One Thousand (or more) Gifts
Because Sometimes Freedom Isn’t Found Where We Expect It
Dressing and undressing are not tasks that come easy to my 15-year-old daughter. But there are lessons to be learned in any situation. Watching her tug on the undershirt, I soon realized it was caught—on her ID bracelet. Rach kept tugging. Pull as she might, though, she couldn’t get the shirt off. Realizing her mounting frustration,…
Okay, So I Mess Up! (Welcome, Opportunity)
If you’ve been following my writing for long, you’ve heard me mention that I mess up sometimes … well, okay, I mess up a lot. In my marriage, in raising my children, in my Spiritual life. God says do not envy … I do. Dr. James Dobson says not to yell at your children … I do.…
When Healing Doesn’t Happen (or Is Slower Than You Like)
How many times have I looked at my daughter and wondered why God hasn’t offered His healing to her? He has the power. I know that. He could heal her through waters like the pool of Bethesda (John 5:1-14). He could heal her by speaking the words like He did for the centurion’s servant (Matthew 8:5-13).…
Don’t Just Survive the Messes of Life, Thrive
My son’s raised eyebrows just made me grin as another piece of butter fell to the floor. Thoughts of his father’s words danced through my mind, “You are a messy cook.” Flour and sugar sprinkled on the buttery concoction I was stepping in as I reflected on the truth of that statement. Indeed I am…
Three Steps to Realizing Growth in the New Year
“The beauty in the outer world can only be seen, when one stops focusing on the negativity in their inner world.” ― Anthony Liccione Growth is a fickle business. It requires generous doses of dreaming and planning with just the right amounts of realism and failure thrown in. Add too much realism and our feet…
Missing Gifts and a Lesson About Love
I couldn’t get past the missing gifts. I nearly let their absence ruin our time together. As usual, we celebrated Christmas early, just the six of us, and with a couple bad-weather days, a few of the kids’ gifts didn’t arrive on time. To make matters worse, my youngest was the one missing the most. Now…
How To Avoid a Comparison-Christmas
In the sparkle and glitter of the holiday season, it is easy to feel you don’t measure up. Your decorations aren’t the latest and greatest hanging icicles or chasing lights. You don’t have an outdoor nativity or themed Christmas tree ornaments. Your holiday wardrobe consists of a lovely 3-piece outfit left over from your first-ever…
Ask How to Serve Not Why
It’s easy to fall into distrust of our fellow man. Even those of us who live compassionately and generously stoop to cynicism from time to time. Stories about fraud, deceit, and hypocrisy plaster the news. Likely, most of us know someone personally who has lied to get what she/he wanted. Perhaps you have even suffered…
Identity Crisis: I Want To Be Like She Is!
I want to be like she [he] is! How many times have I said that? Okay, how many times have I thought that? Wishing I was that good at writing, that athletic, that pretty, that patient, that smart, that creative, that, that, that…. You name it, I’ve likely wished it. In fact, I just did…
Dump the Holiday Stress (and Get Something More)
Thanksgiving and Christmas bring out the best and worst in people. They remind us of the gifts in our lives and inject a renewed sense of appreciation. They help center us on the Giver of those gifts and increase our attention on the Savior. They encourage generosity in our hearts and in our pocketbooks. …
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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