Courtney Ellis’s newest book, Looking Up: A Birder’s Guide to Hope Through Grief is beautiful. Not only is it beautifully written, but it is also beautiful in how she handles all our hurting hearts. Courtney weaves together for us the story of her own personal pain, her insight into different birds, and her belief in how God shows us His presence through the things he has created in nature. In the twisted fibers of those things, we too find hope.
Chocolate Zucchini Waffles
Too hot to bake? Try this recipe to use up your extra zucchini and not heat up your kitchen.
About Dad
Stories and instances come back of time and time again when “Brother Charles” would say things and we would cringe. However, being the preacher’s family, we came to church, served others, and kept our secret keepers shut. Preacher’s families are supposed to be perfect.
We Repent
“Lord you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame…” Daniel (9:7a) my church, my town, my state, and my country, Lord, they are covered with shame.
The Book That Changed Me
Twitter challenged me today to write to the authors that changed me and let them know what they have done for me. So, Lore Ferguson Wilbert, here it is. You changed me. You molded me into a way of thinking that I was afraid of for most of my life.
How to Start, Organize, and Run a Successful Community Garden
Gardens have the power to shape the communities around them. It just takes time.
Waiting is a Part of Life
Just as true as it is to say, “waiting is a part of life”, sometimes you just have to be told by someone you admire that, “it’s not your turn”. Heather Thompson Day is that friend and her new book is called It’s Not Your Turn: What to do While Waiting for Your Breakthrough.
Becoming Fully Known
May you read this book and find yourself learning to know and be fully known by God.
Mom’s COVID Battle
I wrote this as a reminder for myself and for my family to see God’s hand through this. God is still faithful and He is still a healer.
Christmas 2020
Loss, pain, and heartbreak are very much a part of our broken world. That is why Christmas is so important to our family, even more this year
My Heart Hurts
Right now, in the messiness of ministry, life is hard and my heart hurts.
The Prayer I Fought to Pray
In the darkness these words were a haunting challenge to me. A challenge of whether I was willing to let the Refiner free in my life.
Abundance
I found myself more overwhelmed than I have ever felt before. Not overwhelmed as I should be, “praise God” He has provided abundance. Overwhelmed more like this, “Where is everyone else? This is hard work and no one else cares. If I stopped working would anyone care? Will anyone care anyway?”
Slow Cooker Pasta Sauce
Many people have asked me to teach a class on how to can homemade pasta sauce, so I will make an attempt here to show how I do the process from start to finish.
The Veneer of Civility
The way it appears to me, is that the pandemic has created trauma in everyone and as a result the veneer of civility has been removed from all of us at once. All of our worst sides have been exposed at the same time.
Summer 2020 Garden Update
A Growing Hope Garden update.
Jennifer’s Legacy
In my heart, I knew that this would be the last thing I would say to Jennifer. I am not sure if it was the pressing of the Holy Spirit or intuition, but I knew these were my last words, so I didn’t spare them.
What is the American Dream?
What is the American Dream? My idea of a good life is one where you can pay all your bills, save some money for emergencies, and live generously.
Bathroom Update: Pretty Much Done
Here is what has happened in our bathroom remodel. Start of Project: February 22, 2020 Project as of now: April 12, 2020
This is Only Temporary
Wrestling with the pain and struggles in life doesn’t push us away from Christ it draws us near to Him.
How to Make a Meal Plan You Will Actually Use
There are so many things to arrange: schooling for the kids, figuring out working from home, and keeping everyone sane. Then comes what can be the biggest challenge: the dreaded question around 3pm, “What are we having for dinner?”.
Tuscan Style Soup
I know that the finances are tight right now, so I thought I would share a recipe with you of my take on a Tuscan Style soup. I know it is not authentic, but it is good and makes a very large pot of soup. Most of the ingredients are what you might have on hand at home, so it will save you a trip out to the store.
Homemade Bread: No Mixer Required
I want to show you how to make bread from scratch with just a few simple ingredients. I know that many people don’t have a large stand mixer at home, so this recipe will be for those of you who will have to make it by hand.
