Are you getting ready to do the hard work of giving birth? Consider creating a labor playlist for a worship-filled birth. Creating a labor playlist was one of the best things we did for the birth of my little girl. Together with my husband we searched our music repertoire and downloaded new music to create …
A Fundamental Shift {How Identifying Myself as a New Creation Changes Everything}
By Contributing writer Ami. I’ve never been a part of a 12 step program, but we all know the classic “Let’s introduce ourselves” moment. “My name is Ami. I’m 33. And I’m a widow.” Hi, Ami. I’ve now boiled down the sum of my existence into ten words that “define” me, and everyone turns to …
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Sweeping the Floor Is Easier than Praying! Practical Steps to Take When Prayer Seems Overwhelming
By Contributing Writer Anna Joy: Sweeping the floor is easier than praying. No, seriously! It really is. And sweeping the floor is a really good thing to do. In fact, it is necessary. The problem is that sweeping the floor doesn’t have eternal results. At least, not in my house. Prayer, on the other hand? Prayer has …
What I’ve Learned on the Other Side of the Sob
By contributing writer Ami: I watched her greet person after person, carried along by evident grace. She wanted it to be a celebration instead of a funeral. And indeed, the atmosphere buzzed with the hum of conversation while folks enjoyed dinner and dessert. Pictures of a life well-lived dotted the scene. From across the room …
That Your Faith May Not Fail
By contributing writer Ami: “Please, I need to be alone with him.” Silently the room emptied, a click of a door latch the only sound. The horror of the last few hours spun in a torrent. “Oh God, help me not to hate you for this!” Alone with my beloved, I fell across his body, …
Precious Thoughts
By Contributing Writer Ami The rhythmic crashing of waves upon the shore, a landscape dominated by water and sky, and the sun’s penetrating warmth: all are reasons I adore the ocean. The horizon stretches endlessly, intersecting with the very curve of the earth. How naturally worship comes! What a powerful, majestic, God I have! He …
Refine me, and Refine Me Again
“Must I continue to be tried?” Contributing writer Ami from When Mercy Found Me encourages us to allow the Lord to refine us, even through suffering. When I found myself sobbing on Mother’s Day, it shouldn’t have been a surprise. Happy tears. Sad tears. Angry tears. An external processor to the core, it gets embarrassing sometimes. But …
The Extraordinary Ordinary
By contributing writer Ami: “I’ll have the Ordinary Special.” “Do you want blue skies with that?” “Yes please.” “Ok, that’ll be one Ordinary Special coming right up. Runny noses, nap time songs, making dinner, a kiss when the husband comes home, an argument, extra reconciliation snuggles, and a side of blue skies.” “Yep, that’ll do …
Stop Saying You’re Sorry: Living in True Gospel Community
By contributing writer Ami: “Stop saying you’re sorry. You say it all the time.” “I do? Oh, I’m sorry.” Their looks said it all. Then we dissolved into laughter. “Seriously though, you don’t need to say you’re sorry; you’ve done nothing wrong. And you say it a lot when you talk about Jon.” She was right. …
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A King, a Prince, and a Wretch
By contributing writer, Ami Once upon a time there was a king. Now, this king was everything a good fairy tale wants. He was powerful, but also good. He was just, but also merciful. He was wise, faithful, and fiercely protective of his kingdom. And he loved his citizens, not as one aloof or stoic, …
You Will Find Rest for Your Souls
By contributing writer, Ami My fingers and toes were ice, but my face was flushed and hot. Wrapped in a blanket, wearing several layers, including socks and slippers, I could not get warm. The tell tale signs were like stealth fighters. spies on a covert mission. Try as I might to thwart them, I merely …
4 Ways To Beat Discontentment When It Feels Too Hard
Sometimes we can get bogged down by life and focus on what we don’t have. Is it possible to overcome discontentment when we see all that’s broken around us? Check out this post from guest writer Jane. By contributing writer, Jane For much of this year, I’ve struggled with a general feeling of discontentment. I’ve spent …
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