WOMEN'S MINISTRIES BLOG

A few months ago, I wrote about the importance of community, the value of crossing paths and making the unfamiliar close. (Check out that post here.) Today let’s continue that conversation, and take it a step deeper. A part two, if you will. Something I find completely fascinating is that study after study, statistic after statistic, professional after professional will tell you that we are absolutely created for connection. We…

I believe in the “slow work of God.” For seven years, my husband and I were missionaries in Mexico. At first, he went to Mexico alone to scope out the land, and then I flew down when he said, “I don’t know if I’ll make it without you.” That was how he proposed, how I found myself on the next plane to Mexico City, and how we were married three…

I am not a patient wait-er. I think you know what I mean. Waiting in line at Ralph’s in the 5:00 afternoon rush, or waiting on the phone—way beyond reason—to be connected to the person I need to talk to gives me the fidgets. Right now, my husband Larry and I are waiting on a matter of great magnitude. At times, it’s kept me awake in the night . ….

Recently I’ve been thinking about scabs. It’s not a subject I mull over often—I don’t have any kiddos running around with banged up knees and it’s been a few years since I was that age myself, so it’s easy to forget about the “growing pains” of growing up—but a little while ago I was reminded about scabs again. My family owns a beautiful Golden Retriever: Finley, six years old, the…

“I’m sorry, Mommy, but I broke your magnet . . .” Her voice trails off as she hands me the broken pieces, “HOPE” in a pretty white script, now missing the H. But it’s not the first time. A gift from my mom, she thought of me when she saw it. A perfectly pink butterfly rests peacefully on the surface of the P, a symbol of both beauty and pain…

On a recent road trip, after driving past miles and miles of rocky mountainside dotted with occasional shrubs, I passed a hill covered in wildflowers. It was quite the masterpiece of color and greenery. It was untamed and messy, yet full of beauty. No sooner had I been captured by the beauty of the wildflowers than my kids broke the magic with an argument from the back seat about who…

Barbara Perrance Cathy Hinson Tiffany Laubhan Lindsey Lee Sheri Brown Sharon White Ali Ouderkerken What do these women have in common? They each showed me Jesus. There are others like them, of course—too many to name—but these are some of the women who have walked beside me and have given me grace. Who taught me the Word. Who loved me like He loves me. Who continue to point me to…

I am a bona fide extrovert. I’ve taken every personality test in the book, and I am someone who gets energy from being with other people. I get along well with others. I am energized by conversations and humans with whom I connect. Now—don’t get me wrong—I love my alone time. I crave it, I need it. In fact I believe that having a healthy balance of time alone and…

Growing up, the folks in my family played or watched every sport in the history of mankind. I am telling you—if there was no football or baseball to watch, my father would watch fishing or bowling. Anything to be a part of a competitive sport. But baseball. Baseball was my favorite. I could get pretty worked up over a football game, but I loved the sights, the smells and the…

I took my kids to the beach on a blustery February morning and we had the best time. They played together in the sand without fighting, I drank my coffee and read my book, and when it was time to clean up, they laughed and splashed in the shower and there were no tears. As we walked back to our car, I saw a small white envelope tucked under the…