For the JOY set before Him, He endured the cross (Hebrews 12:2) Jesus endured the pain and agony of the cross considering the joy to come. Our Lord, beaten, bruised, and battered, set His focus on eternity knowing what awaits the believer is beyond comprehension and ultimately there are no more tears or death...
Apologetics and Your Children
You teach your children how to brush their teeth, drive a car, stick to a schedule, and read their Bible. But do you train your children, whether elementary or high school aged, to be students of sound theology and solid in their application of Christian apologetics? To show you why this is so crucial,...
A Father’s Love
Burgers and bratwurst, t-shirts with cheesy sayings, and homemade cards that prove more valuable than those sold in any store… All of these gestures will celebrate those commonly ignored but so very crucial figures called “dads.” There are a few varying stories as to the exact origins of Father’s Day. Some say it originated...
Correcting Someone Else’s Child
His big brown eyes looked up at me as if to say, “See, Mom. I told you. Now what do I do?” The silent but obvious question was in response to another child shoving him right in front of me, an adult, and saying how he was “so much bigger and better than everyone...
The Communion Question
I walked to the front of the church donning the most beautiful white dress, matched only in sweetness by the simple veil with delicate flower petals adorning my head. After the service, my parents hosted a party at our home complete with a cross cake (is that sacrilegious?) and gifts (my favorite being a St. Francis charm from...
The Spiritually Single Parent
Last week, I penned a piece for Mother’s Day, “God Makes a Mom,” reminding women that no matter their marital status, if they have children, they are mothers. With motherhood comes beautiful opportunities to cherish and disciple those God has ordained to our care, regardless of what dads are or are not doing from...
God Makes a Mom
Some moms are married to the father of their children, some are sailing through the seas of singleness, and others are in the midst of creating blended families. No matter how the family unit looks, all these women have one thing in common: the call to be a mother! Your marriage or lack thereof does not...
Stay in Your Own Lane
When driving from Point A to Point B, you expect everyone to follow the rules of the road so you can all maneuver well. In spite of flashing lights, closed roads, and even gravel doing a number on your windshield, you have a destination in mind. And news flash: it is not the same as the person...
Let Me Tell You ‘Bout the Birds and the Bees
Sex. One little word that generates opinions from every angle and poses innumerable questions for parents. “How do you talk about it?” “When do you talk about it?” and even “Do you really need to talk about it?” are some of the most common musings. Hopefully, as we dialogue about this topic more frequently, you...
Friday Came First: Family Activities
For many families, the story of Easter is nothing more a gigantic rabbit leaving eggs all over the lawn, followed by a Pinterest-worthy lunch and maybe a church service thrown in for good measure. For Christians, however, Easter begins in The Garden with death becoming a reality because of sin (Genesis 3). There is unspeakable...
Cultivating Confidence
My firstborn is getting older, bringing new experiences for both of us—lately it’s everything from t-ball to theater. My guy is incredibly creative, making up stories and songs that rival those of literary and music giants. And when it comes to athletics, well, the dude was walking by nine months and has a swing I bet...
Lent: Losing to Gain
My heart rejoiced when I learned how many families at Stonebriar chose to purposefully celebrate Advent last year. Many of you resurrected it from your own childhood traditions, and many others chose to incorporate it into their lives and homes for the very first time. Just as the darkness of Advent sets the stage and...