Category: Elisabeth

Waiting Isn’t Wasted

1/9/2026

Often, as one year comes to a close and a new one begins, we consider the changes we’d like to make or how we can implement new rhythms and routines to better our lives. While I think looking ahead and setting goals is a worthy endeavor for the new year, it is also a great time to pause and look back. For the last couple of years, I have tried to make it a practice to spend time reflecting on the closing year.

What were the high points?
What were the lows?
How did God show His faithfulness?
What lessons has God taught me that I want to carry with me into this new year?

That last question is something I have really given a lot of thought to in the past couple of weeks. Throughout the past year, God taught and revealed many things to me.

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A Christmas Hymn for the Second Coming

12/5/2025

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#Discover the surprising #history behind “Joy to the World”--a beloved #Christmas #hymn originally written about #Christ’s second coming. #Learn how #IsaacWatts based the lyrics on #Psalm 98, why the #song points to #Jesus’ future reign, and why it still belongs in our Christmas #worship. #Explore themes of #Advent, #prophecy, #biblical #hope, and #God’s #promises fulfilled in both Christ’s first advent and His triumphant return. #JoyToTheWorld #SecondComing #ChristmasHope #HymnHistory #music

“Joy to the World” is one of the most well-known and well-loved Christmas songs today. But a quick look into its history reveals something surprising: it’s not actually a Christmas carol—and it wasn’t even written about Christmas in the first place.

The song was written by Isaac Watts, who is often called the “father of English hymns” for writing more than 750 hymns! Born in 1674 in Southampton, England, Watts grew up in a very religious family. Even as a young child, he had an incredible knack for writing poetry and rhyme. As he grew, his love and talent for lyrical writing flourished. He eventually became a pastor at a church in London, earned a strong reputation as a preacher, and even devoted himself to training other ministers. But His greatest heart desired to translate the rich truths of Scripture and Christian doctrine into genuine and heartfelt worship and music.

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Greater is the Giver

11/7/2025

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#Discover the #true heart of #gratitude in Greater Is the Giver. This #inspiring #devotional reminds #readers that #God’s goodness isn’t defined by His #gifts but by His unchanging #character. Reflect on Job’s #faith and Paul’s #contentment as you #learn to #worship the Giver above the #gifts. Perfect for #Thanksgiving or any #season of gratitude, this post #encourages #believers to find lasting #joy in God Himself--the source of every #blessing. #ChristianLiving #Faith #Thanksgiving #Devotional

In just a few short weeks, families and friends will gather, food will be shared, football and parades will be viewed, and hopefully, thanks will be given. Like many families, I can long recall the tradition of going around the table while each person shares what he or she is thankful for that year. For most of us, our gratitude will be directed toward the many blessings in our lives — family, friends, resources, experiences, etc. It is good and right that we acknowledge and show gratitude for the many gifts that God gives us. But how many of us will simply say we are thankful for God?

God is far more glorious than any of His gifts. And while it would be wrong not to lift up these good gifts in praise, I think we can miss the mark of true gratitude when our thanks for the gift doesn’t lead us to the real prize — worship and adoration of the Giver.

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4 Truths to Dwell on Until His Kingdom Comes

10/10/2025

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Feeling weary of the world’s chaos? #Discover 4 powerful #biblical #truths to #dwell on until #Christ’s Kingdom comes. This post #encourages #believers to anchor their #hope in #God’s #eternal #promises, #trust His unshakable #plan, and live with #purpose and #faith amid uncertainty. #Learn how to fix your eyes on #Jesus, stand firm in #truth, and long for His coming #Kingdom with renewed hope and #peace. #Bible #HopeInChrist #ThyKingdomCome #BibleStudy

It feels like our world is in upheaval.

I’m old enough to be able to look back over the decades and see what feels like a rising flood of tension, hatred, and love of self and sin that is now spilling over in our world today. As time passes, I’ve grown more unsettled with it all. But after the events of the last few weeks and months, I finally felt the dam in my heart break.

Through tears, I said to my husband one evening, “I get it now. I understand the longing and the heart cry of ‘Come, Lord Jesus!’”

In my feeble and frail humanity, I’ve grown tired of this world. Not simply the acceptance of sin, but the open celebration of it, sickens me.

I told my husband that while I’ve looked forward to Heaven, that longing has always had an asterisk above it.

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3 Things a Tsunami Taught Me About Disobedience

9/5/2025

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Discover 3 powerful #lessons from a real-life #tsunami about the dangers of disobedience to #God. This #faith-filled #Christian blog post explores how disobedience ignores consequences, hardens hearts, and cheapens #grace. Drawing on #Scripture, #biblical examples, and #wisdom from voices like #Bonhoeffer, it challenges #believers to heed God’s Word, embrace repentance, and live in joyful obedience. A timely reminder that God’s commands protect, #guide, and lead us into #true life in #Christ.

This past July, there was a massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Russia, which set off tsunami alerts and evacuations across the Pacific. Living in Hawai’i, we received emergency notifications on our phones and sirens sounded throughout each neighborhood, alerting us of an impending tsunami that was predicted to arrive by early evening, giving us islanders about 4-5 hours to prepare and move to higher ground if need be.

Thankfully, we live far enough inland to be outside of a possible flood zone, but people who live or work near the coastal areas were told to evacuate immediately. Hotels and resorts told vacationers to move up to higher floors. Officials cautioned people to stay off beaches. Warning sirens sounded every hour to remind people to get somewhere safe as quickly as possible.

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Hope For The Bitter Heart

8/1/2025

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Discover #Gospel-centered #encouragement in our new blog post Hope for the Bitter Heart. #Learn how to uproot #bitterness and embrace #healing through #Christ, with #wisdom from #Hebrews 12:15. This post offers #biblical insight, #hope for hurting hearts, and #practical steps to guard against resentment. Perfect for those seeking #Christian encouragement, #faith-based healing, and #emotional #restoration. #Read now and find #freedom through #God’s #grace. #ChristianEncouragement #BibleStudy

The last several months, I have had to watch and walk alongside someone I love dearly as they go through a prolonged season of hurt, discouragement, and difficulty. It isn’t as simple as one event or circumstance that has brought about this period of pain, but rather a series of situations that have slowly worn this person down.

Thankfully, they haven’t lost faith, but that doesn’t mean they are not still weighed down by what has become a weighty burden. And it has been made all the harder because there doesn’t seem to be an end or easy answers in sight.

That’s the thing about carrying heavy things — we can do fairly well when the duration of bearing the load is short, or we can see that relief is near.

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5 of My Favorite Homeschooling Curriculums

6/27/2025

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Discover 5 of the best #homeschool #curricula for Pre-K through early #elementary in this #helpful, experience-based #guide. Whether you're a new #homeschoolmom or #planning your next #school year, explore top #resources like Playing #Preschool, The Good and The Beautiful, Classical Cottage, Masterbooks, and Evan-Moor. Packed with practical tips, #curriculum reviews, this post is perfect for #Christian #homeschooling #families seeking engaging, #affordable, and #faith-based #learning options.

Pre-K — Lower Elementary

I’m not sure where the idea that teachers get 3 months of vacation originated. But as the daughter of two educators and as a former classroom teacher, I cannot overemphasize how wrong this assumption is. A teacher might get the month of June to relax (or recover) and enjoy some freedom in their schedule. However, come July, their brains are forced out of vacation mode into planning and preparation, and by August, they are back in the thick of it.

I've found the same to be true as a homeschool parent. As we near the end of June, I am already starting to plan and prepare for the upcoming school year. I’m purchasing curriculum, making schedules, and acquiring supplies.

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