Blog

We see them on large platforms, speaking to small groups, or one-on-one with those in need of pastoral wisdom. Their arms seems to stretch far outside the means of the body, embracing more hurting and needy people than one person should have capacity for. They answer late night phone calls from congregants desperately needing a […]

You did it! It is the last day of #theFives and you have prayed a total of 25 hours! We know some mornings may have been better than others, but you still made it. Congrats!

Meditating on the goodness of God will keep your mind on what is important! Are you grateful that He is loving, gentle, kind, always for you? What about His creativity or trustworthiness? Think on these qualities and let God’s peace wash over you.

Building or re-building relationships takes sacrifice. It means being intentional with your time, feelings, and personal desires.

Living at peace with someone and having a relationship with them is not the same thing. Relationships require two people, and both have to choose to pursue the other in order for it to grow.

This week we ask the question, “Where do we go from here?” Read on to discover how we continue the making peace by creating a safe place to rebuild together.

Let’s take time today to celebrate God’s goodness! Praise Him through prayer and worship. Allow Him to restore you in order to start fresh next week with restoring your relationships.

In order to find joy and build peace in our relationship with God and others, we have to grieve what was, or what we thought should have been.

If there was ever a man that had a reason to be angry at his brother, it was Esau. His twin, Jacob, manipulated Esau out of his birthright and their father’s blessing. Their mother wisely sent Jacob away to live with an uncle, and Jacob built a new life…

When we understand how God loves us, we can love others unconditionally. We stop trying to force others to “come to our side” in order to receive our love or even our respect.

It can be painful to dig out sin, but it is much more painful to allow it to continue growing in your heart. Let’s allow God to go deep today and remove the wicked ways in us, so that we can fulfill our purpose to love God and love others.

We are challenged by the Bible to “think on lovely things” but all these competitive thoughts swirling in our minds steal our peace. If we can train our minds, we can salvage our sanity!

Paul understood well that true peace, the kind that surpasses all understanding, comes from God. When we live for an audience of One, we always find contentment.

When we shift our focus back to God and His purpose for our lives, we realign ourselves with His will. It’s much easier to run your race when you are focused on your own lane and what you must do to get to the finish line.

Comparison isn’t all bad. When you understand a healthy version of comparison, it can lead you to try harder and accomplish more.

“The last place you will look for peace is in a relationship with someone you feel is better than you. You will speak, act toward, and think differently about that person.”

Our ultimate goal isn’t fame or success. It isn’t a bigger house or a cleaner kitchen. It isn’t even perfect kids or the generations of our family remembering us some day when we are gone. Our goal is to live every day in surrender to God so all we do points back to Him.

If I choose when to eat, how to spend my money, and when to drink coffee without ever consulting God, then I am not submitted.

Submission of our whole life brings peace with God. I give up my right to be or do whatever I want in exchange for God’s perfect plan.

Today I encourage to you set your dreams on the altar as a sacrifice and let God speak to you about them. I did this recently and what I found was not what I expected.

We all want an answer to the age-old question, “What is God’s plan for me?” We search books, the internet, our Bible, and our friends for a clear step-by-step guide to find God’s will for us. We try and mold our life into what we think God wants, rather than hearing directly from Him.

“You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.”

All these content and holy words place David at the center of communion with God. He is humble, trusting, calm, quiet, and content. How did David get to this place?

Hearing God’s voice can be a struggle for even the most experienced Christian. You may hear God clearly for months, even years, then silence. What does that mean? Why do we hear Him some times but not others?

Do you view God as a tyrant? As an angry father? As a close friend? As an unapproachable King? There are lies we believe about God that He wants to correct today.

“God sees you as perfect. When we do not feel at peace with God, it is usually because we have built a wall between us and Him.”

In November, I started streaking. No, not THAT kind of streaking! A running streak. A running streak is running at least one mile everyday for an entire month. My running buddy from another state invited me to try it, and the concept intrigued me. I had kept my pace and runs consistently awesome and felt happy about my current ability. I had never attempted a streak before, but I was convinced the challenge of one mile a day would be a cake walk. “No problem!” I said to my friend.
Those were my famous last words.

After a few months of training I was running faster than ever. Fast miles, healthy meals, injury-free months– I was gonna OWN that race! Pumped at my progress, I decided to seal my victory with a quick jump on the scale. “Fittest and lightest me, here I come!!”But as the number illuminated before my eyes, I was shocked at what I saw:I had GAINED weight.

