one side my defender was busy preparing the defense. "Look how busy she has been. No wonder she missed this. They should know ..read more

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33   If one more thing of mine breaks, it's just gonna have to stay that way. I'm plumb broke because of fixing broken things. I couldn't even list all the expensive things that have broken around me this year without boring you, so I won't. And while I'm frustrated, especially about the master bathroom sink that broke last night rendering me to use my kid's bathroom, I'm not completely thrown off track.  A ..read more