Corrie ten Boom is one of the great Christian female heroes of World War II. She grew up in Haarlem, North Holland, where she would rescue and protect many Jews escaping Nazi occupation in the Netherlands. She had 4 siblings, and they all lived with their parents in a poorer part of the city. Through…
Finding Grace in Hard Things
The biggest challenge I’ve ever faced was my first teaching job right out of college. First of all, I was 19 years old. Second of all, I got a job teaching in an inner city school in downtown Indianapolis. Not only was it an inner city school, but it was essentially the district’s last stop…
Staying Productive as a Mom
When your baby is first born, you can’t imagine how you could ever be productive again because of how exhausted you are. Then, your baby gets a little older, starts sleeping more, and you feel like you might get back to yourself again. Then, your baby becomes mobile. From that point on, your productivity goes…
Relief from the Storm
It’s a beautiful morning. The sun is soaking through the windows, providing bright, welcoming light. The air outside is chilly, but the slightly green grass and cheeriness hold a promise that spring is just around the corner. I’m peering longingly out the window, thinking about warmer weather and the fun memories made in it. The…
Great Christian Women: Amy Carmichael
Amy Carmichael lived a very comfortable life in a wealthy Christian family, growing up in Belfast, Ireland. However, when she was a teenager, her father’s business began to disintegrate. Then, tragically, when Amy was 18, he passed away. As her family then fell into poverty, she decided to devote her time to sharing the Gospel…
Finding Grace in Failure
I failed at knocking out even half of my to-do list yesterday. I fail in relationships. I fail to give God glory and praise for all of his good and precious gifts. I fail to resist my cravings for chocolate. …this list could go on and on, and this is just the “every day” failures….
A Young Mom’s Guide to Working Out
People talk about pregnancy being such a beautiful thing, and it is. However, I think any woman who was carried a baby in the third trimester knows that there is a point where it definitely does not feel beautiful anymore. I remember being on bed rest and wanting nothing more than to get some exercise…
Gratitude
My natural, sin-infused outlook on life tends to be one of negativity. I don’t naturally see the blessings of everyday life; I tend to focus on the problems that are all around me. While I may not verbally complain all the time, my mental state is not one of thanksgiving. This is easy to do,…
Great Christian Women: Elisabeth Elliot
Many esteem Elisabeth Elliot as the most influential Christian woman of the 20th century. She was writing and speaking at a time when many Evangelical Christian women were not yet doing so. She’s had a profound impact on generations of Christian women through the stories of her experiences and deep trust in Jesus. The recipient…
Finding Grace in Intentionality
I made a last-minute decision to combine my Tuesday and Wednesday posts this week because of their similarities – so, this is a Tuesday Tip & Finding Grace combo! My “word of the year” for 2018 is intentionality. I feel like I’ve been in survival mode for a solid four years now. There have just…
Grace Over Guilt 