God is pulling out of my heart the deep root of striving. It seems common to manufacture our worth with many, many, many tasks so we can feel purposeful. Let's be honest, what kind of people would we be if we got nothing done? We'd be worthless, right? That’s not what God says. We put … Continue reading Striving, Anxiety, and Light
healing
My Birth Story, Part II: Labor and Delivery
If you missed part I, go read it first! The best way I can describe what a natural birth without pain medications felt like to me is a marathon. If you've ever run a marathon, you know what a muscle cramp feels like, and that you can't think "I can't do this" or overthink about … Continue reading My Birth Story, Part II: Labor and Delivery
My Birth Story, Part I: Pregnancy and War
You wouldn't think the two would go together, pregnancy and war, but oh, they do. From the minute I started even thinking my body might be hosting a new life in the near future, I started preparing. I started taking prenatal vitamins 4 months (yes, pretty much right when we got engaged) before the wedding, … Continue reading My Birth Story, Part I: Pregnancy and War
The Disease of Hatred
I've been silent for months, just being "in my life" and enjoying being engaged and getting married and being a newlywed. My day-to-day home life has been overall very, very positive. I have been overwhelmed with thanksgiving, peace, and love. Then I log on to Facebook and I am bombarded by hatred. I glimpse the … Continue reading The Disease of Hatred
Why I’ve Been Silent
I used to write about once a week, sometimes twice. I also used to write a devotional every single day. All these things went out to a set list of readers, straight to their email inbox. Then life got a bit more complicated for me on the emotional zone. I began to feel that this … Continue reading Why I’ve Been Silent
A Stranger’s Party
Last month, I was invited to a party for a stranger. I was in the middle of doing something else, and the invitation surprised me. I accepted. I found myself sitting at a table, surrounded by people I didn't know. We laughed. I was offered food, and I realized I was really hungry. I ate, … Continue reading A Stranger’s Party
Bitter and Sweet
My warm cup of very caffeinated coffee cheered me on to a new morning. I was so proud of myself for managing to drink it without sugar, only with a heavy pour of unsweetened soy milk. It was a perfect traveling mug of goodness. By itself, that is. In my lunchbox (yes, I'm four and … Continue reading Bitter and Sweet
I Accept
The love of God. The forgiveness of Jesus. The counsel of the Holy Spirit. I took the quickest moment, in the midst of the anxiety I felt in my stomach, and I whispered a prayer that messed me up. I'm talking snot and tears everywhere. I said "I accept Your forgiveness, Jesus." Apparently that's all … Continue reading I Accept
God Isn’t Willy Wonka
Have you ever found yourself greatly discouraged and flipped through your own notes/pictures/prayers with God, and those scribbles ministered to you? Yep. I'm discovering through a really rough season that my faith in God is a foundation. You can't tear down a wall without running into your foundation. It's incredibly important to solidify your faith, to … Continue reading God Isn’t Willy Wonka
Even Now
I've been quiet because I've been waiting. And while you wait and there are no news, why speak up? There are several parts of my life that have been in transition, unanswered. I've been praying and waiting. I've tried not to complain, or get my hopes up, or become pessimistic. I am writing this right … Continue reading Even Now
Hey Hey Helena 