When faith is faltering, when our passion is waning, how do we begin to realign our priorities? When it was time to get serious about running, I did two things…

“Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.“ Philippians 4:9

“Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law and obey it with all my heart.” Psalm 119:34

“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.“ Psalm 119:11

“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32

“For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.” – Colossians 2:5

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and […]

“When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, […]

“As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ.“ 2 Corinthians 9:13 CSB

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.“ Philippians 4:12-13

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10

“After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.” -Matthew 4:2

“The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. Do not […]

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. “ Isaiah 40:31

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31

Discipline isn’t easy, so you have a head start on this week’s topic because you showed up for week 3! Way to resist that snooze button! Even on the days you fell back asleep or had nothing to pray, you showed up. God will continue to reward you for your sacrifice, promise. This week we […]

“…so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.” 1 Corinthians 12:25-26

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.“ Hebrews 10:24-25

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.“ Matthew 6:33-34

“One who isolates himself pursues selfish desires; he rebels against all sound wisdom.“ Proverbs 18:1 CSB

Welome to week two! We will take the next 5 days to focus on the purpose and benefit of living in community with others. In a world that causes us to isolate, hide behind a computer screen or phone, or even be proud to make excuses to stay in your shell, the Bible challenges us […]

“Dear friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you as if something unusual were happening to you. Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may also rejoice with great joy when his glory is revealed.” 1 Peter 4:12-13 CSB

“He must become greater; I must become less.” John 3:30 NIV

“So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.” Galatians 5:1

“I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because Abraham obeyed me and did everything I required of him, keeping my commands, my decrees and my instructions.“ Genesis 26:4-5

Welcome to our spring session of #theFives, Day One! The beginning of a new session is always a little electric– a quiet morning fueled by expectation– it can be addicting! I can’t wait to put God first, even if the hour of day is a little difficult! So why are we here, sacrificing time away […]

Who says third times a charm? We’ve cornered the market on FOUR over here! Four years in and ministry keeps getting better! Any good thing takes time, and time has been good to us. Our ministry continues to grow and mature in a way that can only happen with supporters like you… And Jesus, of course. […]

“Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.“ Psalm 51:12

“Do you not know that in a raceall the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.“ 1 Corinthians 9:24

“Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”“ 2 Corinthians 12:8-9

“And the Lord God commanded the man, ‘You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.’ “ Genesis 2:16

“At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.’ In all this, Job […]

“Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.” Ephesians 4:25

“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.“ Colossians 4:6

“Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.“ John 17:3-4

“You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” 2 Corinthians 9:11

  ““Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them? For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all food sclean.)” Mark 7:18-19

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-25

“I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after […]

  ” ‘I have the right to do anything,’ you say—but not everything is beneficial. ‘I have the right to do anything’—but I will not be mastered by anything.“ 1 Corinthians 6:12

“So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.” Romans 14:12-13

  “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt so that you would no longer be slaves to the Egyptians; I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high.” Leviticus 26:13

  “Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders.” Deuteronomy 33:12

“As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.” 1 Peter 1:14

  “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritancefrom the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.“ Colossians 3:23-24

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.“ Philippians 4:6-8

Hello again!! It’s week TWO of learning to set godly boundaries. I’m SO ready for God’s best, aren’t you? Last week we learned about the boundaries we have for ourselves based on our childhood and how those affect us adults. This week we think about relational boundaries with those we interact with on a regular […]

“He replied, ‘My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.’ ” Luke 8:21

“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.” Hebrews 3:15

“Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1

“We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid […]

Welcome to our fall session of #theFives, Day One! For those of you who are a part of our prayer ministry, this is your first day of early morning prayer. (The fact that you are reading this at all means you are already doing great!) For the rest of you, this is our daily prayer […]

I love kids. Scratch that. I love MY kids, my FRIENDS’ kids, our CHURCH’S kids. Not ALL kids. Never have. I am not a woman who gathers small babies and children into my lap when I enter a room. I don’t speak softly or have unlimited patience or rejoice in the “precious child” that is […]

“Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.” -Hebrews 5:13-14

“When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in […]

