I’m not a visionary or a goal-setter by any means, and so annual words and resolutions are not things I waste energy on. That being said, God often reveals a common theme to me throughout the year. This year, the word God has spoken over me, and to me, time and time again, is “delight.” The irony of this is not lost on me.

I had dozens of conversations with strangers that week, sharing openly and honestly about the love of Jesus. I don’t remember any of them now really. But my encounter with that man was one I’ll never forget because I didn’t tell him about Jesus, I showed him, Jesus. I saw Him because God saw Him, and that is exactly what I was called to do.

My daughter is about to turn 9 years old. I blinked and she went from my baby girl to a stunning young lady with a heart of gold. There’s so much my momma heart wants to say to her.

As I approached the fire, I found it hard to relinquish my list. Those words, awful as they were, were so familiar. They were my truth. But it was time to release them and put an end to the control they had on my heart and mind. It was time to stop grieving all the things I wasn’t, and embrace joy in who I was in Christ. It was time to trade my ashes for a crown of beauty.

There was an incident from my childhood involving blue paint that continues to serve as a stark reminder of my issues with pride. Now I’m navigating parenting my own stubborn hearted child, and God’s discipline is enough to humble us both.

Materialism is a faithful thorn in my side. I enjoy shopping, acquiring, consuming, but I struggle to remember the let-down, the remorse, the hollow feeling that comes after, until I’m already sitting in it. It’s in those seasons of struggle that I’m forced to face a bitter truth; I’m unhappy, not because I don’t have Jesus, but because Jesus isn’t enough for me.

What makes a house a home? It’s not in the appearance or aesthetics, it’s in the way you feel when you’re there. It’s the way others feel around your table and on your couch. Hospitality isn’t just about the food we share, but it’s about the time we spend in each other’s company. Our home is an extension of ourselves, meant to be enjoyed and shared. It’s a reflection of what we value and who we love.

I tried to blend into a punk-rock concert audience once. I tried to trade who I was for someone I wasn’t, and in the end it wasn’t any easier.

The world tells us our worth lies in the number on a scale, in our outward appearance. God tells us we are enough and we are worthy, right now, as is.

I have a kid who is passionate about cooking and dreams of becoming a “tv chef.” If he’s not hosting his own show and opening his own restaurant in 20 years, it won’t be because of me. I’m determined to let him into my kitchen, no matter how inconvenient it is, because that’s what my parents did for me.

We all want a well balanced life, but is balanced really better? Read why I think “having it all together” really isn’t what God wants for us.

I’m a former resident of the Land of Regret. Understanding God’s grace and His purpose for my past has helped me keep my eyes fixed on what lies ahead, not behind.

It’s hard to see God in this season of loss, disappointment, and monotony, but He’s there, if we only have eyes to see Him. Don’t wish this season away. He has so much to show us in it, and someday soon, we may look back and realize we missed it.

2 days of walking 34 miles over the hills of San Francisco felt a lot like the last 5 months of 2020. Cheering sections and the kindness of fellow walkers helped get me through both.

“Inner circle” friends. Those friends that champion you, affirm you, speak words of value, worth and encouragement to you when you can’t speak them to yourself. Those friends that are confident enough in themselves to know there’s no joy to be found in comparison.

Many good things come from small beginnings, sometimes smaller than we expected. Our neighborhood movie nights are one of them. We were dumbfounded by the number of people who showed up. God wasn’t.

The grind is so daily and tiresome, so why is it worth pursuing? (Also, why I hate running.)

Sometimes idols take the form of a golden calf, sometimes they take the form of a well organized wedding binder.

Our daily grind can be filled with unmet expectations. I know mine often is. The good news is God can still be glorified in the disappointment.

“Alexa, play music from Hamilton.” This is what I say every waking minute I have to myself these days. I’m Hamilton’s newest fan. Here’s what I think his obsession with leaving a legacy has to teach us.