Emotions and Truth

The heart is deceitful above all things,     and desperately sick;     who can understand it?  Jeremiah 17:9 ESV There are a lot of emotions in my house. I have three kids, a wonderful husband, and two dogs – one who has an anxiety issue. Not to mention my own emotions. Sometimes those emotions are in harmony and we laugh and enjoy talking to each other. Other times those emotions are a cacophony irritating the ears of all who experience it’s splendor. God created emotions and we mishandle them. As an adult I have more tools so I have learned to handle …

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Lavish Grace Week 7: The Glory of Grace

Welcome to Lavish Grace Week 9 (our final week):  The Glory of Grace from Kathy Howard’s new bible study Lavish Grace. Throughout this study, we have been examining how God’s lavish grace intersected and changed the life of Paul. In this lesson, Kathy challenges us to discover that “God graciously uses our trials as a testimony to others.” I have seen this first hand both in my life and in the lives of my friends. I have watched as a dear friend buried her five-year-old child and sought to give God glory even in her grief and pain. I have …

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Let’s Say Grace: Slow Cooker Lasagna

SLOW COOKER LASAGNA Lasagna is comfort food at its finest in traditional Italian homes. This slow cooker version is an easy rendition and a must try. Complete with Parmesan, mozzarella, ricotta cheese and NO BOILING the lasagna noodles — this recipe is a snap! INGREDIENTS 1 pound bulk Italian sausage (sweet or hot depending on your preference) 1 pound ground beef 1 medium onion, chopped to equal close to 1 cup OPTIONAL – ¾ cup finely diced green pepper 2 cans (24 ounces each) Italian style tomato sauce  1 can (14.5 ounce) finely diced tomatoes 2 teaspoons dried basil leaves …

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Parenting Through the Knots and Stitches

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways your ways, “ declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than earth, so are my ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9) Do you crochet, or do you know anyone who can? I mean, really REALLY crochet, not the one line of cockeyed links that I create that wouldn’t even pass as a friendship bracelet. I recently tried to take up crocheting…again… and, again, found that I seem to be crochet-challenged. But that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate the skill, knowledge, and time it takes to …

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Lavish Grace Week 6: The Power of Grace

Okay y’all Bible study girlfriends… I can’t tell you how excited I am that I get to do THIS lesson on grace from Kathy Howard‘s Bible study, Lavish Grace! When I became a Christian, the Lord gave me an insatiable appetite for His Word. I LOVE studying various words from the Word in the original language and uncovering the precious and powerful nuggets tucked below the surface of our English translation. Grace was one of those words which I studied not long after Jesus saved this wretched soul and made a saint out of this sinner. I studied it because …

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Is God Really Good

Is God Really Good?

I’m a good person. I try to do the right things. Good grief, God, I’m serving You! I don’t deserve to be in pain like this! This shouldn’t be happening to me! I’ve had those thoughts. Maybe you have, too. Right now, there is a young family in my church that is going through an incredibly overwhelming and difficult season. They love God passionately. They are always serving others. Several years ago, they added two boys to their family of four through foreign adoption. After two heart wrenching years—filled with family counseling sessions, individual therapy and much prayer—one of the …

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Understanding the Gospel

“Mom, what does it mean to be saved?” asked Peter as his family left the crowded church building. His mom gazed back into his questioning eyes with her own uncertainty. All at once she realized how unprepared she was to answer this seemingly simple question about the gospel.  What does it mean to be saved from our own sin?  How can we understand our need for a Savior and the wonderful news of the gospel in order to teach our children and grandchildren? “One cannot become a Christian without understanding and embracing the basic message of the gospel.” –Dr. Mike Fabarez Today …

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Hope for Try-Hard Moms

I was elbow-deep in soapsuds when my 4-year-old’s cries prompted me to drop my dishrag, abandon the breakfast dishes, and  race to the other room. Maggie had been coloring a picture, but when I reached her side, the paper lay crumpled and torn on the floor. “Honey, what’s wrong?” I asked. “I can’t color in the lines,” Maggie complained. I retrieved the wrinkled paper and smoothed it with my palm. The kitty on the coloring page looked like it had been caught in a crossfire. “See?” my preschooler said, as she rubbed the crayon furiously over the holes on the …

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Trying Again: Exchanging Bad Communication Patterns for Good Ones

Parenting is tough. And I can easily fall into terribly patterns with my kids. Times when just the mention of a topic causes my blood to boil and I can barely speak a civil word because I am annoyed. Annoyed at poor attitudes. Frustrated that I cannot communicate clearly with them. Irritated that they don’t just take my word for it. And those sensitive topics like math can send both my child’s and my hearts pounding and blood boiling. So how do we try again? How can we remove the bad habit of frustration over difficult topics? “Everyone should be …

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