"For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing." Romans … Continue reading I Want to Do Right… but I Keep Doing Wrong.
“I just don’t feel called to sexual purity.” “Reading the Bible isn’t my gifting.” “It’s great that you pray, but I follow God in other ways.” Faithful Christians and churches would rightly find these statements concerning. Yet it seems that demonstrating mercy to the needy is often talked about in similar ways. We affirm that … Continue reading The Mercy Mandate
I love my kids like crazy, but mothering is hard and my sins are many. I am prone to discouragement, and wallowing in my failures only leads to more of them. But looking to Christ fends off condemnation and empowers change. He is the hope-giver and the heart-changer for crappy moms like me... Finish reading … Continue reading Sometimes I’m a Really Crappy Mom
I never read Kisses from Katie. I knew her general story from a friend who loved it, but I didn't get around to checking it out myself. I'll admit to being a little skeptical. How could a 23-year-old adopt 13 kids and actually function well as a mother? Perhaps this skepticism is one reason that … Continue reading Daring to Hope Book Review
Article originally published on Her View From Home: Common suffering has a unique way of building community. It starts with those small and inconsequential struggles. Two moms with tantruming toddlers throw sympathetic smiles to each other at the park. A knowing glance is cast when the woman in the checkout line buys chocolate, ice cream, tampons, … Continue reading Shared Suffering Builds Close Community
26 months since application, 12 months and 1 day since receiving her referral, and it finally happened. We were united with our daughter! In many ways, things have been far better than we could have ever imagined. Meeting our daughter's caretakers was incredibly encouraging. We braced for a large orphanage where everyone was too stretched, … Continue reading I Wasn’t Prepared for This: Anger After Adoption
Sometimes life is just overwhelming. It can be attributed to an overly busy schedule, sick and whiny kids, or the to-do list I just can't tackle. But typically it's related to more emotional reasons. It can be connected to personal struggles, such as waiting for my daughter. Other times it's wrapped up in the overwhelming … Continue reading The Gift of Being Overwhelmed
