Celebrating Firsts and All the Moments In Between [Kristen Hogrefe Parnell]

First bath. First smile. First laugh. As a new mom, I celebrate all my baby boy’s firsts. First Christmas? Time for a trip to Hobby Lobby to get him a stocking! But the truth is, firsts can be hard too. First boo-boo. First break-up. First accident. The challenge with firsts is that depending on our

What if God Calls Me to Something I Hate? [Hope Bolinger]

What if God calls me to something I hate? This is a question I often asked myself when I looked publishing square in the eye and wondered if I could stay in my dream career forever. I’d been working as an SEO manager at the time and trying to write in whatever bubbles of time

What One Day Will Be [Sara Davison]

Almost every time we watch the news, I breathe the words, “Come, Lord Jesus,” when the last image fades from the screen. We yearn for the day John described in Revelation 21:3-4 when “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.” God alone knows when that day will be. But while we are here, He sends us glimpses of heaven, reminders of what will one day be.

When the Teapot Boils [Patricia Lee]

I never had a burning passion to write a book. Like a teapot simmering on a stove’s back burner, my idea to write a novel also sat.

Write a book? Ninety-some thousand words? I couldn’t imagine such a feat.

But the teapot on the back of the stove kept simmering.

A Mile in Someone Else’s Shoes [Sara Davison]

Have you ever had a pair of shoes that were so perfectly worn around your feet, so completely comfortable, that you never wanted to take them off or wear another pair? New shoes can be the opposite—uncomfortable and sometimes even painful. But often they are also beautiful, and it is well worth the effort to try them on, break them in, give them time to adapt and mold to your feet.

Our comfort zone is the same.

How to Love People Through Their Depression [Kelsey Norman]

Depression is a common illness, but it seems more people have experienced it since the pandemic began. It can be hard for those who don’t deal with it themselves to know how to support their loved ones who do. If someone you care about struggles with depression, here’s what you can do to help: