How do you talk about the goodness of marriage and still be honest about the hard? I ask this question at the eve of February 1st each year. As I re-read each year's blog post, written on our anniversary, I see the goodness I took away; I see the little steps to learn...
Ten years with God have taught me that the middle is what He’s most interested in. I am sure He loves the mountaintop moments, but we are formed in the valleys. We are formed in the dirt, made from dust and getting rather dusty in the making.
Josh was further convicted that some kind of structured worship time was ideal, even if it was only 2-3 times a week. I already go over verses and basic theology for kids during preschool (we use Memoria Press), so this would be a time for the girls to hear from us both and confirm what they learn in school and church.
Since breaking my leg in a soccer game three weeks ago, followed by surgery a week later, I’ve had plenty of time to consider what faith looks like in a season of trial. We’re right in the middle of one.
So many of us know what God has said about Himself, but we don’t believe it. We don’t believe Him. We wait to feel like God is enough before believing He actually is, and when the feelings don’t come, we assume God hasn’t either.
We live in the age of vague Christianity, a Christianity simultaneously enamored with ANY and ALL mention of God in the media, and put off by material that’s just too… biblical.
You’ve been told you’re too much: Too much education, too much thought, too much boldness, too much confidence, too “together”.
If you’re a woman who loves the Lord, loves His Word, and has a strong, bold, extroverted personality, there is no place for you. There is very little in-between.
We are in that awkward stage of marriage where the holidays are no longer the “free and easy” of our dating days, when events could be attended without coordinating a babysitter. But we’re not quite to the stage of parenting where our girls can really engage with the holiday, either. But I don’t want to wait until our girls are older to start making family traditions and enjoying the Christmas season.
If you didn’t grow up in the church, adjusting to Christian culture can be a bit of a shock. Why are people throwing around terms like “washed in the blood” or being “born again”? While you can adapt quickly, as you grow in faith more terms will become part of the conversation. Even I – a seasoned believer with a religion degree! – encounter words and phrases I’ve never heard before.