As we gathered around tables set with gold, blue, and green chargers topped with china; iced water poured into crystal, flowers brimming over vases, we also noticed several lovely, mismatched little pitchers scattered amongst the setting. Some were plain creamware, others cut-glass, some painted with dainty flowers, others edged in gold. Joining us at the table set in her kitchen area, Sally Clarkson picked one up and reflected, “We wanted you to take with you a reminder of your need to be filled, as you constantly pour out to your families at home.”

Jul 1

Jul 1 How Satan Confuses Women to Disable the Church

Angie Tolpin

Friendships, Ministries and Missions, Faith

How often do we truly see one another? Each mom in your circle is full of unique gifts given by God, and so are you! The church needs you. The world needs you. And women need one another. The start of linking arms for kingdom work begins here today.

Jun 24

Jun 24 5 Habits of a Happy Family

guest

Family Management, Faith, Fun For Kids, Ministries and Missions, Parenting, Prayer

“Mommy, come. I’ve found this path and there are so many flowers.”

It’s morning, and our second day camping in Jasper, Alberta, our favorite place on earth with its mountain peaks—like a father’s hands cupped, shielding this sacred hollow of water and spruce from the rest of the world.

I leave my coffee and follow my oldest son to the path he’s found and he points out the daisies, the bluebells, the buttercups.

Jun 10

Jun 10 4 Steps to Help Your Children Fight the Comparison Trap

Angie Tolpin

Discipling Children, Faith, Parenting, Teens, Friendships

We’ve all been there, the comparison trap. That place where we don’t feel good enough, where our standards and expectations of ourselves meet who we really are. That place where we look at what others are doing with their kids or what we think they are doing, and we feel like a failure. Social media perpetuates this comparison trap and we fall for the bait over and over again.

The comparison trap is a very real place and we are all tempted to fall into it. Whether it be comparing our marriages, jobs, families, children, churches, you name it. But what we don’t often realize in the midst of fighting the good fight against falling into this trap, is that our children are also being tempted to fall into it as well.

Jun 3
Jun 3 Overcoming Fear with Authentic Faith

Elisa Pulliam

Faith

Last month, I confessed how the last decade of my life has been marked by fear and yet thanks to an adventuresome opportunity at family camp, I recognized how living in fear was stealing joy from my life . . . and from my children. {Read that post here.} That “big swing” moment marked off a life once lived in fear, and I’m in awe at how God has invited me to walk in brave faith ever since.

Jun 2
Jun 2 Two Things Our Words Can Do

Jeannie Cunnion

Faith, Parenting

With three boys who are only five years apart, a friendly game of putt-putt can quickly get the competitive ( and unfriendly) juices flowing.

We'd only made it to the third hole on the miniature-golf course when one of my boys got a hole in one. He squealed with excitement!

But his joy was short-lived with his brother's harsh words - “That was such an easy hole. You just got lucky. I'm so much better than you at this game.”