I couldn’t believe the loneliness that accompanied childbirth. Now, trust me when I say that I have no regrets about having children, but I wasn’t prepared for the loneliness that would ensue upon transitioning to motherhood. Overnight, my entire daily and weekly routine had to change, and I could no longer go out or be... Read More
How to Start Bible Journaling without Being an Artist: Benefits of Bible Journaling and Tips for Success
Should this be the year when you start Bible journaling? Here are some easy steps to get started in Bible journaling, as well as some tips for ways to make your Bible journaling effective and not distracting. I have been journaling in one form or another for decades, and it has greatly benefited my study... Read More
Competing voices in Proverbs 6: Who is holding the microphone in your life?
It is never too late to turn to the call of truth and wisdom. Proverbs 6 presents us with competing voices—competing “truths.” This beautiful chapter reminds us that even if we get caught up in the world’s lies, we can still find freedom by trusting and submitting ourselves to God’s revealed truth. With the depth... Read More
Knowing God’s Character: 16 Verses to Strengthen Your Trust in God
Moms sometimes find themselves saying things they never expected. I remember being shocked when I had to tell our tiny-toddler firstborn, “No, we don’t play in the trash. We don’t eat things from the trash either.” I had to say this to her not once, but many times. I couldn’t understand how this was necessary.... Read More
Life Together: A Christian’s guide to good fellowship
For 15 years, my husband and I enjoyed a unique living situation while teaching in China. We lived in what was technically a guesthouse but was functionally a dormitory-style building in which we shared a kitchen and a living room with a dozen or so other teachers who had come to China for the same... Read More
Cultivate and Nurture: A Guided Journal for Christian Growth
Do you long for real growth in your Christian walk and more clear evidence of the fruit of the Spirit in your life? We get impatient in line, angry with our kids, anxious about our circumstances. We long to find peace and contentment in Christ. We believe God’s word, but we struggle to daily cling... Read More
Psalms 77 & 78: Songs for cataloging God’s works
“A missionary’s life is in many ways a catalog of answers to prayer.” I read this sentence recently in an article written by Alan Patterson, a family member and a life-long mission worker. Its truth struck a chord, and I thought over the many, many ways that God provided for our family the 15 years... Read More
Psalm 23: We do not lack anything
“The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want.” Another way to say this is He provides everything I need. This week, I heard a sermon that explains Psalm 23 from the perspective of God’s provision for our deepest needs. It was such a good meditation on the psalm, and it corresponded to the theme... Read More
Proverbs 24: What do we learn from the field of the slothful?
When you see clear evidence of laziness, what goes through your mind? I love the response of wisdom in Proverbs 24—“I looked and received instruction.” These verses are so rich in their description of the process of laziness, its effects, and how we ought to respond. They are worth meditating on, especially at the beginning... Read More
Nurturing others in the faith: Love in action
Love for other people—Jesus commands this and tells us that it is the hallmark of our identity as his disciples (John 13:35). There are many words that the Bible uses for the ways we ought to demonstrate this love for others: edification, discipleship, teaching, service, ministry, giving. In a previous article, I wrote about how... Read More