My attempt to be an authentic woman in an inauthentic world
Posted in 2022, Advent, Anticipation, Christmas, Faith, Grace, Hope, Joy, Love, Ministry, Peace, Preparation on Dec 17th, 2022
Love.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
For God so loved…
The word “so”, when used as an adverb, can have a few different meanings. It can express the degree or extent of something, or it [...]
Posted in 2022, Advent, Anticipation, Christmas, Faith, Hope, Joy, Peace, Preparation on Dec 10th, 2022
Joy
The celebration of Advent is possible only to those who are troubled in soul, who know themselves to be poor and imperfect, and who look forward to something greater to come. Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Troubled souls.
I can be included in that category. Troubled. Imperfect. Poor in spirit. In need of a Savior.
Hope and peace turn our hearts [...]
Hope
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.
Proverbs 13:12
Waiting and hoping.
Longing is defined by Merriam Webster as “a strong desire especially for something unattainable”.
Have you ever longed for something important…something significant…something that your heart has been set on for a long time, only to keep on waiting [...]
Posted in 2022, Current Events, Faith, Grace, Gratitude, Hope, Ministry, Motherhood, Trust, missions on Nov 22nd, 2022
One of my favorite Christmas songs is “I’ll Be Home for Christmas”. One variation of this song begins with this line: “I’m dreaming tonight of a place I love even more than I usually do…”. Every time I hear this, my thoughts are instantly transported to my grandparents’ old farmhouse in Wellston, Ohio at Christmastime. [...]
Posted in 2022, Faith, Forgiveness, Grace, Gratitude, Life, Ministry, Spirit-Filled Life, missions on Nov 16th, 2022
Tim Keller likens our typical Christian approach to forgiveness as a type of “therapeutically- motivated culture” of forgiveness. We forgive in order to feel better – to attain inner peace – and so to also ensure forgiveness from God. Without embracing the reality of what forgiveness costs, we tend to take action for personal relief, [...]
At the proper time
Jasper struggles with the concept of time. It is too abstract for him. This challenge is most noticeable when it comes to meals and snacks. He can sit down for breakfast, eat a bowl of oatmeal and fruit, walk away from the table, and five minutes later come to me ready for [...]
Posted in 2022, Faith, Grace, Gratitude, Hope, Life, Ministry, Peace, Trust, missions on Oct 31st, 2022
I’m grateful.
The beauty of painful seasons and hard things is the gratitude that blossoms in the middle of the chaos.
We don’t see it immediately, or even perhaps feel it, but if our hearts are open and tender and expecting, thankfulness will push its way to the surface at its proper time.
Winter soil is barren, hard, [...]
Posted in 2022, Faith, Grace, Spirit-Filled Life on Oct 26th, 2022
“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32
God sheds light.
In John chapter 8, Jesus is having a conversation with a group of Jews. They are struggling to comprehend what Jesus is trying to communicate to them, that if they believe in him, the truth will be clear to [...]
Posted in 2022, Faith, Grace, Hope, Joy, Life, Motherhood, Trust on Oct 6th, 2022
Dear Mom of a child who is on the autism spectrum…I just want to say something to you today.
Whether you are on the back-and-forth pendulum swinging from grief to relief with a brand new diagnosis, or if you are still wondering – somewhere in the back of your mind – if there is something more [...]
He didn’t defend himself.
He didn’t try to justify his cause or prove his innocence.
He stood there…silent…like a lamb to the slaughter.
When offered the opportunity to speak into the situation and right the wrongs…clarify his position…he chose to stand in quiet strength.
Pilate, so arrogant in his authoritative role…his title…believed that he held the power of life [...]
Welcome to my blog. My name is Amy, and I wear a lot of different hats: wife, mother, daughter, sister, missionary, teacher, friend...and the list goes on. Life is a balancing act, and one I do not excel at. I find that each new season brings about more opportunities to learn, grow and allow God to continue the refining work in me. The pages of this blog are a glimpse into the lessons I am learning and the journey I am taking. I hope you enjoy!