“At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them.” -Luke 4:40

“And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.” -2 Corinthians 9:13

My 6 year-old daughter, Reese, had a playdate one day with a friend. The plan was to paint on canvases with – get this- their feet! At first, both girls were unsure. They didn’t know quite what to make of it. Were their moms really telling them to make a mess? After the initial shock […]

FRIIIIDAAAAAY!!!!! Jesus is the bestest, isn’t He? He’s definitely the best prayer buddy of all. “Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the righthand of God and is also interceding for us.” -Romans 8:34

  “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” -2 Chronicles 7:14

Time for God to show-off this morning. “Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.” When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary […]

Tuesday isn’t just for tacos, people. Let’s get some truth in our bones this morning! “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” -Ecclesiastes 4:12

  Week Four is going to be incredible as we discover that prayer is always a team sport… God never intended for us to walk this prayer road alone. We are made in His image, a triune God. The very essence of His existence is community in equal parts, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He […]

Today is a day to celebrate!! It’s Friday, we made it through the hardest week of #theFives, and our God offers us HEALING for anything we need. Why wouldn’t today be the greatest day ever? “His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, […]

How can we know God’s will for us? How do we know we are praying for the right things? I’m so glad you asked. Day fourteen of #theFives has the answer. “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will […]

Hey, hey Wednesday! We are moving through week three #likeaboss! “And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer […]

Welcome to day twelve of #theFives, where prayer moves not only God’s heart, but our own. “Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many […]

With the right tool, you can build anything. I mean, directions may also be needed for the novice carpenter, but I have always believed I could build anything if only I had the right tools. Overly confident? Probably. But here’s the deal: I know that I don’t give up. That means I will find a […]

IT’S FRI-YAY!!!!!! Guess what? Today you need to congratulate yourself!! You are NAILING this session of #theFives (even if you fell back asleep a couple of times…) As long as you are walking towards God, you can never be failing! “…train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all […]

Breaking habits. Get it? Man, we are funny in #theFives 😉 “To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in […]

Sick and tired of distractions deterring your prayers? We are, too. Day seven has a solution. “Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh […]

For day seven of #theFives we’ll learn how to pray God’s Word. “For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told […]

  Perfect practice makes perfect…except with prayer. Prayer is a skill that never has to be “perfect.” It can improve in comfort and consistency, but we never “arrive” in our prayers. I had the privilege this past weekend to pray alongside a beautiful grandmother. When we were done, she confessed to me that she had […]

Is there a magic amount of time to pray? If I pray for 4 hours vs. 15 minutes, does God answer my prayers faster or better? Read on for our Friday prompt from #theFives… “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does […]

#theFives wouldn’t be possible without Jesus! Day four we focus on how he made a way for personal conversations with God, no password required. “Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, […]

Day three of #theFives promises to take us deeper! “When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. ” -Nehemiah 1:4

For day two of #theFives, let’s talk about being intentional. “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” -Ephesians 6:18

Prayer is a conversation, plain and simple. No fancy words needed. Come as you are, bruised and beaten, and lock eyes with Jesus. All your worries, stresses, fears, and shortcomings don’t hold you back here, in the moment. They only fuel the fire that consumes all that weighs you down. See, this prayer thing isn’t […]

The Hustle. It’s a world of crazy schedules, constant pressure to measure up, and that nagging feeling that we’ve got it all wrong. Somedays we wish we could press “Pause” to catch our breath. “Pause” to say that quick prayer before falling asleep, exhausted. “Pause” to look out the window at… well, nothing. “Pause” for […]

It was the first Christmas I was in charge of in my own home and it went exactly the way I had planned: Perfectly coordinated presents? Check. Homemade goodies that everyone loved? Check. Classic Christmas songs playing on our record player? Check. Playing with my kids, cuddling with my husband by the tree, or taking […]

(Photo cred: Samantha Sophia) The day was filled with promise. The birds were singing, the sun was shining, and I had grand plans of summer fun for myself and the kids. I had worked early that morning so Joey took them along to his work for a bit. Once I arrived to pick them up, […]

“Mom! I need this back pack!” I don’t know what it is about my son, Tristan, and back packs from Target, but Jesus speaks to my family at the red circle store. We were deep into school supply shopping when he emerged from around the aisle wall, sporting something colorful on his back. If you […]

Today is the last day we will feature a woman from #theFives as she shares her heart with us. In an attempt to break down walls and promote unity among women, we will uncover the real lives of those we haphazardly label and judge. Here is the story of Aisha Kennedy, a woman called to promote racial unity within […]

