The kids and I were enjoying a rare cool summer morning as I watched the kids playing, I saw my oldest retaliate against his younger sister because of a hurt she had inflicted on him minutes before. Being the designated peacemaker, I called my son over to talk about his choices and that’s when I… Continue reading Justified
Category: Devotional
Delayed Obedience
My kids can tell you that I often use the phrase, “delayed obedience is disobedience.” It’s a great reminder for all the times I ask them to do something, and they don’t immediately obey. Maybe it’s a show they’re watching or a toy they’re playing with it, regardless of the perceived reason, they are still… Continue reading Delayed Obedience
The Wall
The wall, maybe you call it rock bottom, but whatever the name; it’s that place where you just cannot go on without something changing. It’s at the wall where you’ve come to the end of yourself, and your resources. I would venture to say that most of us who’ve been there didn’t relish the experience… Continue reading The Wall
Resting WHILE We Work
When I fill so much of my time driving up and down the same stretch of road, I tend to spend it thinking and praying about all that we’re walking through. It was on one of these trips where I began wondering how exactly am I supposed to ‘be still and let God fight for… Continue reading Resting WHILE We Work
Open Doors
As most of you know, our family has been walking through a long and arduous journey with no end in sight as we continue to fight for Chris’s full recovery after his Gallstone induced Infectious, Hemorrhagic, Necrotizing Pancreatitis (yes, all of those) which was further complicated through his development of ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome)… Continue reading Open Doors
Kingdom Work
It doesn’t take very much time hanging out with me before you can make a list of my many flaws. Personally, my kids will tell you to place a GoPro in our car, and you’ll see them for yourself in all their grandeur. While the list is long, my lack of patience is likely towards… Continue reading Kingdom Work
When Praying Doesn’t Work
What do you do when prayer doesn’t work? Rather, what do you do when it feels and looks like prayer didn’t work? This past week, I spent most nights not sleeping well and anxious for Thursday to come. Chris and I had spent time earlier in the week discussing how we both sensed a change… Continue reading When Praying Doesn’t Work
Live Expectantly
Three pregnancies and two kids later, I would never claim to be an expert in having kids. In fact, I often joke to use my life as the cautionary tale of what not to do. But, I think there are some general principles for most pregnancies we could all agree upon. Once you’ve been told… Continue reading Live Expectantly
Looking Beyond
Quitting is easy. It’s easy to look at my life and think it’s always going to be this way and want to quit. It’s easy to look at my worries and fears and think it’ll never get any better. It’s easy to focus on all the things going wrong and all the ways life is… Continue reading Looking Beyond
Beware of Weeds
There’s something powerful about sitting outside and breathing in God’s beautiful handiwork. There’s a calmness and peacefulness I feel as I admire flowerbeds expertly planted and pruned. Countless hours of attention have been spent carefully pulling weeds from the soil while knowing exactly which plant to place where for optimal growth. I could spend hours… Continue reading Beware of Weeds
Unlabeled
It’s hard to enjoy the summer when your spouse suddenly isn’t with you. It’s all of the things that had always escaped your notice until they’re no longer around to do them that become the biggest reminders of their absence. Chris’s grill hasn’t been touched since he got sick. So often meals Chris would make… Continue reading Unlabeled
My Father Loves Me
A few weeks ago, I began writing about God’s love. I wrote a paragraph or two but couldn’t quite figure out what I wanted to say or where I wanted to go; so I stopped. Over the past few weeks, I’d pull it up and look it over but still stuck, I’d move on and… Continue reading My Father Loves Me
Rooted Leaders 