Posted on

3 Ways God Responds to Your Tears

Research shows that women cry anywhere between 30 and 64 times a year. That means most of us girls shed tears at least twice a month and some of us cry about every five days!

Happy tears. Sad tears. Angry tears. We cry for all sorts of reasons.

Some of us are “Tricklers.” You know, we have an occasional tear drip from the eye, but it’s usually quick, controlled, and rare.

And, then there are the “Niagaras” among us! Do I even need to explain? A gushing flood of liquid emotion pours from both eyes at a moment’s notice! Then the waterfall lasts much longer than that one moment!

Posted on

4 Powerful Prayers for When You Feel Weak

Any worn-out, weary women out there?

Oh, girl, we all feel it from time to time. I’ve been in the fast lane for the last several months and I’m feeling it! Between all the emotion of losing my dad paired with all the ministry travel, I feel like I’m running on fumes.

Life can just deplete us, can’t it? And I know you know exactly what I’m talking about.

When we feel weak, we need strength. It’s just that simple—and that difficult. That’s when we most need to pray.

Posted on

Why Excellent Women Are Far From Perfect … And That’s Okay!

I travel and speak to women, as well as work with them during the week. So, I’m surrounded by women all the time. Younger ones, older ones, happy ones … uh, not so happy ones! (That last one would be me every now and then! Ha!)

And, what I have noticed is that I am not only surrounded by women, but I am surrounded by excellence!

Oh, girl, none of us are perfect. We all have our bad days. But in all of these women, I have seen some great qualities that make up an excellent woman.

Posted on

3 Ways Scripture Guides You

Do me a favor and close your eyes. Now, imagine you have to walk from where you are to your refrigerator without the help of your sight.

How would you feel? If you’re brave, try it. I’ll wait.

It probably wasn’t easy, was it? And, it may have even been dangerous or comical.

The truth is, when you can’t see, life is a whole lot easier if you have a guide—someone to lead you, show you the way, and teach you where to step so you end up in the right place.

Being blind, I need a guide to get me to the right place. But even if you see 20/20 (or good enough), you need a guide, too.

Posted on

Toothless in Seattle – FGF Highlights, Port Orchard, WA

Have you ever been to Seattle? Girl, it’s stunning!! We had perfect weather, ate fish and chips on the pier, visited Starbucks’ headquarters, went to Pike Place Market, rode the ferry, and … went to the dentist.

Dentist? Yes.

Thank you to Taylor Tsvyetkov for the beautiful photos! To see the entire Facebook photo album, click here. For those of you who joined in the photo booth fun, you can access your photos here.

Phil and I sat outside Pike Place Market, sipping Starbucks and nibbling on a cinnamon roll. Until one fatal bite changed everything.

Posted on

3 Ways to Get Your Happy On

Do you ever choose a word for the year? I do! I pick one so I can take the whole year to learn it, live it, receive it, and understand it!

So, what was my word for this year?

3 Ways to Get Your Happy On jpg

Happy.

Not long after I picked that word, though, I broke my finger and my hero dad passed away. Those aren’t exactly ingredients for happiness, huh?

A broken finger was a painful annoyance, but losing my dad broke my heart. Even so, in the midst of it all, I am still learning what it means to be happy.

Posted on

What Brave Women Say to Themselves

Before I lost my hero dad, I had no idea grief would make me feel fatigued and hollow. There were many days I thought, “I can’t do this” or “I can’t face this.”

And then, I thought about my mom.

What Brave Women Say to Themselves jpg

The strength I see in my mom is beyond what I imagine possible. Dad was her best friend. For 55 years, they did life and ministry together. Now, she is alone.

Posted on

It’s Not Too Late for Your Free Access – Hosea Teaching Videos + Fun Gift

I’ve got 5 pieces of good news for you today (psst…and a cute gift), and they’re all from the Old Testament book of Hosea…

  • If you are broken, God will restore you.
  • If you wander off, God will find you.
  • If you are afraid, God will reassure you.
  • If you are ashamed, God will cover you.
  • If you give up on your faith or give in to lies, God will never ever give up on you.

If you need this truth to be real in your life, then you need to join 13,000 women just like you who are doing my Hosea Bible study online with LifeWay Women!

Posted on

What to Do When You Doubt God

On the road of faith, we all encounter “Thomas times”—bumps full of doubt. Some of us jump right over them, while others may stumble, falling into a pit of confusion. And the result … we become a Doubting Thomas.

I’ve been Thomas and I bet you have too, or you know someone who is right now.

What to Do When You Doubt God jpg

There is no shame if you struggle with doubt. God invites your questions and wants to turn your confusion into clarity just like He did for Thomas.

Imagine what it was like for Thomas when Jesus, His Master and Friend, was crucified? The shock, the sorrow—but maybe he wasn’t simply a doubter; maybe he was a seeker … an honest seeker?