We need to reframe the idea of “being grateful.” Gratitude does not replace grief or loss but comes alongside it.

A Heart Returned to the Lord “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But […]

Oftentimes, the plan of the Father can only be drawn out of the water if it is first surrendered.

We have hope because we serve a God of redemption. We have a God that works all things for good for those who love Him. (Romans 8:28) We serve a good God who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17). We have a God who we trust to make all things new. (Rev. 21:5).

Gardening was a hobby adopted later in my life. I enjoyed growing herbs, simple wildflowers, and some vegetables. Things like basil and zucchini are some of my favorite things to grow because they develop quickly, and the harvest is bountiful. Other plants take more care and attention, and it may be a much longer wait […]

I have been fortunate to work a wide range of jobs. I was a babysitter and waited tables at a local fried chicken restaurant for much of my young adulthood. In college, I spent my summers as a white water raft guide, and for a brief part of my story, I worked as a registered […]

February has become a difficult month in our home; it’s a reminder and exclamation point to our reality. In a matter of days, I will mark three years since my daughter’s death. It’s a paradox of emotions that will never make sense or get easier. A constantly shifting and always changing dichotomy centered around love […]

Gratitude isn’t a betrayal of my grief. My grief hasn’t gotten any smaller, but my heart has grown. My capacity to hold joy and grief together has increased exponentially.

Father’s Day can be a challenging day for so many. There can often be sorrow, loneliness, and disappointment; it can be bitter because it has the potential to be very sweet. I pray that no matter how this day feels, it will point you to your heavenly Father.

James 1:17 says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above.” I believe that any good gift apart from salvation is seasonal, and if we try to hold onto it out of season, it will turn bitter.