Newlywed and pregnant at age 22, I knew, to love my daughter well, my life needed to change. I needed God’s grace. Only six months into our marriage, my husband and I found out we were pregnant. At the time, we were “responsible” adults. We sporadically went to church with my mom—a very adult thing… Continue reading God Gave Me Grace
Discouragement clouds my soul when unloving thoughts seem like the default in my heart. Jealousy rises up: often prompted by social media posts. When selfishness plagues me, pride is always waiting. There are moments as a teacher when I’m shocked at my impatient or rude response to a student when I’m in a stressful situation.… Continue reading Feeling Exposed? How Christ’s Light Illuminates Our Deepest Places
I knew it wasn’t right, but I did it anyway. I knew what others would say and what they would think, but I did it anyway. I had an affair with a married man. I was that woman. The homewrecker. The woman looked upon with shame and disgust. I was the woman who ruined your… Continue reading Battling Shame with Paper and Pen
You might not have recognized me, might even have tried to avoid me, had you met me in my teen years. I was a foul-mouthed, often drunk, angry, and self-destructive kid. I viewed my circumstances as hopeless and myself worthless and regularly lived as if both those statements were true. But then God began reaching… Continue reading How Grace Shatters Shame
Do you ever see sin like it’s a suit of filthy clothing and wonder whether you’ll ever wash clean? My kids used to come home dirty after playing outside, but one day in particular was the worst. I eyed them from the door, every inch of them covered in head-to-toe grime. “We found a mud… Continue reading No More Grubby Sin-Clothes