This week we will feature a different woman from #theFives as she shares her heart with us. In an attempt to break down walls and promote unity among women, we will uncover the real lives of those we haphazardly label and judge. Here is the story of Stacey McKenzie, a missionary in Ukraine:

This week we will feature a different woman from #theFives as she shares her heart with us. In an attempt to break down walls and promote unity among women, we will uncover the real lives of those we haphazardly label and judge. Here is the story of Stephanie Sutton, a stay at home mom who chooses to homeschool […]

  This week we will feature a different woman from #theFives as she shares her heart with us. In an attempt to break down walls and promote unity among women, we will uncover the real lives of those we haphazardly label and judge. Here is the story of Tamara Koehler, a Deaf woman who is called to share […]

This week we will feature a different woman from #theFives as she shares her heart with us. In an attempt to break down walls and promote unity among women, we will uncover the real lives of those we haphazardly label and judge. Here is the story of Alyssa McKenzie, a teen who lives across the world and wakes […]

For the next two weeks we will feature a different woman from #theFives as she shares her heart with us. In an attempt to break down walls and promote unity among women, we will uncover the real lives of those we haphazardly label and judge. Wanna grow in your own journey of loving without walls? Join #theFives HERE. (<–Today is the […]

For the next two weeks we will feature a different woman from #theFives as she shares her heart with us. In an attempt to break down walls and promote unity among women, we will uncover the real lives of those we haphazardly label and judge. Wanna grow in your own journey of loving without walls? Join #theFives HERE. Here is […]

For the next two weeks we will feature a different woman from #theFives as she shares her heart with us. In an attempt to break down walls and promote unity among women, we will uncover the real lives of those we haphazardly label and judge. Wanna grow in your own journey of loving without walls? Join #theFives HERE. Here is […]

For the next two weeks we will feature a different woman from #theFives as she shares her heart with us. In an attempt to break down walls and promote unity among women, we will uncover the real lives of those we haphazardly label and judge. Wanna grow in your own journey of loving without walls? Join #theFives HERE. Here is […]

  For the next two weeks we will feature a different woman from #theFives as she shares her heart with us. In an attempt to break down walls and promote unity among women, we will uncover the real lives of those we haphazardly label and judge. Wanna grow in your own journey of loving without walls? Join #theFives HERE. Here […]

I still remember the words as if they were spoken yesterday: “I used to think you were stuck-up. But then I got to know you and you’re actually really nice!” Backhanded compliment for the #win.

Who would have guessed the impact this little ministry would have on the nation? Never in a million years would I have thought that two years in, we would be were we are. God has been so faithful to bless our efforts! While this is just a sampling of the way God has moved, I […]

I am Betty White. Well, not the real Betty White- that would be awesome- but the angry Betty White that people turn into when they get hungry and need a snack. They stop being awesome and get angry. They are Hangry. Hangry: A state of being when your hunger collides with your raw emotions, creating a vortex […]

“How do you two do it?” The counselor that evaluated my husband Joey and me for our future in church planting grimisced while dissecting the results he held on his clipboard. We had taken personality tests, psychological evaluations, shared our entire family history- all in hopes of (maybe) starting our own church in the future. […]

God’s love is solid, like concrete. It ain’t going nowhere. He is our rock. Our fortress. Our sustainer. Yet we question His provision and presence every day – “Where are you God? Why can’t I hear you? Are you mad at me? Why are you hiding? Why can’t I feel you? Will you ever use me?” […]

I sat awkwardly on the wooden pews, my curiosity peaked by the white screen positioned front and center. The women in my church sang her praises without end, claiming she was the greatest teacher in the Baptist world of women teachers (I had no idea that “world” even existed.) I had never seen this “Beth Moore” […]

Solitude. I prize this. In my heart and in my “everyday.” It is in the silence I hear Him the loudest. Clinging to the words of my God, declaring His promises over my life: Chosen. Perfected. Forgiven. Redeemed. Victorious.

