Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us… — Ephesians 3:20 Everywhere we go it seems people ask my daughter the same questions. “Where do you want to go to college?” “What do you want to…
Is Better Better?
In God’s worldview, some values rise higher than comfort and happiness. Consider the most concise verses in the Bible on spiritual formation: We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. — Romans 5:3-4 In Paul’s mind, character gets built by learning to persevere through…
Motivating Teenagers to Read Devotions
As the mother of two teenagers, I’m always looking for good influences, whether it be people, videos, or books, that will reinforce the lessons we have spent over a decade teaching them at home. It came as a total shock to me when my husband and I transitioned from the coolest parents that our…
Church of the Small Things: Things I Wish I’d Known When I Became a Mom
The Bible says, “Point your kids in the right direction — when they’re old they won’t be lost” (Proverbs 22:6 MSG), which means it’s our job to give them what is basically a road map for life. It takes work and perseverance and dedication to raise our kids. It takes sacrifice and commitment and dying…
Goal-Setting for Kids in 4 Easy Steps
It’s the New Year! And you know what that means for many of us. New ideas, new goals, and new dreams. Each year, during the week between Christmas and January 1st, my husband and I sit together to review the past year and assess where we are as a family. We also brainstorm about…
The Quiet Power of Bedtime Prayers
I slip out of my daughter’s room with my last, “I love you” and quietly shut the door. Before I head downstairs I sneak a peek at my son as I hear his voice uttering this prayer. Dear God, Thank You for a good day. Thank You for the yummy food we had to eat…
Helping Our Kids Know That God Is Real
Last night in Kids’ Church we discussed the topic of being a hero. The program used the acronym H.E.R.O (helping others, evangelizing, relying on God, and obeying God). The kids shared different ways and places they can tell others about God. We came to the conclusion that anyone (age doesn’t matter) can share about…
Celebrating the Beauty of Creation with Our Kids
The changing seasons are a glorious display of a creative God. But it is interesting to me how quickly we can forget the beauty that surrounds us. Not long ago, a friend was visiting from out of town. Not being from the Midwest, she couldn’t believe the beauty of the town I live in.…
Young Athletes: Persevere and Overcome Fear with Faith
My son walked off the wrestling mat with tears in his eyes and said, “I don’t want to do this anymore.” It was his first yer on the varsity team. He was so excited when the season started; however, it didn’t take long for him to become discouraged. The practices were great, his teammates…
Children and Presents – We Can Count These as Blessings, Too!
Christmas gift-giving is really hard for me. Don’t get me wrong, I love presents. I love thinking about presents, buying presents, wrapping presents, and watching my kids open their presents. The joy on my kids’ faces is palpable on Christmas morning, and I love making them happy almost more than anything in the world. I…