A couple of years ago, a woman from our church asked a good question on Facebook: Shouldn’t we be less focused on self care and more focused on soul care? There were resounding yeses from other Christians. I had just finished the curriculum for our Spiritual Disciplines class at the Scum Study Center and had […]
The first promise of God for us: Rest
It’s been one of those weeks. My son nearly dumped our entire table at Chick-fil-A yesterday. Instead “only” 2 full drinks were knocked over. Followed by chicken nuggets. The dog keeps finding junk left by the previous owner of our house hidden behind and under the shed. (Three bags of left over carpet. Three. Dragged all […]
Day 16 :: Ecclesiastes {Does Life Have M...
“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” (Ecclesiastes 1:2) You might hear me cry these words as I toil over a sudsy sink of pots, pans, and floating food bits <shudder>. At the beginning of most days I try to empty the dishwasher so the kitchen won’t be a complete disaster by the […]
Day 15 :: Proverbs {Ask God}
When I began Write 31 Days on October 1st, I could tell my husband was frustrated with me. As I put finishing touches on my formatting and images until late into the evening, he would sigh and walk away. When I asked him what was going on, he told me what I should have expected […]
Day 12 :: Esther {More than a Pretty Fac...
Yesterday I downloaded My Fitness Pal to my phone. Again. I have felt overweight ever since my son Jack was born 6 years ago. Whether or not this is true is besides the point. Since then, I have not been able to maintain my pre-pregnancy weight for more than a few months and I HATE […]
Day 11 :: Ezra & Nehemiah {Restoration}
I struggle to take days off. My problem is that I feel that if I’m not being productive then the day is not worth it. Without having something to show for myself, I feel that I am somehow failing or that life is meaningless. This makes for a very weary woman. But work and striving […]
Day 10 :: 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles
The majority of the Old Testament was a confusing mess to me for many years because I did not know the history of Israel. I did not know that the northern 10 tribes split from Judah. I did not know the people were idolatrous. I did not know that they were eventually overtaken by other nations. […]
Day 8 :: 1 & 2 Samuel {Man after God’s H
When 1 Samuel begins, it is still the period of the judges when everyone is doing whatever they want and generally ruining the country. However, there is the threat of the Philistines coming from the East and suddenly the people want someone to rule over them. But where is their heart? Do they want a […]
Day 7 :: Ruth {Hope for the Depressed}
For the majority of my adult life, I have struggled with depression. I’ve gone to counseling, been on medications, switched medications, and generally sought healing as best as I have known how. But there are days and weeks when nothing seems to be working. I’ve been stuck in several of those days in a row […]
Day 3 :: Leviticus {The Holy One (who ma...
Okay friends, who else groans when they think of Leviticus? I have only read the book from front to back once and it is dull. One of those reads where you can’t remember what you just read and at times swear you’ve already read those words before. (Hint: You probably have.) When I asked my […]