The other day I was having a conversation with a friend as she stood by her two babies who were resting in a stroller. Her little boy was facing her and wanted to get his mama’s attention. As we talked, he made the cutest grunting noises until she turned and looked at him. The minute her eyes met his, his face lit up with the biggest smile, one of the most precious things I’ve ever seen. All it took from this little guy’s mom was a glance his way to completely satisfy his longing to be seen. That moment with my friend and her baby made me think about how we all have a similar desire to be seen, to be known, and loved. ​

Being diagnosed with cancer can be a terrifying experience! It can bring about so many negative thoughts, like fear of the unknown and physical pain, as well as mental stress. If you have a friend with cancer, as I do, you may not know how to help them. I didn’t. But I decided to share some words of encouragement with her and hope they help her remember she is never alone.
 
I wrote 12 letters to my friend who is battling cancer today—one to open on the day of each of her 12 chemotherapy treatments. Before her first treatment, I bundled the handwritten letters, wrapped them with a pretty ribbon, and took them to her.

How much TV viewing time do you allow in your family each week? We talk in our Come and Gather: Family Time With God post that "...the average family watches over 20 hours of television a week." That's almost a whole day!

So, how much is too much, and how do you decide what is good to watch, questionable to watch, or "we are absolutely not watching that?"

I have friends on both sides of the fence. Some allow their kiddos to watch almost anything on television, while others don't allow theirs to watch television at all. I have found myself comfortably nestled somewhere in between.

There are three tests I like to use when establishing TV viewing standards in our home. There's the Reality Test, the Value Test, and finally, the Morality Test.

1. Experience a life-changing tragedy
2. Get outside of your comfort zone
3. Find an editor that believes in the message
4. Become discouraged and put the project away for 17 years

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​Seriously, this is how it happens sometimes. At least this is how it happened for me. And if I’m completely honest, none of that was simple. The Heart That Heals is coming to Amazon September 1, 2019. Today I want to share with you how it almost didn’t happen.

“Mom, I am tired of being made fun of for taking a stand.”

​If I had a dollar for every time I have had this conversation with my kids, I would have a small fortune. The pressure to be like the crowd, or to not make waves can be a heavy burden for tweens and teens. Helping them navigate the feeling of loneliness and fear of man has always been a challenge for this momma’s heart.

It is hard to watch your children struggle, or even be left out. In the long run, choosing to be different for God’s glory, will bring peace and joy. It is just hard to see through the immediate circumstance. 

Just a few weeks ago, I found myself in this conversation with my fourteen year old daughter. She had made a media choice that was not one we approved of. 

Today, we are concluding our Summer Book Club-Style Bible Study with Robert Morgan's book The Red Sea Rules.

Week-by-week, since early June, we have been thinking about what it means to live by faith. Each week we've studied a biblical principle and thought about how to apply it to our lives when we are going through difficult times. The final rule is a simple one: Don’t forget to praise Him.

Still need to get the book? Click here to order or download your copy (less than $10 for the hardcover and less than $2 for the Kindle version).

Need to catch up? 
Read Week 1 here, Week 2 here, Week 3 here, Week 4 here, Week 5 here, Week 6 here, Week 7 here, Week 8 here, and Week 9 here.

How many times, on January 1, have you committed to reading the Bible through from cover to cover in a year? I have made that commitment too many times to count, and I have failed too many times to admit.

A couple of years ago though I used a one-year, chronological order of book authorship, Bible reading plan. I appreciate this format because it weaves together both the prophetic books with the historical books. I learned a lot about the Old Testament just by following this plan. I also enjoyed reading the Psalms of David in conjunction with the historical narrative of his life.