Category: church family

Since my week in the hospital, much of my recovery has depended on other people. Friends noticed needs and stepped in without hesitation. One coordinated hospital visitors, so I was never alone when my husband had to work. Another stepped into my role as education coordinator, making sure every...

Some nights, getting comfortable takes longer than others. Many nights when I lie down to go to sleep, my arms get in the way. They feel cold when the rest of me is warm. They seem to be in the way and out of place. I shift and adjust,...

A quiet exodus is happening in our churches, without headlines, slowly and silently. Without warning, a familiar face vanishes, leaving only an empty pew. Throughout my lifetime, the statistics have not changed. Despite the additions of youth ministry, college ministry, and entertaining activities, we are losing approximately two-thirds of...

The shock of Charlie Kirk’s assassination is felt deeply in our household. My seventeen-year-old son has an interest in both ministry and politics, making Charlie Kirk someone he admired, respected, and considered an example. Not all heroes wear capes or have star status in sports or Hollywood arenas. Some...

This title could easily be “What Children Taught Me about Friendship.” No inhibitions. No prejudices. Nothing to prove. As I watched a group of 3–7-year-olds during Bible class, I witnessed the beauty of connection. Children of different backgrounds and skin tones sat shoulder to shoulder, holding hands during the...

Relationships can uplift us, teach us, or test us — sometimes all at once! Fortunately, we have the greatest wisdom for every relationship in the Word of God, specifically in Romans 12:9-21. Here, the apostle Paul offers some of the best relational advice you’ll ever find! In my study,...

The memories feature on Facebook occasionally contains a past writing that did not make it to the blog. I often take those memories and share them with new insight or updated illustrations and applications. Today, one crossed my feed that doesn’t need changing but absolutely needs sharing:   On...

Our family recently spent a week revisiting Colorado Springs. Fourteen years have passed since we lived in the area. While driving around the city, we recognized a few landmarks, but many had faded from memory. Much has changed, for our family and for many of the places we once...

Teaching—whether in a formal school setting, at home, or in Bible class—is a source of great joy in my life. While I don’t have experience in a traditional classroom beyond my own time as a student, I have over 17 years of experience teaching in the home and Bible...

When we lived and worshiped in Germany, a twenty-something pregnant woman walked into the church building. People often came into our building, since our congregation met in the middle of downtown. Even parts of her story were not unusual. The baby’s father had recently deployed to Afghanistan. She was...