What part do emotions play in our spirituality?
My newest Bible reading plan is available now! It’s called “Leading Your Kids Through Difficult Emotions” and looks at what the Bible has to say about anger, disappointment, grief, loss, and anxiety. It also shares how parents can lead their children through these tough feelings without punishing, shaming, or ignoring them. Click here to check …
Continue reading “New YouVersion Bible App Reading Plan available!”
Today I wrote down my ten thousandth gift from God!I kind of wanted to use 10,000 exclamation points to try and communicate how excited I am, but even that wouldn’t cut it (and would be annoying for you readers) so I’ll restrain myself. For now… I’ve written more about my gratitude list in an older …
Happy 4th of July everyone! Today I’m going to continue our deeper look at listening by going over the details of hearing someone’s story. (Check out my last post: Listen up, for the brief instructions of how to listen well) Remember that our goal for listening is to reach the point where we understand the …
This first sentence is supposed to hook you. I’m supposed to write something that makes you want to keep reading. Something that convinces you to engage, pay attention, listen up. It’s a lot more difficult than it sounds. Humans are not good at listening. We aren’t. We’re much better at talking. Social media has made …
Today I want to share some thoughts on my story both fun and serious. (Here are the links to the series just in case you need them: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3) Fun part first!Why use wildflowers as the visual theme for a story with such dark elements as sexual abuse, attempted suicide, and …
Continue reading “Notes on the “How I fell in love with Jesus” series”
Again, my deep and sincere thanks to everyone who has encouraged me, read, shared, and liked this series. Here are links to Part 1 and Part 2 in case you need them! “What if we end up getting married, you know, after high school?” Steven asked on the phone one night. My immediate excitement changed …
Thank you to everyone for your support and encouragement to share my story without shame! (If you missed Part 1 you can read it here.) There was a phenomenal alternative music scene around my hometown area during this time. Punk, pop-punk, emo, screamo, ska, and metal bands comprised largely of Christian teenagers and young adults …
Thank you for your patience! When I promised this post two weeks ago I somehow didn’t think to consider that we were planning to move and how that might disrupt my posting. The following is actually an excerpt from my book Tasting Dirt: When You’re Disappointed With God (Coming Soon!!) I’m both excited and anxious …
Shame.It’s more than guilt.Guilt says, “I have done something bad.” Shame says, “I am bad.” It’s more than embarrassment.Embarrassment says, “Others disapprove of what I’ve done.”Shame says, “Others disapprove of me.” Shame is the soul crushing weight of believing “I am worthless. I have nothing of value to offer, so no one values me. I …
Today I’m going to step back from the How To Lead Your Feelings series to share a podcast that has helped me be honest with myself about how I’m currently handling the stress of the pandemic compared to how I want to handle it. The Allender Center Podcast, hosted by Dr. Dan Allender and Rachael …
Emotion Culture