Christian walk
Act Brave Even If You Don’t Yet Feel It
Sometimes it’s necessary to move out of our comfort zone, to step out in faith before we’re ready. Often it’s best to act brave even if we don’t yet feel it, trusting God to be brave for us. A Quest My mind becomes foggy when I get nervous. As I drove through Indiana, the fog…
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…
There Are Blessings in the Wait (it even led to signing with a literary agent)
Although anything but easy, wait time is some of our most important time. “But everyone else has one!” Our son tried this angle before. He didn’t want to wait to get a cell phone until he was driving. So he begged, he negotiated, he whined…anything to make his wishes come true sooner. I do the…
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…
The Secret to Finding Enough
It’s easy to think the next big thing will be enough to make us happy. In the Western world, we often set our hopes on retirement, the big promotion, or a new house for satisfaction. Yet doing so only leads to further disappointment. Hold the Gifts Loosely Those of you that have followed me on…
Find Calm in Unsettling Times
Many seasons in our lives usher in a level of anxiety. But when we stay connected to the Lord during those times, we will find calm. The excitement’s real, as is some anxiety. After years of weighing and praying about it, my husband and I have started building a house as he looks toward retirement.…
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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