Jesus Christ
Why We Can Have Hope in the Midst of Our Worst Circumstances
Sometimes life looks much different than we expect. Sometimes situations seem hopeless. Yet looks can be deceiving! We can have hold onto hope, even in our worst circumstances. The Worst Circumstances Job discovered this. (If you haven’t yet, you must read the book of Job!). He faced death of loved ones, destruction of his property: the worst…
The Joy of Christmas (yours year-round, even when circumstances are anything but joyful)
It’s not about us. Not really. We like to think it is. We like to think being happy and content is about us and how things are playing out in our lives. We often believe if only things would align the way we’d like, we would be satisfied. If-Only Lies If only our neighbor would quit…
You Can Rest; Your Best has Already Been Secured
It always seems we’re trying to be better: to manage better, to love better, to work better. And to an extent it is good to improve ourselves. Growth is good. But it can become a rat race, running an endless loop of “better” on that elusive pursuit to be our best. Our Best Secured I…
Where the Ugliness of This Life Turns to Beauty [a letter to my younger self]
Well I did it. I missed a Monday post. Nearly every week of the last 3 years I’ve published a post on Mondays. This week I had to, no I chose to, extend myself a wee bit of grace and skip it. The past couple weeks have been packed with preparations, kids’ stuff, and editing.…
May the Jesus in Me Be Ever Present to the Outside World
She glowed radiant, standing on that stage. A gifted speaker, her presentation captivated the audience. But what captured me more was her presence. This dear lady’s beauty literally radiated from within, readily apparent even from the back of the room. Hers was not a knockdown gorgeous physicality, but something much deeper and much more lasting. For she wore…
Why Do I Feel Unfulfilled? (Living an Abundant Life)
I have plentiful work I can do from home that pays well. But that doesn’t bring an abundant life. I live in a state park. But that doesn’t bring an abundant life. I am blessed with a husband devoted to his family. But that doesn’t bring an abundant life. I have four children who are generally kind and…
He Lives! (so we have hope)
He is risen! “[Jesus] is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.” Matthew 28:6 Because Jesus lives, we have hope. We can face tomorrow. This song, “Because He Lives,” captures that hope beautifully. (Video curtesy of smilealways06.) Wishing you a joyous celebration, rejoicing in His resurrection…
Why We Cannot Bypass the Cross for the Empty Tomb
A sob always escapes when I read through the final day of our Lord’s walk on earth. I often rush to the passages about Jesus’s resurrection, eager to get to the end of the suffering and the beginning of the triumphant. I rush because I don’t want to experience the emotional pain. I can handle physically hard,…
Words of Empowerment for When You Feel Inadequate {printable}
My frustration grew. The school van drew near, yet my daughter struggled to get dressed because her fingers kept slipping through the holes in her shirtsleeves (yes, believe it or not, manufactured holes!). No matter how much I coached and reminded, she just couldn’t seem to keep from slipping into those holes. Wow, can I relate! Feeling…
In the Beginning … and Always: Light and Life #shortburstsofencouragement
“In the beginning was the Word” (John 1:1). But interestingly, in the beginning, darkness also existed: “in the beginning … the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths” (Genesis 1:2a). But glory, that’s not all! The Creator and Essence of Light (the Spirit of God) hovered above that darkness (Genesis 1:2b). …
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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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