“With these old homes, the work never ends.” My sweet neighbor stood shaking his head on my front lawn. He was making his observation from a privileged place, as he was not the one kneeling in a trench stretching the length of my yard. Our plumbing had stopped working for the billionth time and in […]

God + Running = Spiritual Revelation. Sweat on the small of my back, breath falling into rhythm, shoes pounding the pavement- God always shows up when I go for a run. He tells me stories of His love, reminds me of His presence, and often calls me to obedience in seemingly kooky ways. My last run […]

Exactly one year ago today, I took a deep, shaky breath and clicked “Publish.” It was done. Out there for the whole world to read. My first blog post. …I may have peed my pants just a little…

I received a super-fun “adult” coloring book for Christmas, complete with a rainbow of sharpened colored pencils and spare time to dive in. Only I didn’t. I forgot my coloring book sitting in a stack of other Christmas gifts I didn’t have time to put away. #firstworldproblems My 1st attempt to color looked like this: […]

“It escapes all logic. We aren’t able to understand all things. It is a matter of faith…to trust that God is in control.” -Tom Hughes Thank God for Spotify. On a horrendous flight home from a church planting conference in Florida, I was convinced my plane was going down in flames. The turbulence was enough to make […]

It was majestic in beauty, with its spreading boughs, for its roots went down to abundant waters. -Ezekiel 31:7 Do you believe you have been gifted to change the world? I have a friend who claims her only gifts are “unmarketable skills.” You may feel the same way. Maybe you aren’t running a Fortune 500 company or healing the […]

I woke up yesterday morning with a literal song in my head: “You Are Loved” by Stars Go Dim. I had just fought through a rough couple of days, feeling beat down by life in general- missed opportunities, disappointments, overly-busy schedules, lack of sleep- it had all created a perfect storm where laying in bed for the […]

“He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.” Job 5:9 There is part of me that hesitates to share what God is working through #theFives. I know it sounds crazy. The miracles and healing He performs through #theFives is almost too much to believe. The more I share the stories with others, […]

He hikes mountains in Colorado. His biceps are the size of my head. He replaces pipeline running to our house with his bare hands. He shoots guns, kills snakes, rides four-wheelers, and could fight any guy that challenges him, winning every time. My husband is the definition of a MAN. Yet, in our twelve years of marriage, […]

“Hello. My name is Erica and I am a paralyzed perfectionist.” The year was 1988. My friend and I playfully jumped on a tiny, Jane Fonda-type exercise trampoline. We decided to make the most of our time by multi-tasking, (I assume this was my leading) and alternated between “feelin’ the burn” and the artistic expression of […]

Imagine a child standing in front of you- not the obnoxious one, screaming for his mom while pelting you with rocks from the play ground- but a sweet, lovable, squishy-cheeked toddler. You gotta love him! That smile draws you into ornery fun and carefree exploration- no expectations or goals. Just living. Every person begins their […]

I remember the day Joey proposed to me like it was yesterday… I had been on a worship internship in New Hampshire and was flying back home to Kansas City. Joey and I had dated almost a year, and I knew I was going to marry him, I just didn’t know when. We had our […]

  Do you struggle with praying consistently? Maybe you start each Monday with good intentions to spend some time chattin’ it up with God, but then the dog got sick and the kids were late to school; the car broke down and your dinner almost caught the kitchen on fire; you find yourself sitting on […]

As I bared my soul to you about how my need to please my son overrode my need to please God, I was amazed at the response! Thank you for sharing that you, too, feel that same tugging to give your kids the world; how you have felt those same convictions and faced the struggle, […]

There they were. Tucked away in the clothing section was a pair of suede, navy blue, yellow-laced boots, size 12. My son was IN LOVE. We were on our weekly “I’m-losing-my-mind-so-let’s-go-to-Target!” trip, and these hipster-looking boots caught his attention. There was no turning back. “PLEEEEEEEASE?!?!?! Mom, I want them so bad for school!!” I was shocked! […]

My spiritual disciplines used to feel pretty solid. Not always perfect, but good. Then #TheFives swept in with their “Early morning wake-up call” and “Hour-long time goal,” and everything changed. Prayer changed from a conversation with God to an essential for my faith’s daily survival. I typically share everyone else’s story before we launch a new prayer […]

RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!!!! THEY ARE ON THE LOOSE!!! They are quick and ferocious, loud and restless, always on the lookout for their next meal. No, the lions did not just escape from the zoo… My children did.

