How to Combat Sleepless Nights

I just love the 90’s romantic movie Sleepless in Seattle, the one with Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks. They both have sleepless nights while thinking about finding true love. Well, I don’t know about you but my sleepless nights are kind of different in hot, muggy Florida this time of the year. They aren’t romantic in the slightest, and they usually have something to do with a snoring husband or an over-active bladder. Have you ever spent most of the night awake, wishing you could just go back to sleep? Whether it’s your crying baby, the obnoxious cat, your anxious mind, or …

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One Good Reason to Spoil Your Kids

“Mommy, will you tell us a story?” My younger daughter, three years old at the time, looked up at me, pleading. Her wispy hair lay fanned across a cotton pillowcase, and her eyes shone glossy in the lamplight. “A story? Sure.” It was a typical bedtime request. My girls like to hear stories from my childhood, so I spin ordinary memories into fairy tales. They think this is fabulous entertainment. “Once upon a time,” I launched into my standard opener, “there was a beautiful princess named Princess Becky. Every week, she went grocery shopping with her mom, Queen Nana. At …

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What I Wish I Had When I Was a Missionary & Ministry Leader

I went to the mission field with fears that were as big as my dreams. The Gospel changes people’s lives and eternal destiny. How could I not even try to reach as many people as I could with the good news of Jesus Christ? And so we went. But it wasn’t long that I realized that I could barely speak the language. So how in the world could I reach people for Christ when I couldn’t even communicate with them? And so I studied. Well, actually…we studied. Trying to learn a new language wasn’t easy in my mid forties… even …

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Every Woman Needs a Tribe by Tamika Guillebeaux

For quite some time, society has been telling us women that we could and should be as independent as possible. That we shouldn’t be dependent on another human, whether it is our spouse or fickle friends. However, I have come to find that it is imperative that we reject that notion. God has created us to be relational. Just as there is the perfect balance in the relationship between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we are also meant to be in relationship with others. It is an integral part of who we were created to be. For that reason, …

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Weakness and Strength

There is a lie I swallow whole and it is killing me. The lie that everyone is better at this life than I am… …that they all know what they are doing. …that they are better at this mothering thing than I am. …that they have best friends who “do life together” and they communicate every day and have dinner together and their kids love being together. …that they have the best marriages and cook healthy meals every night. And I somehow don’t measure up in any sense of the word. The truth is everyone is figuring out this life …

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A Mother’s Persistent Prayer

Desperation can lead to unusual actions. Many were the days that I locked myself in the bathroom or closet after a crazy day just to have a few much needed minutes of peace and quiet. Other times, I unashamedly made a special trip to our town’s grocery store to grab a bag of spicy gumdrops thinking they would relieve the mom-stress I was dealing with. (That doesn’t work, by the way!) But, nothing leads me to more frantic and determined action than seeing one of my children in deep trouble. I’ve had my moments of sheer panic for my children. …

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If It Could Make a Difference, Would You?

 If something could make a positive difference in YOUR life and your CHILD’s, would you do it?   Most of us would answer, “YES! What is it?” First, we need to be reminded that what comes out of our kid’s mouths and what they do, comes out of what’s in their heads and hearts. SAME FOR US. If we don’t want our kids to hit, be rude, or lie, then they need to have God’s word WITHIN THEM to redirect their natural tendencies.  SAME FOR US. Our yelling, “Stop hitting! Share! Be nice!” can bounce off a child. Of course, we must teach them to …

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What Our Choices Have to Do with Knowing God More

Okay y’all! So, I’m just gonna be real here. Some of you aren’t going to like what I’m getting ready to say. Do you really treasure God’s Word? Do you embrace the truth that you need to read and memorize it? Are you hungry to know and understand the Scriptures or are you satisfied with making the sum of your time in the Word an Instagram view of a verse created as a cute graphic meme? Recently, I spoke to some moms about how they don’t have time to read God’s Word or really spend time in intimate prayer. So, …

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Ministry Leaders and Missionaries Unite!

We’re all on the same team and we all have the same goal. Reach ’em and teach ’em! It’s the Great Commission and it’s what we are all called to. So, let’s unite, sweet friends! We can accomplish much more together than we can apart.  That’s actually what The MOM Initiative is about. Linking hearts and hands with YOU! Because we know that if we serve together, we are more effective, our boarders are enlarged, the message of the Gospel is spread farther, and more women discover the power of the Word of God. Last week, a MOM Group that …

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When Your Life is Just Too Stinkin’ Loud

Happy Wednesday, sweet ladies! You have been on my heart like crazy! My world has kept me so busy that I feel like I can barely catch my breath sometimes. I’ve been living life in 5th gear for about 3 years now, and I’m just slap worn out. Ever feel like that?  Today, I want to share something with you that the Lord has been dealign with me about for quite some time. My life has been so stinkin’ loud that it’s pretty hard to hear God’s still small voice say, This is the way, walk in it. It’s so …

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