Daily Living
Chase Glimmers of Heaven When Life Becomes Less Than
Chasing glimmers of heaven can help us cope when life becomes less than we want. Life hurts. We want to feel better, to make things better. So we attempt to do just that—on our own, through our own understanding and strength. By chasing the grander things. We Tend to Chase the Grand Things Oh how…
Get Out of Your Own Way (Make Space for God)
When it comes to connecting with God, even good things can be obstacles. We have to get out of our own way and make space to cultivate our relationship with the Lord. My repeated request of God is simple: Tell me what to do. Guide me. I’ll follow. Yet I fill some of my days…
Don’t Wait to Pray Until All Else Fails; Pray First
We often overlook the power of prayer. Too many of us pray when we don’t know what else to do. But by waiting, we ignore the weapon that can have the biggest impact on the outcome of the battle. I laid awake, willing my mind to turn off. Blinking away the tears that threatened, I…
A Secret of Suffering That Provides Hope Amid the Hardship
Sometimes the pain of this life becomes stifling. We wonder if we’ll ever rise above it. But there’s a secret of suffering that provides us hope amid the hardship. The stories kept coming. One after the other, people shared anguished words of hard circumstances. A continued fight to survive after a multiyear-long battle with a…
It’s Not Fair! (maybe that’s the greatest blessing of all)
When life doesn’t seem fair, it may be because it truly isn’t—and that might be the greatest blessing of all. Not Fair “It’s not fair,” I muttered as I walked past my husband, his feet up as he continued reading his book. I filled the water bottle for my daughter and glanced at him, my…
When Plans Fail: Remember, God Promises a Better One
“If plan A doesn’t work, the alphabet has 25 more letters – 204 if you’re in Japan.” ― Claire Cook If your first plan fails, it is tempting to come up with plan B or C or D…until one works. But God has already scripted a better one. I’m a Planner I’ve always been a planner.…
Lord, Help Me Balance Truth and Love (a prayer)
Love is critical to the Christian life, but so is truth. Shoulders sagging, I turned away, tears threatening. The conversation frustrated and even confused me. I hadn’t meant to come across as harsh and critical, but I needed to point out what the Bible said was true. I loved him and Him…too much not to…
Three Ways to Find Hope in a Broken World (& prayer of lament & hope)
When the world gives us reason to despair, remembering the sovereignty of God can help us find hope and provide purpose for our days. “News.” I cringe when I hear the word mentioned. It has almost become a bad word in my book. On the news, I hear about violence, rioting, disrespect, and identity/gender confusion…
4 Ways God Helps Us Stand Strong in His Hard Requests
Trusting God should not be based on what He’s asking; it is an act of faith regardless of the ask. A month ago I wrote about the importance of stepping out in faith and mentioned the seemingly rock-solid faith of Abraham. The old patriarch didn’t appear to bat an eye when the Lord requested he…
Let Yourself Grieve (begin the process of healing)
Pain is real. None of us will get out of here without experiencing it. It can be paralyzing, but when we allow ourselves to grieve, we open our hearts to healing. The Ache In this life we will ache. Sometimes more acutely than others. I felt it this week. As the caregiver for our 22-year-old…
Hello, I'm Julie, an imperfect wife and mother of four. Life in this broken world is not always easy. Yet, joy can be found in each day through the grace and mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I find it's easy for our day's blessings to get lost in its happenings. But God's "mercies never end" (Lamentations 3:22) and His "grace is sufficient" (2 Corinthians 12:9).
May the posts and pages on this site offer you a measure of peace and encouragement.
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