When the world seems to be falling apart, what are we supposed to do? When the news is filled with murders and protests, what do we tell our children? When our nine-year-old asks, "Mommy, what happened in Charlotte?", what are we supposed to say? I don't know. I have way more questions than I have answers, and my silence on it all has been a sign of my hesitance. I haven't known what to say or how to say it, so I've stayed silent. But silence does nothing to make anything better. And I don't want my silence to be complicity. Regardless of your thoughts on police shootings and the guilt or innocence of those gunned down, you cannot deny that our country is facing enormous race issues. You can have a million opinions on why this is so, and you can pronounce a side that is right and a side that is wrong, but first you must be willing to admit that a huge problem exists. It is real, and it matters, and pretending it away or just hoping it will get better is never going to work. People are killing and people are dying, and race is part of the problem. People are hurting and...

  Sometimes, we forget what we wish we could remember. And sometimes we remember what we wish we could forget. Have you ever tossed restlessly at night, replaying events and words that just won't go away? How often I've prayed, "Lord, remove this from my thoughts. Take this out of my mind." Over and over on an endless loop, I see mistakes I've made and hear words I can't take back, and my memory becomes a weapon destroying my peace. Sometimes, it's not the memories themselves that are the problem. It's the lies we tell ourselves about the memories. We tell ourselves we're defined by what happened, and we believe the untruth that the words we said will never be forgiven. We live held hostage by the things that once were, and we refuse the grace that offers to redeem them. We remember what we need to forget, and we forget what we need to remember. We need to remember there's nothing too wrong to be made right again. There's nothing unforgivable and nothing unredeemable. There's nowhere too far gone, and there's no one too out of reach. We need to remember what Satan wants us to forget, and we need to forget what Satan wants us...

  The world right now is a book lover's dream. Everywhere I look, there are new books coming out that scream, "READ ME! I HAVE SUPER IMPORTANT THINGS TO TELL YOU." They put me in my happy place. But they also make me poor. Priorities. Today, I'm highlighting four books that you absolutely must buy - RIGHT NOW - and read as soon as you can. Buy one for yourself, buy some for Christmas presents, and be prepared to be changed. I'm not saying this lightly. These books have changed my way of thinking on so many things. The first one I finished just this morning, friends, and it's a game changer. You might have seen it advertised, especially since it's Oprah's latest book club pick. (Side note - this is not why I read it. I ordered it from Amazon before Oprah ever chose it. Her choices have sometimes made me scratch my head and ask, "Really?" But not this one. She chose wisely.) Book 1 - Glennon Doyle Melton's Love Warrior (click to buy) If you're a mom and reader of blogs, you've probably encountered Glennon Doyle Melton's blog, Momastery. She's candid and honest, and people love her writing because it's so real. Her...

A few days ago, I wrote a post called "Do It Scared." I encouraged you to "Do it scared. Do it trembling. Do it wondering if you'll fail and if others will think you're crazy." Today, that's me. I have written an e-book, and today I'm releasing it into the big, scary world. I'm scared. I'm trembling. I'm wondering if I'll fail and if others will think I'm crazy. But I'm doing it anyway! The book is called Buried: What to Do When You're Overwhelmed, and I've written it for those of you who struggle to manage all that's on your plate. I did a poll on Facebook a few weeks ago, and the number one struggle people identified themselves as having is managing responsibilities. I heard from so many women who said there's too much to do and too little time. Too many tasks and not enough self. Too many expectations and not enough reality. They said something has to give. I immediately knew this topic, chosen by hundreds of women, was something I had to address. I sat down with my computer and my prayers, and the result of those hours is this book I'm offering. It walks you through five simple and practical...

  For most of my life, I've been a fraidy cat. I've always been the one scared. Afraid of roller coasters, afraid of planes, afraid of what others think of me. I have lived in the shadows of my own life, allowing the fears to become my focus. I forfeited dreams and relationships and what could have been because I was scared of what might be. But in the past 6 months, I have stared some fears in the face. I have listened to the scared voice in my head and told it, "Not this time." I have stepped out when I once would have run away. And I am a different person because of it. Whatever it is that scares you - do it anyway. Do it scared. Do it trembling. Do it wondering if you'll fail and if others will think you're crazy. Do it anyway. Whether you want to start a business or ask a friend over for coffee, fear will tell you not to do it. Fear will tell you all that could go wrong. Fear will convince you not to take the risk. I'm begging you to do it anyway. When you do it scared, you come alive. When you hide in fear, you die inside. When...

  It's finally here! My very own website! After weeks of hard work behind the scenes, my amazingly selfless friend has created this beautiful website as a home for my writing, and I am blown away by what he did. Isn't it great to have technological friends? If it were up to me, I'd be handwriting letters to each of you and mailing them through the postal service. :) This website will still house my blog, and you can also find old posts from my original blog. It will also be the hub for all of my writing activity. You'll find the latest information on what I'm working on and exclusive material you won't find anywhere else! (If you look to the right at the top of this page, you'll find a spot where you can subscribe via email and get a free gift, too!) I'm so excited to have this new virtual home, and I'm praying it will be a source of encouragement to you as you enjoy your journey!...

I wanted so badly to do it right. Whatever the Christian life looked like, I wanted to represent it well.

A people-pleaser by nature with perfectionist tendencies, I knew that if I could just find the hidden list of do’s and don’ts, I’d be set. I’d memorize it, practice it, and ace the Christian test.

I would make Jesus, and those around me watching, proud...