Do you ever feel stuck in your relationships? Maybe a friend or a family member makes you feel like you are always failing or are always a problem. When you come to know Christ, not only does He desire to redeem your soul, He desires to redeem and restore every aspect of your life (including relationships).

Less is more, that's why we traded our suburban living for a few acres and a 141-year-old farmhouse!  Simplify. Why is it that in a world of hustle, we are intrigued by the idea of simplicity? It wasn't the shiplap, vintage brick fireplaces, or the adorable Dutch door that won me over on this 1875 gem; it was the idea of a more simple life.

Do you find yourself looking toward your friends, co-workers, or even strangers to approve of what you do and say? Do you worry about what will happen if you make a decision someone doesn’t like? Or, do you find yourself going along with what other people want to do, even if you disagree? If so, you might be a people pleaser!

Suns out, pools open, grill’s hot, and the firewood is ready for those summer nights! Summertime is perfect for hosting friends and family, but also a time when the family is constantly on the go. Here are some helpful hosting tips to make your summertime a breeze. 

To quote Forrest Gump, “Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re gonna get.” Life is strange like that. Just when you think you have it figured out—it changes. So how can you know that everything is going to end in victory?

Do you feel like you've been doing the right thing but haven't reaped benefits from it yet?

Many people make the mistake of quitting before they see a breakthrough. Maybe you've recently made some lifestyle changes, but you feel like you're still dealing with a lot of junk. Don't give up!

What is grace? It's by the grace of God that we are saved and can go to heaven (Eph 2:8), but how is grace in operation in our lives on a daily basis? 

As soon as we pull into the church parking lot, I'm ready to jump out of the car and into the church. I make final adjustments in the mirror, and then, the kids and I hop out of the car. Usually, on the way into the building, I want to spit my gum out. The only problem is I am super sensitive about honoring the House of the Lord and would never spit gum on the property. Stupid conviction, right? Actually, not at all.

Nobody likes being told they need to change. Many times, we can think change needs to come from an outside source--a person, a job, a spouse. There's always that one thing that needs to change and then all will be well in the world. After all, we know our own hearts, right?

Easter is about life and victory. Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life." When Jesus died on the cross for our sins, the story was seemingly over, but with His resurrection comes hope! Jesus defeated sin and conquered the grave, and because He did, hope is alive in you! 

I am always trying to come up with new activities and traditions for our family.

This year, I decided to integrate a Seder meal to kick off Passover. Passover is the celebration of the Exodus that the Children of God made out of Egypt—out of bondage and into freedom. Reference Exodus 12.

Have you ever started a book that was really slow in the beginning?

In fact, most books that I read, I have to press through the first few chapters to even discover how committed I am to seeing the book through until the end. It isn’t until the plot gets good or there is a pivot in the story that my interest is hooked. At that point, I’m invested to see how the story ends.

Cleanliness is next to godliness, right? Nothing inspires me to clean more than the thought of spring. Everything outside is becoming green, and the scent of fresh flowers mixed with April showers is in the air. I want my home to be a clean overhaul after months of winter hibernation. It is good to keep a cleaning chart handy throughout the year's busyness. A cleaning chart will help you break down and delegate your household chores and alleviate that overwhelmed feeling we all get with a glance around a messy space.

What is faith in 2023? The Bible tells us in Hebrews 11:1, “faith is the confidence in what we hope for and the evidence of what we do not see.” Confidence & evidence. To have faith is to be more convinced of what God’s word says than even the natural circumstances around us. God hasn’t called you to allow what is going on in your life to dictate your outcome. God is calling you to use your faith to establish your reality.