I wasn't expected to be convicted during the sermon a couple of Sundays ago. (*cringe*) I know that sounds terrible, but the topic was "ministry"—and I do plenty of that. I'm active in the music ministry, the children's ministry, and the women's ministry at church. I have a fulfilling online ministry, too. No, I'm not flexing my own muscles here; these ministries challenge me in a way that leaves no room for doubt that I'm desperately dependent on God's strength for every bit of all this. But when my pastor confronted us with the truth that ministry performed apart from the power of Christ isn't gospel ministry at ...Read More
20 Easy Habits to Create a Christ-Centered Home
My oldest just turned fifteen, so excuse me for being a little nostalgic. How is it possible that my new-mom days seem like just last week—but at the same time they feel like a lifetime ago? Time is funny that way. Looking back to my early days of motherhood, I remember distinctly that, like all very young moms, I was overwhelmed. I was overwhelmed by the diapers and the feedings and the lack of sleep. But even more, I was overwhelmed by the incredibly high calling that was thrust upon me as my child entered the world. I was utterly in love with my little bundle, and I was frighteningly aware that the stakes ...Read More
12 Habits of Effective Christian Parents: How are you doing? (Take the Quiz)
How in the world did people parent before the days of social media? I mean, seriously... Where did they get birthday party ideas? And how did they manage to distract themselves with completely inane facts about the lives of their acquaintances while looking for birthday party ideas? And where did they post pictures of the aforementioned birthday party ideas brought to fruition? In all seriousness, it's pretty shocking to step back and consider how quickly social media has become ingrained in our lives. And while there are some benefits (hello, birthday party ideas!), there's one glaring drawback: we have countless ...Read More
Christian Parents, Are You Raising a Little Pharisee?
As a Christian parent, you want to train your children to love God—to obey Him, walking in His ways for His glory and for their own good. So you and I teach our kids to do good and to flee evil. We model obedience to God. We correct them when they err. We discipline them so they don't stray too far. And we do those things with the Word of God as our road map and the Holy Spirit as our guide. But I've noticed something interesting over the past few years: when kids are trained this way from an early age, they can tend to become dogmatic, quick to judge others and not inclined to administer grace. They can become ...Read More
Humility: A Christian Parent’s Secret Weapon
Good parents may appear to always know what they're doing. But honest parents will freely admit that they're usually flying by the seat of their pants. Because, while the Bible is far and away the very best parenting manual, there are a lot of practical things that the Bible doesn't specifically address. I wish it told me how to help my 8-year-old stop sucking her thumb. I wish it told me how to help my teen navigate her last couple of years in high school as she prepares to enter college. I wish it told me how to help my 11-year-old open up about how he's feeling. I wish it told me how to un-spoil the 3-year-old ...Read More
7 Things Your Teen Needs to Know About God
My oldest daughter is almost fifteen. I'm not sure how that's possible since I would've sworn she was a newborn in my arms just last month. But alas, one look in the mirror at my own reflection confirms that time has indeed passed and we are both getting older. There are things I know my teen needs to know about God before it's time to launch her into the world. As I ponder how to make the most of these last couple of years with her at home, I've been wondering: What conversations do I need to have with her? What truths are more important than any other to relate? What lessons are the most crucial to ...Read More
Is “Self-Esteem” Biblical? (a parent’s guide to doing it right)
What comes to your mind when you hear the term "self-esteem"? Given the emphasis on self-esteem in today's culture, maybe you think of catchphrases like "Believe in yourself" or "Follow your heart." While mottos like these are spoken with the best of intentions, aimed to build up the self-esteem of the hearer, they aren't at all biblical according to Scriptures like Jeremiah 17:9, Proverbs 3:5-6, and Galatians 6:14. In fact, the term “self-esteem” has become taboo in some Christian circles, as Christ-followers rightly resist a secular worldview. But since self-esteem is the perception of one's own worth, is ...Read More
Mom in the Trenches: 10 Scriptures to Encourage You
Dear Mama in the trenches, I wish I could give you a hug right now, and just maybe have a chat over coffee. Because although I’ve been doing this mom thing for fifteen years, I still face so much uncertainty. So much insecurity. And sometimes I'm convinced that I'm failing at this great big task called motherhood. And I’m not sure, but I kind of think those feelings aren't going away anytime soon. Because our calling is that important. Do you feel it, too? I haven’t yet met a mom who doesn’t at some point experience seasons of struggle in her role. Don’t get me wrong, motherhood is at times fulfilling, ...Read More