For the past five years, Texas has been in a drought. The Lone-star state was a dry and thirsty land and it needed some good ol’ fashioned RAIN. In the past two months, Texas has received more rainfall than it does in an entire year. An ENTIRE YEAR. I’d say God went above and beyond with this one! Lakes that have been low […]

This is Kate. She is my best friend. Isn’t she beautiful? Before Kate, I had written off female friendships. I had mainly been friends with guys and was convinced no girl could be as fun, non-judgmental and carefree as they were. Little did I know that God was about to karate-chop all my preconceived notions…

It’s like we are all back in 3rd grade, holding our lunch trays, waiting for a familiar face to invite us to their table. Those moments of waiting seem like an eternity… And if no one invites you to sit with them? Social destruction. Now you are an adult. Maybe you have popped out a […]

Can you really be friends with a guy and not be romantically involved? Is it okay to have guy friends when you are married? If so, what are the boundaries needed to protect your marriage? Our #MCM expert, Joey Willis, answers these questions and more!   *Stay tuned all week for our Friendship series!  

Almost 30 women from across the U.S. joined together in prayer at 5am, 5 days a week, for 5 weeks. It was in this hour of focusing on God that we saw miracles happen in their faith- marriages restored, sickness healed, new job opportunities, and a genuine restoration of faith in the power of prayer. Will […]

Welcome to Parker County, my new stomping grounds. Number one thing to know about Parker County? It is all about peaches. Peach jelly. Peach ice cream. Peach cobbler. A peach festival. Peaches are celebrated, manipulated and integrated into everything. In my yard stands an established, beautiful peach tree that I cannot wait to pick peaches from […]

Happy Monday!!! Thanks to all of you that sent in your questions for the return of #MCM with Joey Willis. This week he answers the question, “How can I encourage my husband?”

I slowly crawled out from the sea of toys crammed into the child-sized, Frozen-themed tent. I was hot, bored, and tired of playing injured animal to my tiny veterinarian daughter. One can only take so many hits to the eye with a stethoscope, Amen? I was DONE. The truth is, I am a selfish person. As a […]

My son couldn’t sleep. He was talking a million miles a minute, his little chatterbox-brain unable to contain the excitement of it all: The Zoo. Tomorrow was field trip day and it may have well been Jesus’ second coming, the way he talked about it. The world is perfect on field trip day. As he describes it: […]

My dad has two sides: all-fun, and all-business. He can make the smallest child feel comfortable and safe, or terrify the boy waiting to pick me up for prom. As a dad, he spoke words of life and challenge, teaching me to believe in myself and giving me the confidence I needed to be a level-headed adult. He is […]

God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning — the first day. Genesis 1:5 Nothing is quite like the feeling I get when I rise in the morning and let the sun shine through our towering Victorian windows. My day is brighter (pun intended) when […]

Have you ever been told you are “too much?” That your dreams are too far-fetched and the passion you chase will never be your “real” life? Has anyone put you down for being yourself? Did they say you were “less-than?” Fat? Ugly? Friendless? Weird? Untalented? What if I told you that you are more gifted and […]

  We did it! We reached our goal! We made it 5 weeks as an accountability group, getting up at to pray at 5am, 5 days a week! Now it is YOUR turn.

Freedom is a majestic thing. With it, we can have personal conversations with God and unlimited forgiveness for every mistake. We are given a joy and purpose beyond ourselves. We come alive in the freedom of Christ. This freedom empowers us to be who we are meant to be- not the nagging, tired, frustrated mama or the overlooked spouse; Not […]

I quietly entered the dimly lit auditorium and a great sense of “home” filled my heart. I had returned to the church I had helped start from nothing, planning and striving for months, pulling together a children’s ministry from nothing and a small group schedule that would connect people to each other. All my creativity […]

There is a history of shopping addiction in my family. There are people in my family’s past who were “Shopaholics.” They never had money to pay the bills, needed help from other family members to cover costs, and never said “no” to buying the finer things, even when their income did not reflect that lifestyle. I had to take […]

“I NEED new clothes for school!” “I NEED a new car.” “I NEED the new iPhone.” These are the words we utter every single day: “I need.” It is the internal uttering of a privileged generation.

