As a college teacher for nearly 20 years, I taught my students how to improve their English skills. But I knew that the brief sessions I had with them in the classroom weren’t going to be the primary thing that led to their improvement. I was giving them opportunities and methods for change, and what... Read More
Avenues through Loneliness: The Steps out of Loneliness and into True Friendship and Intimacy
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
Amy Carmichael’s “IF”: A small and intensely valuable devotional work
Amy Carmichael’s missionary labours extended over five decades beginning in the late Victorian period and sweeping through the Edwardian period of Britain’s history. Though she began her work in Japan, the majority of her years were spent ministering to women and children in India. A serious evaluation of her soul’s health was a daily habit with... 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
Reading that Glorifies God: 7 Missionary Biographies to Add to Your Library
Earlier, I wrote about several categories of books we should read to encourage our faith. (See that list, with some suggestions, here.) The final category I suggested was that of Missionary Biographies. Here, I would like to recommend several specific missionary biographies for your consideration. These are among my favorites, because the missionaries described are portrayed... Read More
Reading that Glorifies God: A Guide to Great Books to Build our Faith Each Day
Never in the history of mankind has there been such a proliferation of written materials so readily accessible to the general public. Written material is clamoring for our time and attention, luring us with slick covers or bold advertising to delve into its pages. As Christian women we need to have some guidelines for selecting good reading... Read More
When hardships come: 14 passages that teach us how to think about suffering
Ever had one of those days when everything seems to go wrong? How about a week, or a month, or a year? Ever ask, “Why me?” Ever think God was dealing harshly with you? We need to stop and ask ourselves, “What is the main purpose of a Christian’s life?” 1 Corinthians 10:31 tells us... 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