My oldest went to college this year and, like all slightly crazed mothers, I tried to cram every last lesson into his precious mind in the final weeks before he moved out, as if this was the last legal time to preach to the poor kid. Here was the last speech, the final words, my…
Nothing to Prove: Are You Tired?
Last week, after years of tutors and tears and so much hard work and so little reward, my child received a diagnosis: Dyslexia. When I sat down to tell her, her eyes filled with tears. I was so worried this moment would define her view of herself for years to come. And it will.…
Jesus Proved It All
I need to begin with words that may hurt initially. These diagnostic words are the opposite of everything Pinterest and Instagram are telling you. You may not like these words at first, but I think the truth in them will change everything. You are not enough. We aren’t. None of us. It’s a universal…
I Don’t Believe In Balance
How will I do it all? How do I balance life and family and work? I don’t believe in balance. I don’t believe in balance because I cannot find it anywhere in Scripture. Achieving perfect balance is impossible. It’s a losing game. Instead, what I see in God’s Word is surrender and obedience. Matthew 6:33:…
Get Out of Your Head: Spiraling Out
The first time I taught the study you’re about to dive into, I gathered a room full of women in my local church to talk about what’s going on in our heads. We met for six weeks, and lives were changed. The first night those women streamed into the chapel where we were meeting, they…
Yielding to God in Prayer
God invites us to pray in such a way that it scares what is scared within us. If you are not praying the type of prayers that scare you, they are certainly not frightening the enemy. — Lisa Bevere, author and teacher Are you praying big? Are you asking God for the impossible? Sometimes…
Abandoning the Approval of Others
Do you want to be liked or do you want to actually do something significant with this life? ~ Jennie Allen The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? — Psalm 118:6 It was pretty late. Most of the lights were out. I had gotten tied…
Let Us Not Shrink Back from God’s Plan
In The War of Art, Steven Pressfield observed, “The more important the work, the more resistance you need to expect to feel.” Why does it feel so hard to not be numb? Because there is a war waging for our hearts, to shut them down. To disable those who love Jesus, and especially those who…
Get Out of Your Head — That’s a Wrap!
To live is Christ… — Philippians 1:21 Well, I don’t know about you, but this has been one of my favorites of the FaithGateway Bible studies! Today starts wrap-up week, so if you want to watch all the videos again, here’s your chance. (I always do.) If you haven’t finished or want to go through…
Get Out of Your Head Week 6 — A Mind Like Christ
The truth is that God is in control of every day of our lives. ~ Jennie Allen Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. — Philippians 4:8 You know how sometimes God…