When I was a child and someone asked me what my name was I would say, “Sheila Davina Walsh.” My mum would tell me time after time that all I really needed to say was, my name is Sheila but that made no sense to my five-year old brain. There are lots of Sheila’s living…
Valuable Souvenirs: What’s Beautiful Now?
Editor’s note: Kate Merrick, her husband Britt, and their family faced a life-changing cancer diagnosis, long and painful treatments, and the death of their daughter Daisy. In the midst of the suffering, they chose to be present with God and with each other and find the beauty in the pain. * Pivotal moments pave the…
God Is Planning Your Comeback
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. — Jeremiah 29:11 Have you ever questioned God’s plan for your life? Emily and I have. For me It was October 16, 2010, I was lying…
Too Much to Handle?
Judge Deborah Serving in judgeship of the nation of Israel, Deborah was a married woman of valor leading the people of God with wisdom and courage (Judges 4). She wasn’t just the lone woman to judge Israel; she also held the unique dual function of both fiery judge and authoritative prophet.1 In a role similar…
It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way: Dust
I grabbed my chest while tears slipped down my cheeks in an unending stream. The pain in my heart wasn’t physical. But the stabbing emotional hurt was so intense I could hardly breathe. My hands were shaking. My eyes were wide with fear. My mouth felt paralyzed. My life had gone from feeling full and…
Fiction Friday: Summer Reads by Lauren K. Denton
Editor’s Note: It’s sum-sum-summertime! Got your beach bag ready? Here are some great fiction reads for this summer from one of our favorite fiction writers, Lauren K. Denton! Glory Road One of Southern Living’s “25 Beach Reads Perfect for Summer” “Brims with family, second chances, and new horizons.” —Lisa Wingate In one summer, everything…
Shout Their Worth
Take a moment to think about the places you routinely travel within your neighborhood and community. Do you see Down syndrome? If so, where? Most of the time when I pose this question, people draw a blank. Why? Because for the most part, we live in a world that doesn’t create the spaces necessary for…
You’re Invited to the It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way Online Bible Study
In their hearts people plan their way, but the Lord directs their steps. — Proverbs 16:9 Sometimes to get your life back, you have to face the death of what you thought your life would look like. ~ Lysa TerKeurst Have you ever looked at your life in disappointment, heartbreak, deep loss, or just frustration…
Wait While God Works
So here I sit in the waiting room. The receptionist took my name, recorded my insurance data, and gestured to a chair. “Please have a seat. We will call you when the doctor is ready.” I look around. A mother holds a sleeping baby. A fellow dressed in a suit thumbs through Time magazine. A…
She Called Him… the God Who Sees Me
I am with you and for you. You face nothing alone — nothing! When you feel anxious, know that you are focusing on the visible world and leaving Me out of the picture. The remedy is simple: Fix your eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. Verbalize your trust in Me,…