Something didn't look right on my statement. My first thought was dread of having to call to straighten it out. You know the "please hold while we play generic tunes and you might have to be on hold for a very long time before an actual human tries to help you" kind of call. Sometimes a voice comes on every so often to tell you how long the ...
I walked outside the other morning to see new growth on a plant that was beyond burned by our only freeze this year. I’m always in awe of how God works for our good even through the most difficult changes and arduous seasons of life. Looking down upon this miracle of the new green growth, I thought about one of my own. It was a cool January ...
Last week we told you about our sweatpants book club, the one we've created to read through Never Unfriended: The Secret to Finding and Keeping Lasting Friendships together. And then we were BLOWN AWAY by your response! You all are our people, our sweatpants friends -- and we can't wait to start this book club with you! As I shared with you last ...
I sit across from three women I admire. Over fried mushrooms and green beans with a side of ranch (help us all) we talk about the word world. The shifts in publishing and social media. The swords have come out, we all say in one way or another, and we don’t know if they will ever be put back. By this we mean the cutting statements in Facebook ...
"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8 (NASB) It's All For Us Nothing about this was right. This is not right, I tell you. I can't just stand here as they mock my son, my Lord. How can I watch the soldiers divide his clothes and cast lots to see who will receive them? ...
Darkness flooded the landscape, but I stood in a luminous tent — a light on a hill. Sprinkled around me were strings and clothespins, filled not with garments but white cards marked by handwriting. Please pray for my mother, who is fighting cancer. Pray that I will be able to pass my exams. Pray that my friend will escape depression. Please pray ...
He shuffled up the walkway in his worn argyle sweater and brown corduroys. We came out to meet him so he wouldn't have to climb the two concrete steps to the front door. "Hi, Dad," I said, with our usual awkward hug. I loaded my toddler in the backseat and climbed in beside him. Dad eased himself in the front next to my husband. Mumbling over ...
In the second grade, I did everything with my best friend. At school we spent every recess and lunch together. At sleepovers we played with Barbies and talked all night. In the seventh grade, I still did everything with my best friend. At school we arranged for our lockers to be next to each other so we could see each other during passing ...
“We have to go move the chairs. It’s Easter -- the holiday of moving chairs . . . and talking about Jesus,” my youngest explains to his friend as I herd my kids into the car. “What?” I ask, thinking that there are a thousand other ways to talk about the highest holy day on the church calendar. Moving chairs? “Yeah, mom,” he answers grinning. ...
Here at (in)courage we like to think of ourselves as “sweatpants people.” While we may live in a skinny jeans world, really at heart we are sweatpants people. Can I get an amen? And those are the kinds of friends we aspire to be, too. Sweatpants friendship welcomes you in just the way you are. On your tired frumpy days, as well as on the ...
