A year ago, my husband Shawn and I embarked on a new journey. We joined a marriage class at our church called Re-engage. Shawn and I married four years ago after the death of my first husband Ericlee. He joined our family of four girls (including me) when we were in the throes of grief and gently shepherded us through some tough transitions. Last ... [Keep Reading...]
flourishing
Stepping into abundant life through the door of His love
{If you prefer to listen rather than read, check out the audio version of this post here on my Abundant Life podcast.} When I stepped in the door my jaw dropped. The buffed hardwood floors, the wrap-around staircase perfect for prom and wedding photos, the windows upon windows. As I walked through and saw the open floor plan, the granite counter ... [Keep Reading...]
Pivoting Away from Jealousy Toward Abundance
When I was a newly-minted widow, I started to struggle with envy. In those early days of grief, it was excruciatingly hard for me to see all the summer vacation photos with daddies playing with their kids, the wedding anniversary celebrations, and the perfectly-crafted family Christmas pictures. Feelings rose up inside me that I never faced before. ... [Keep Reading...]
6 Ways to Find God’s Peace in Difficult Circumstances
Ever since I was a little girl, I have loved the hymn “It Is Well.” There was something about those lyrics that brought a sense of peace whenever I sang them: “When peace like a river, attendeth my way… It is well, it is well, with my soul.” Horatio G. Spafford, the man who penned that hymn, experienced profound tragedy with the death of his son ... [Keep Reading...]
Running for His glory: Learning to breathe at higher altitudes
Breathe in deeply. Let the air gently fill your lungs. Pause. Then release. Feel the tension in your shoulders drift away. Inhale again. Then exhale. This is the give and take of breath. This is a deliberate slowing of the cadence of our breath. This is discovering a new, unforced rhythm. Breathe was the theme of the retreat I attended in ... [Keep Reading...]
Redeeming Ruth: The Father’s Heart for the vulnerable
I was invited to share a message this Sunday at Action Community Church in Clovis for their summer series, "A Father's Heart: a series about things God cares about." I chose to share about God's heart for the vulnerable, specifically widows, orphans, immigrants/foreigners and the poor. In this message, I unpack the story of Ruth in the Bible ... [Keep Reading...]
