In the face of fear, there are usually two responses: I just need more faithI just need to let go / get over it And the pressure builds for us to overcome our fear. We often think that increasing our productivity will decrease our fear… that adding to our holy to-do lists will quiet the … Continue reading The Best Way to Put Fear in Its Place
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Practical Ways We Deal with Emotions
Life has been a little busy lately, which means emotions have a tendency to run wild. Multiply that by four kids, and you have an incredible opportunity to practice what you preach. I’m an advocate for expressing emotions and feeling your feelings, but we have definitely come across some helpful tips and tools along the … Continue reading Practical Ways We Deal with Emotions
Limited People, Unlimited God
Sometimes we need to remember that we’re human. We need to be aware of our limitations. Then we can gently remind ourselves that we don’t have to check everything off of our endless to-do lists right this very moment. It’s okay to leave things unfinished today. It’s okay to save some stuff for tomorrow. It’s … Continue reading Limited People, Unlimited God
Valley After Valley
Recently I’ve been reflecting on our different seasons and chapters, our various moves and the similar challenges in each new place. It was then that I realized: I’ve spent the majority of my adulthood living in four different valleys. I lived in the same small town for 21 years (Marysville, Washington). And then my family … Continue reading Valley After Valley
Leaning into Lent
Lent isn’t something I grew up with; it wasn’t a cherished tradition or a familiar routine. It’s something I’ve had to learn to lean into, something I’m still learning from. Lent is sacred space. It’s more than a countdown to Easter. It’s a readying, a preparing, a paring down, a thinning. It’s not about adding … Continue reading Leaning into Lent
At the Well
Have you ever felt disqualified because of who you are? Or maybe unqualified because of who you aren’t? I’ve felt both! There’s a real struggle between feeling like you’re too much but also not enough. (Jess Connolly & Hayley Morgan have a great devotional on this called Always Enough, Never Too Much.) At Life Group … Continue reading At the Well
Awake + Aware
In recent months, I’ve been learning about awareness and putting it into practice. Where being fully present meets my emotions and feelings head on, where escape and numbing aren’t worth it anymore. Awareness has become a precious companion on this journey. Part fruit, part gift. A result from the heart work that’s hard work, and … Continue reading Awake + Aware