As always, Kelly Balarie is full of encouragement and hope… things we all need right about now! Perfect timing for me to share this guest post with you… Enjoy! Are things going to turn out okay? I don’t know about you, but these days, I see all this political talk and I can’t help but...

Welcome to installment #6 in a series called Making Scripture Your Own. (Read intro post here.) Jodie Barrett has become an especially dear friend of mine. She is spunky and generous and kind. She lives her life full of joy, and I have witnessed firsthand how her commitment to joy has sustained her through the...

Welcome to installment #5 in a series called Making Scripture Your Own. (Read intro post here.) Today’s author, Diana Rockwell, is a sweet woman I met through a Suzie Eller retreat several years ago. Her kindness and compassion shine through immediately upon meeting her, and I’m grateful she offered to be part of this series....

I’m excited to share installment #4 in a series called Making Scripture Your Own. (Read intro post here.) Jama Kehoe Bigger is just one of the best people I’ve ever known. I met her through her role as director of the Midwest Writers Workshop—she is another of the treasured friends I’ve found there. I adore...

Welcome to installment #3 in a series called Making Scripture Your Own. (Read intro post here.) Gail Werner is a real-life friend of mine—one of several really amazing writer-friends discovered through the Midwest Writers Workshop. She’s much younger than I am but she is who I want to be when I grow up—she’s well-informed, intelligent,...

This is installment #2 in a series about Making Scripture Your Own. (Read intro post here.) One of the things I love about Michele O’Leary is that God has truly transformed her perception of herself so that she understands her true identity—who God says that she is, and who she is able to become because...

Have you ever asked anyone what their favorite scripture is and why? When I’ve seen this question answered, the responses have been so moving. Insightful. And really beautiful. So I’m going to be sharing some of my friends’ answers to this question—starting with mine. Interestingly, right after I had this idea, a friend sent me...

Even now, even when prayer should be at the top of our list of things we want to do, I still struggle. I think I always will. But you know what? At the exact same time, I still have faith. I still believe prayer matters. I still witness changes happening. I still know God hears...

This letter is for you: the creative one who isn’t creating. Okay, so you haven’t written one word of your latest book (or blog post), performed a single inspiring song on YouTube, recorded a video encouragement, painted a single thing (not a rock or a wall or a canvas), made a single pair of earrings,...

I’ll be honest… The main reason I said yes to reviewing the Fresh Start Bible was that they would send me two copies—one for me, and one to give away. And who doesn’t love a giveaway? Read all the way to the end to find out how to enter! Reason #2 I was interested is...