Study with Friends Blog

There comes a time in every Christian parent’s journey of raising children, where we have a revelation. A loud voice booms suddenly inside our heads, shaking us to our very souls: “What if I’m not good enough for my kids?” Or more specifically, “What if my parenting isn’t good enough to save them?”

As we turn the corner on 2019 and begin another new year, I find myself in a sober mood. It’s early on New Year’s Eve as I write, and fitting to reflect on the previous 12 months. The holidays have always been a time of happy reunions and celebrations for my crew and 2019 was no different. But for many it’s a profoundly difficult time.

Why are we instructed to seek our bread daily, one day at a time? One reason, I believe, is to teach us to live in the day. When we train ourselves to look only for enough “bread” for the current day, it helps us focus on God’s provision for the day and to trust Him for that provision one day at a time.

I like roller coasters.  I like the thrill and the adventure, and since I am usually riding with one of my kids, just the whole experience of an amusement park day is something we really enjoy.  We look at each other just before the ride starts and say ‘this is going to be awesome.’ We […]

I like to think of myself as a Yes-girl. I’m flexible, willing to go with the flow, and small change doesn’t throw me for a loop. I can often say yes to last minute plans and go along for the ride. (Don’t get me wrong–as a mom of twins I now also thrive off of a routine and a schedule!) But I like to be the fun-loving gal who’s down for anything.

In my younger days, I took lessons in English horseback riding.  I will forever remember one of my instructor’s frequent sayings:  When on horseback, when the horse is doing everything right, “the hardest thing for the rider to do is NOTHING.” 

The amazing thing about walking on the beach is that fact that you leave your mark clearly behind. You can’t walk without leaving footprints. I tried. No matter how gently or carefully I tread, there was evidence of my presence to anyone who walked behind. The beach was covered in footprints – children jumping and skipping, adults with serious fitness goals, birds, dogs, and wanderers like myself.

In many churches, there is an element of worship called “passing the peace.” Those sitting nearby may shake your hand, speak a word of peace, share the peace sign, or (if you’re especially close) offer a kiss. The expression, “passing the peace,” conjures up images in my head of sprinkling a little peace on our friends, like we would shake salt or pepper onto our food. If only it were that easy! People would be lined up in grocery stores, scarfing up boxes of peace from the shelves, just in time for the holidays.

If Jesus came back today how would you react? Would you be prepared or would you be running around trying to gather oil or get your cleats on? Would you be like most trying to push it off to another day? 

This past Christmas, my sister gifted me a plain metal bracelet with two words stamped on it: trust GOD. I wear it practically every day and it has been a great at-a-glance reminder to do just that. I have walked some tough roads these past few years, trusting God even when life has been hard. I have trusted Him for healing and deliverance for myself and others and He has shown Himself strong.  Although I’ve grown in faith, there are still instances when I fail to trust Him completely. I too easily choose to ignore the deeper trust He is calling me to.