Perspective
What You Should Expect in Life
I was a young wife, eager to start a family. So from the time that first pregnancy test showed positive, I expected a baby to be placed in my arms. Counting down the weeks, it never crossed my mind that it may turn out differently. Because when one gets pregnant, holding a baby nearly 40 weeks later…
What Do Our Circumstances Look Like in Light of God’s Plan?
Our daily circumstances may not be want we want them to be, but we can trust they serve a purpose in God’s plan. Each morning I awake to the same task. Whether summer break, a weekend, a school day, or even on vacation, every morning I’m tasked with helping my teenage daughter with her hygiene…
When the Race You’re Running Isn’t the One You Signed Up For
A picture permanently imprinted in my mind and heart is one of my daughter and me running hand in hand through a hill-top meadow. It’s an image of pure joy. But with Rachel’s inability to actually run, that will likely never happen. So we’ve adapted our hand-in-hand running. Instead of a meadow, we run on campground roads near our home.…
It May Be Time To Shift Your Focus: 5 Questions To Ask
It’s a struggle I’ve had since my early years. He makes a mistake. I wonder what I didn’t do. She misbehaves. I question what I should have done. Our family struggles. I wonder what I missed doing. I expect to make it all better and become frustrated when I can’t. See the pattern? Me, me, me.…
What Each Mundane and Hard Day Needs
Stuck behind a car at a green light, I couldn’t figure out why it was stopped. As I debated whether to drive around, a pickup truck in front of the car made a left turn. Then the car drove on. I never noticed the pickup until it turned. Close up the smaller car had completely blocked the…
Messy and Noisy Christmases Are Beautiful Too #shortburstsofencouragement
I love images and displays of the nativity: the peaceful manger scene of mom, dad, and baby. A bright star shining down on a stable where cattle lay softly lowing, a donkey nibbling hay, and sheep baaing their welcome—a picture of warmth and coziness. Through the years, I’ve spent long hours trying to create such Christmases. I’ve dreamed…
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). …
Thankful for Unanswered Prayers?
Thanksgiving 2014 is over. But the memories linger on. Memories of the food, the fun, the fellowship. And hopefully, the acknowledgment of the past year’s blessings and continued gratitude for this year’s. In our home, we have a Thanksgiving tradition of sharing 5 things from the past year for which we are grateful. When the kids…
How to Thrive in the Aftermath of Interrupted Plans and Shattered Dreams
If we’re honest, we all experience it: the shattering of our dreams, an interruption in our well-planned life. It’s unexpected, many times devastating, and it often doesn’t make sense, humanly speaking. Because most often our plans are good ones. They involve things that would lift people up, provide for others, and even honor God in the process.…
Asking for Understanding and Grace While Setting Priorities
Intentions may be good, but sometimes they become misguided. Afternoon threatened to become evening as I continued to drop berries into the bucket that hung around my neck. My self-imposed quota hung heavy as the goal—at least one full bucket. No fewer. Sweat dripped down my back. The zipped jacket warded off mosquitoes that liked the later…
- « Previous
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- Next »
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.
Search the Blog
Categories
Maintain Godly Focus!
Are you struggling to maintain godly focus in the mess of each day's living? Do you too easily find yourself worrying about circumstances instead of trusting in God's promises? If you answered yes, why not download my ebook. It's filled with 25 power verses with space for personal reflection to help you maintain godly focus, no matter what situations arise.
(Privacy policy: Don't worry, your information is safe you can unsubscribe at any time.)
New Book, Just Released!
