The heart change began as I was having a conversation with a friend about her struggles with body image and views on food and exercise. She felt the need to confess something to me, and I was there—a shoulder to lean on, an ear to...

To be 99% known is still unknown. That one percent still holds you in enslavement, and that is where I was stuck. What was the one percent that was holding me back from being known, from having it all out on the table?...

My friend said, “You know everyone.” I had heard that before while I was out with other friends, and it does feel that way sometimes. I have worked in the same community as a school counselor for over 25 years and been a member of...

I love the beach. One of my favorite things to do when I’m there is to go snorkeling, especially if the water is really clear. I’m a science nerd so I love seeing sea life I’ve learned about in school. Our creative God has made...

Around this time of year, nine years ago, I had what I trust, Lord willing, will be my last second date. Although I can’t remember too many details about where we were or even exactly what we did, I know that it was around that...

I hit the jackpot with a women’s small group last winter. What started out being a one book study on Biblical Femininity rolled into studying three additional books from winter to spring to summer with many of the same women. My favorite study by far...

. . . 8, 9, 10! Ready or not, here I come! If I remember correctly, you hide and the point of the game is not to be found. This makes me laugh because most kids I have played with can’t stay hidden. They jump...

As January 1 approached, some friends began to inquire about what my word of the year was going to be and to be honest I wasn’t sure. Last year my word was discipline, and there were so many praises to be thankful for!...

My sweet daughter turned one at the end of 2017, and that milestone has made me, not surprisingly, nostalgic. As I look back, there is no doubt that it’s been an incredible year, but the truth is that it’s also been a hard one. Motherhood...

I’m not a rescuer. Never have been—or at least I didn’t think I was. My parents didn’t rescue. They were “we pulled ourselves up by the bootstraps” kind of people and they raised my sister and me to be the same way....

Chemistry is the bane of my existence. For some unknown reason, I had the crazy notion in high school that it could be a good idea to take AP Chemistry. I spent the entire school year dreading that class, crying over the lab reports, and...

Over the past few years, the Lord has been kind enough to teach me through putting words in my life—usually by repeating them enough times that I can’t miss it....

I enjoy cooking. I don’t particularly have exceptional knowledge or skills in this area, but I can get a meal on the table with the general good disposition that comes from having enjoyed the process. Often I’m surprised by how many things I cook that...

The holidays are long gone and life should be starting to slow down again, right? The question seems almost ridiculous to ask in this fast-paced, do-it-now society we live in. Gone are my childhood days when we went to see grandparents or relatives on Sunday...

Nobody likes to feel forgotten—forgotten by your friends, family, coworkers, bosses, spouse, or just forgotten. Forgotten feels less than, not important, or overlooked. Forgotten feels lonely....

I'm a walking PR firm. It would almost be laughable were it not so real—and as someone who works in marketing for a living, I am painfully aware of how this whole thing works....

At the beginning of this past semester, I moved into an apartment with five girls. Approaching this season of living with new roommates and living in a location that would likely become a hub for many friends on a regular basis, I began to pray...

I have been subscribing to a workout video streaming service for a while now, and one of the reasons I love and hate it is because of a mantra they always use:“Work to your edge.” They don’t mean “work to your strength” by that....

When I think about the many things vying for my heart and attention, the use of my time, whether or not my heart is at peace, or if I just feel satisfied with where I am in life, it all boils down to one simple...

Talk about “shaping our bodies” likely conjures up images of exercise, diet, discipline, weight lifting, and the like. Few of us would immediately think about the tongue and its power to shape our bodies, but words play a powerful role—something we must look at it...

Shame creeps in like a thief in the night when we least expect it, doing only what shame can do: steal our joy, make us feel unworthy, unloved, not enough, dirty, and the list goes on. It can even paralyze us if we allow it...

My husband and I were cast suddenly into a very difficult season of life four and a half years ago when not just one but both of his parents had major life-threatening health crises within a month of each other. It has taken a long...

College is a season in life when you have the most independence and the least responsibility. Over the past three and a half years, I’ve found that statement to be entirely true. I would suggest that you could replace the word “independence” with “energy” and...

On the Mary/Martha pendulum, I’m a Martha. My feet hit the floor in the morning with my to-do list filling my head, strategically thinking about how I will get all of it done as efficiently as possible. It’s how I am wired up....

Our words—they can bring life or death to another person, encouragement or discouragement. Proverbs 18:21 says, "The tongue can bring life or death; those who love to talk will reap the consequences." ...