Lover of Beauty, Giver of Peace by Suzanne Felton A faint pink halo outlined the massive, jagged silhouette of the mountain far across the river. All was still except for the rippling roar of the water and the rhythmic, back-and-forth motion of my husband’s fly rod in its midst. Little by little, new sun […]
When Life Feels Like Walking on a Balance Beam by Bethany Broderick I watch my six-year-old daughter’s calf muscles flex as she struggles to remain centered on the balance beam. She tilts to the left, then back to the right, before taking her final trip down the beam in tiny hops. I clap for […]
Where Do You Live? Dwelling Where I Was Never Meant to Live by Megan Rea “So, where do you live?” Seems like an innocuous enough question, right? “I live in the suburbs of Chicago.” “I live just down the street.” “I live in a brownstone walk-up in New York City, steps away from the […]
Joy in the Cracks Using Scripture to Battle Bitterness and Choose Joy by Kristine Amundrud Somewhere in my journal from years ago, a phrase is marked as a reminder on weathered paper: Happiness depends on circumstances—joy depends on God. It spoke to me in that particular season, and it still resonates now. I have […]
Living in the Shadow of the Almighty A Journey of Intimacy and Transformation by Kari Minter Have you ever stepped out in faith, only to find that life became more difficult rather than easier? You obeyed, trusting God, but the road ahead seemed filled with more obstacles than before. In the book of Exodus, […]
No Backup Plan Going All in with Jesus by Melanie Bedogne I had been praying for a breakthrough for several months. Circumstances in one area of my life had left me with a weary heart. For weeks, I had been waiting, praying, seeking, and believing in faith for God to show up in a […]
The Secret Place A Psalm 91 Story by Kierstin Almstrum The trodden path ahead leads to a familiar and beloved place. In reminiscence, I clearly trace my footsteps, remembering the times I’ve traveled to this secluded location. A few more feet and I’ll reach my destination. I indulge the crisp mountain air, basking in the […]
Four Ways to Nurture Spiritual Growth Using Your Phone to Grow Your Relationship with God by Jennifer Trautmann After pressing the snooze button for the second time, I finally reached for my phone. I began to scroll to “ease” into my day. When I finally got up to shower, I felt a “not enough” […]
Shifting Sand Trusting God in a Culture of Deconstructed Faith by Samantha Branch Faith is a lot like sand on a beach—moving, shifting, and even briefly disappearing—before it slowly begins to come into view again. As I get older, I am desperate for more tangible proof that what I have believed my whole life […]
When It’s Not about Faith Facing Depression As a Believer by Melinda Olsen We live in a fast-paced, on-the-go kind of world. Busyness and rules can lock us into routines and behavior patterns in which we don’t have time for rest, quality time with friends and family, time outside in nature, or simply time […]