Is it possible to be thrifty and fabulous? Absolutely! Can you stay on a budget, while still rockin’ your fav outfits and dressing your home in style? With a little planning and creativity, anything is possible! When I was in debilitating debt, I was forced to think outside the box. I needed to find ways to […]

The Debt Monster. Terrifying and sharp-toothed, it doesn’t make exceptions or play favorites. We are all equally vulnerable, our lives never the same after he chews us up and spits us out. Six years ago, I learned the hard way how this Monster can try to destroy everything in your life- all the lies he tells, […]

Every night before bed, I ask my son the same question: “Who would you like to read to you tonight, Mom or Dad?” I say this is my way of giving him a choice in his controlled little world, but really it is my way of crossing my fingers in hopes he asks for my husband […]

As a young girl, I played hide and seek for hours with the neighbor kids until way past dark. The excitement of finding the perfect hiding spot, holding my breath as they got closer to finding my location, and the adrenaline rush when I was finally found out fueled game after game. As we grow […]

It was a surprisingly warm winter day in Colorado as I waited for my ski instructor to show for my first lesson. As I stood there, I took in my surroundings- people of all ages zooming past on their skis with ease, timing their turn on the chair lift perfectly, and heading up the mountain […]

  Are you tired of “trying?” Is your inner voice always on repeat? “Be better.” “Work harder.” “Give more.”

All the single ladies know what I’m talking about. The sympathetic looks when you attend a wedding without a date. The awkward silence after your aunt asks if you have a new love interest. The pressure to join the Singles Ministry in order to find a man. The long nights, spent alone, watching re-runs of Gilmore […]

I had stopped dating. Not one guy on the horizon and I was happy. My spiritual growth was off-the-charts and I was becoming a new person while I focused on myself for a bit. The change I saw in myself was good. I could handle waiting for the man God would bring me. …My mom could not.

He was the captain of the football team. I was the Varsity cheerleading captain. We were Homecoming King and Queen. We had dated on-and-off for over 7 years, people. Our relationship was one many considered “perfect.” Unfortunately, love can make you do crazy stuff.

One day I spent the afternoon alone, mulling over how I didn’t love people. Honestly. I loved my family. I deeply cherished my husband and those close to me. If they hurt, I hurt. If they cried, I cried. But when someone outside my immediate circle was met with a tragedy, I was disconnected. I […]

Meet my hubby, Joey Willis. Who wouldn’t swoon over that?! I mean, really, ladies. I get butterflies.

The alarm was a rude awakening. My mind a-jumble, I silenced the annoyance and stumbled downstairs. The bright light of the living room always woke me from my deep sleep. I am NOT a morning person. Let me rephrase that: I am not a WAKING-UP person. It can get ugly when a small child comes […]

Eve. She is our beginning. The embodiment of the characteristics of God that were too lovely to hap-hazardly toss to Adam and his football-lovin’ buddies. God needed a special creation to handle the fragile emotions of the hurting, who could feel deeply and possess a strong intuition. Someone sensitive enough to empathize with those wounded by war, yet […]

Others would describe me as “joyful,” and most times “happy.” I would agree. I am not “happy” because my life is always sunshine and rainbows. At times, it is quite the opposite. In the past six years, I have battled postpartum depression, lost two jobs (and as a result, my home and two cars), had my […]

We searched and searched. We had been obedient to move to Texas, but couldn’t find a place to live. We wanted Fort Worth, longed for Fort Worth, but God had a different plan. All the doors had shut and we felt discouraged. Suddenly, one door flew WIDE open, leading us to my dream home. We […]

“Starbucks makes us all equal.” -Erica Willis You may laugh at that, but for now it is my life-blood. In Kansas City, my “office” was a Starbucks. I regularly sipped my caramel latte with new church members and potential kid ministry volunteers. My ears were met with the heartbreak of people searching for meaning- answers […]

I grew up a writer. I wrote poems, songs, love letters to boyfriends (so many love letters), and a mystery novel in 6th grade that involved a secret staircase and lots of flashlights (I was in my Nancy Drew phase.) I loved how I could look at the finished product and feel I had ushered emotion […]

“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and […]

My son said something that cut to my heart: “I wish my sister was never born. When she wasn’t here, I never got in trouble. It was better when it was just you, me and Dad.” No mother wants to hear her child express that they don’t like their sibling. I understand there are struggles that will […]

Obedience. It seems like a dirty word. I don’t like others being in charge. I don’t like to follow through with other people’s original ideas. I struggle with wanting to always be the boss, be in control, and make the final call. That is why the call to follow and be obedient to God isn’t […]