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My Father Told Me So
How beautiful you are, my darling, how beautiful! Song of Songs 1:5 “Mommy, what’s wrong with your hair? You look like a poodle.” I had been coveting a short haircut for many years, always scared that the curls which adorned my head would make that impossible. That those curls would make me resemble a 30…
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To the Mom Wondering Where She Went Wrong
Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 Dear Mom, I see you there. Weary. Worried. Wondering where you went wrong. I know you worry about judgment, condemnation, and the whispers that you must have done something wrong. There must be something you did for…
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One Word-Perseverance
I like to think I have a way with words, with at least the written words that express my thoughts, my emotions, my desires. However, sometimes choosing just one word becomes a little more daunting. Last year I joined a group of women in an on-line bible study in which I participate in choosing one…
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When Joy Seems Hard to Find
The grinch hated Christmas! The whole Christmas season! Now don’t ask why. No one quite knows the reason. -Dr. Suess, How the Grinch Stole Chistmas Usually Christmas brings me much joy each year. By the end of November, I have my tree up, my shopping is done, the gifts are wrapped, and I am ready for Christmas…
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Do You Need A Reminder?
“Why are these notes still on the mirror?” “Not sure, Hayley, Maybe he thought you needed to be reminded of these things again today. Do you need a reminder?” Of course, who knew that the person needing the reminder would be me. A couple nights earlier, (a dark and wet night, I will add), as…
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What Do They See?
When my kids look at me, what do they see? Do they see the things I tend to believe about myself? My self-hatred. My insecurities. The lies I allow myself to believe. Or, do they see a woman who believes she is wanted, cherished, loved, brave, and beautiful? Do they see the woman God sees?…
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Sometimes There Is Nothing Left To Do But Laugh
Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy. Psalm 126:2 “Whose idea was this?” This is what I ask my husband as our son sits and screams on the bathroom floor. “Whose idea was what?” “Parenthood. Which one of us thought that was a great idea?” We know, we…
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Rejoicing for Unanswered Prayers
“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7 A few weeks ago we took a family trip to the National Aquarium-one of the trips we had promised our shark lover for some…
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For He Has Taught Me More
Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. James 1:17 “Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!” I hear the screams in the wee hours of the morning. The screams that have woken me from a state of sleep I seemed to have just…
Grace 'n Grounds
Encouragement Grounded in His Truth
Grace 'n Grounds 