Growing Hope Garden Update
I want my hands to be covered in soil and joyfully declaring the goodness of God...
What Happens in Spring
The last three weeks have been busy. Here is what has been going on around our home.
Footprints Were Not Seen
Maybe I am even more amazed by what God didn’t allow me to do. How God didn’t let me serve where my heart wanted. How God closed ministry opportunities that I thought had finally arrived. All because He loved me enough to grow me into who I am now.
Someone Worth Celebrating
Today is my husband’s 33rd birthday. ... There are too many things about Scott Donald Wagoner that need to be celebrated.
His Love Endures Forever
Trust isn’t based on your feelings. That is a good thing when you have become so numb that you cannot feel anything anymore. Trust believes that God’s love endures forever
$10 Family Meals: Casserole Edition
I am not a food blogger...What I am, though, is someone who wants to help save you and your family some money when it comes to your food budget.
Watching Things Grow
God doesn't want you to take the easy way, because He loves watching you grow.
I Don’t Touch People
I don’t touch people. That has been my default response after 14 years of teaching public high school students.
Good-bye 2010s
Nothing could have prepared me for the last ten years, and to be honest, I am glad I wasn’t prepared. Those years brought me to the point where I had to confront my deepest fears, address the deep seeded sin in my life, and rely on God in a way I could have never imagined.
Contending for the Faith
Who could possibly write more than 100 pages over a book of the Bible that only has twenty-five verses? ... Oh boy, did I have something to learn.
When Does Life Start?
My watch battery died at 10:57 yesterday morning. I know it was that time, because the time is frozen there.
Final Thoughts on Humility (Part 8)
You are also tired, because if you are giving the impression that you have this whole life thing under control you don’t need help. Yet the truth is, is that you are struggling, but are too proud to ask for help
Thoughts on Humility (Part 7)
My pride kept me from sharing the forgiveness of Christ because I didn’t think I deserved the grace of God. I had lived too long thinking that since I did good things, God loved me. I got the grace of God because I earned it.
Thoughts on Humility (Part 6)
There is no place too sacred where pride cannot be found. As we seek humility, we have to be more aware of when pride comes. We don’t need to become complacent about seeking humility and guarding against pride.
Thoughts on Humility (Part 5)
May I never be satisfied with tainted service to Christ; service done with a proud heart. I want humility to be the heartbeat of my life.
Thoughts on Humility (Part 4)
Too much of my life have been filled with bursts of humility instead of a life lived in humility.
Shield of Faith
Here is an overflowing of the pressing that was on my heart.
Thoughts on Humility (Part 3)
They knew that Jesus was everything that they needed to have self-control and show mercy when it was hard, everything that they needed to make the peace and not hold a grudge, and everything that they needed to face persecution with the hope of a kingdom in heaven.
Running Your Race of Faith
I have had the opportunity over these last few months to be a part of Trillia Newbell's launch team for her new book Sacred Endurance. Yes, I did receive a free digital copy of the book through Net Galley, but that was just so I could give you my honest opinion of the book. When … Continue reading Running Your Race of Faith
Thoughts on Humility (Part 2)
Pride steals your joy, wrecks your peace, drains your patience, keeps you from being kind or gentle (or at least thinking those things), and pride makes excuses for your lack of self-control. Our sin nature- pride- will give us other things to blame for a fruitless walk with Christ. That is why we need to make the humility of Christ our one desire. We need to be abiding in Christ and then we will bear much fruit.
Thoughts on Andrew Murray’s Humility: The Journey Toward Holiness (Part 1)
In a culture where it feels like everyone wants to be a YouTube star, Insta famous, or make a viral video/ blog post, it is easy to see that humility is not the hallmark of our culture today. So how can we even figure out what humility looks like on a daily basis?
Homemade Laundry Soap
A good friend of mine told me that when I made a new batch of my homemade laundry soap, that I needed to write a blog about it. Making your own laundry soap may seem like something out of your skill level, but it is pretty straight forward and it saves you lots of money. … Continue reading Homemade Laundry Soap
Growing Hope 