Turn Your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. — Psalm 31:2 As I sat waiting for a friend to join me at a local coffee shop, I overheard part of a conversation from a woman who was visibly frustrated. She was a…
But I’m Not a Writer…
Writing That Heals You We often overevaluate what it means to write something. To demystify the act of putting words on paper, I want to introduce you to a term: expressive writing. The simplest definition I can offer is this: Expressive writing is the act of sharing your deepest thoughts and feelings about a subject…
The Heart of a Woman
Think about the women you meet at church. They’re trying to live up to some model of femininity. What do they “teach” you about being a woman? What are they saying to us through their lives? You’d have to conclude that a godly woman is… tired. And guilty. We’re all living in the shadow of that infamous icon, “The…
I Thought God Picked the Wrong Person
Our tastes of Heaven sometimes require a trip to hell — preferably roundtrip. As a food and fitness speaker and author, I’ve spoken to a wide variety of audiences and have always felt like I was doing God’s work. But when I was asked to present to a group of a few hundred recovering…
Jesus Is Not Done with You Yet
Where there’s hope, there’s life. It fills us with fresh courage and makes us strong again. ~ Anne Frank Wearing leather-looking pants to my husband’s head-pastor job interview ranks as one of my most embarrassing moments. Pleather on the front, business black on the back — goodness, it was cringeworthy. What possessed me to…
God Has a New Name for You in the New Year
I’ve been a Christian a long time. I remember praying the sinners prayer many times in hopes that God would extend ongoing grace and forgiveness to me and accept me as His daughter. After some time, I learned I didn’t have to pray this prayer over and over again, and I discovered that God adopted…
Creative Love: A Lifetime Warranty
Safeguarding Your Love Story Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. — Romans 12:9-10 NIV Audrey Have you ever bought a warranty for something only to realize that when you needed to utilize that warranty, it…
When Crisis Comes Knocking
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. — Psalm 34:19 The sun peered between the trees and slowly emerged from behind the mountains. It was a cool, silent morning, and I was alone. The mist, suspended over the open valley below, was a nagging reminder…
The Perfect Christmas
Remain in Me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. — John 15:4 At Christmastime, there’s just so much to do: picking out the perfect tree, finding the perfect gifts, hosting the…
The 28-Day Prayer Journey: Ask
Today we are bravely praying big and bold prayers to God! MORNING MEDITATION What would you ask God to do in your life, or in the life of another, if you believed He would do it? What would you ask God for if you weren’t afraid to take a chance on the impossible? Often I…