Some passages of Scripture hit deep. Others open my eyes to God’s heart and how we can relate to Him. For me, Psalm 51 does all of that. It didn't lead me to repentance, but it helped me understand what had happened when I was born again.

The morning that I gave my life to Christ, I was convicted by the Holy Spirit for the first time. I knew I had sinned against the Lord. But even in that knowing, I felt God's love, the hope of His mercy, and a second chance, not guilt or condemnation. That evening, my mentor told me to go home and read Psalm 51. Over and over again.

And so I did.

When I think about David, I not only imagine the heroic highlights—Goliath, the Psalms, the throne of Israel. I also picture the man who failed in devastating ways and made some of the worst decisions a person could make.

Yet God still called him “a man after His own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14). That phrase always stops me because David’s story holds both real failure and a genuine return to God.

I often think about young David, the boy who came before the warrior, the king, or even the psalmist. I picture him around my own son's age, maybe a little younger, maybe a little older. He was the youngest son of Jesse, sent out alone to watch the sheep. No brothers watching his back. No father checking in. Just a boy doing his work in the fields with only God and the sheep for company.

You can almost see it ahead. The Promised Land. The land flowing with milk and honey (Exodus 3:8). A land of fruitfulness and prosperity. A place with valleys and hills that drink rain from heaven and are richly watered by God (Deuteronomy 8:7-10). It's in full bloom, vibrant with beauty and color.

So, you make your way across the Jordan River. Your feet finally step onto the rich, life-giving soil. You look up, and there you see...giants. Wait, God, this is what promise looks like?

Over the past two weeks, I’ve been sharing the reflections that came after my son broke his leg back in May. At the time, people kept asking how we were doing. And I kept answering honestly: “It’s been hard. He’s in pain. I’m carrying a lot right now.” I wasn’t trying to be dramatic. I was just telling the truth.

But I noticed something. Every time I said it out loud, that things were hard, that I was tired, that I felt stretched thin, I felt this subtle fear creeping in: Was I saying too much? Was I reinforcing something I didn’t want to keep living in? Was I slipping into self-pity… just by being honest?

I didn’t want to pretend I was strong anymore. But I also didn’t want to say something about myself that would keep me down. And that’s where this whole internal struggle began.

I thought I was learning how to trust God. And in many ways, I was. But lately, I’ve realized He wasn’t just leading me into trust. He was inviting me into something lower.

Lowly.

The posture I didn’t know I needed, but the one my soul was starving for. It’s been like a slow unraveling of self-sufficiency, an undoing of everything I thought I had to hold together.

It started with layers of pressure, financial strain, emotional weight. And then my son broke his leg. Just one unexpected accident, and suddenly the thin scaffolding I’d been standing on collapsed.

And it hit me: I’m not strong. I’ve never been strong. I’ve just been good at keeping it together.

I was out walking the other day, just trying to clear my head, when a white dog came barreling down the boardwalk. No leash. No owner in sight. It looked exactly like mine. For a second, I thought it was my dog. I tried to catch it, but it kept running. He was fast, and he was lost.

It was one of those moments where the outside world mirrors something happening inside you, and you don’t even realize it until later.

Because the truth is, I’d already been thinking about that feeling of being untethered. I wasn’t a wreck or falling apart, but I think I’d slowly lost my anchor recently without even noticing. Holding things together, kind of. Functioning, mostly, but at the same time, wondering if “I’m okay” still means what I think it means.

I wake up to the sound of my son’s alarm and the weight of a to-do list I never wrote.

There’s no champagne. No confetti. Just a limp backpack, a half-packed lunchbox, and a boy with a broken leg who needs help to the shower. I shuffle through the motions: walk the dog, toss laundry in the machine, feed everyone, including myself. Barely.

And somewhere in between the coffee and the crumbs, it hits me.

Today is launch day.

Imagine living in fear for twenty years. Your people are oppressed. Your land is broken. And it’s been a long time since anyone heard God speak. You try to survive, maybe even rebuild, but every time you begin to hope, the cycle starts again. All that remains is loss, silence, and defeat.

That was Israel under Canaanite rule...until the people cried out to the Lord. And in response, God raised up a woman named Deborah. She didn’t come with a sword, but with a word from the Lord.

What would you do if God Himself had rejected people like you? No way in. No hope of acceptance. No place among the people of God, because of where you came from, because of what your ancestors had done?

That was the fate of the Moabites. According to Deuteronomy 23:3-6, the Moabites were cursed and excluded from the assembly of the Lord because of how they treated Israel during the exodus: refusing them bread and water and hiring Balaam to curse them. They were outsiders. The forgotten. The condemned.

And Ruth was a Moabitess.

Motherhood doesn’t always look like we imagined. Sometimes it’s full of joy, but other times, it feels quiet, thankless, even unseen. But Mary, Mother of Jesus, shows us that a mother’s quiet faithfulness is never wasted.

She’s not just the young girl we picture at Christmas, she’s the woman who walked in obedience long after the angels were gone and the shepherds moved on. Though she didn’t have it easy, she didn’t seek fame. But she did have a willing heart. And God trusted her to carry His Son.

This Mother’s Day, I want to remember Mary the way Scripture shows her—not as flawless, but as a faithful woman who teaches us what real obedience looks like when life gets hard.

There’s one part of Mary Magdalene’s story that readers ask about more than any other.

It’s raw. Emotional. Spiritual.

And the Bible only gives us one line.

How do you tell that story—especially to kids?

On the morning the tomb stood empty, Jesus didn’t appear first to Peter, John, or even His mother. He appeared to Mary Magdalene. Why her? Was it a divine appointment, or her relentless devotion, that led to this world-changing moment? This powerful reflection explores how God’s sovereign choice and Mary’s wholehearted pursuit came together, and what it means for your own walk with Him today.

What could you possibly have in common with a demon-possessed woman from the 1st century? Turns out, a lot. Mary Magdalene’s story isn’t just about the past. It’s a powerful picture of healing, devotion, and bold witness that still speaks today. Her journey might just reframe how you see your own.

Read the full post and see what her story could mean for you.

Ever wondered where realistic Bible stories fit in today's world of children's books? From prayer walks to published pages, discover how God led me to create something unique: Bible stories that help children see biblical characters as real people who walked with God. Through realistic illustrations and memorable rhymes, these books bring Scripture to life in a way that helps kids understand these aren't just stories. They're true accounts of real people who trusted and obeyed God. Perfect for parents, teachers, and anyone wanting to instill biblical truth in young hearts!

During my quiet time with the Lord this week, I opened my journal and started writing, as I often do. What flowed wasn't a polished poem or carefully crafted piece. It was just what I felt God speaking to my heart. As my dog licked up my tears (gotta love him!), I knew I needed to check everything against Scripture. Soon I found that these simple words contained 7 attributes of God's love, each one backed by His Word. Learn about these seven beautiful attributes of God's love through an intimate love letter straight from His heart, along with biblical insights and reflections that will transform your understanding of God’s love.

Looking for the secret to living a fulfilling Christian life? Through the study of biblical characters in my children's books, God highlighted a surprisingly simple yet profound pattern. Learn how these two basic principles are key to walking in God's purpose for your life.

Ever feel like you're white-knuckling the steering wheel of life? In my latest blog post, I'm sharing what God taught me about trust through a recent message I shared with my connect group. Turns out there's a reason why "Trust in the Lord" is more than just a nice verse for birthday cards - it's the key to finding true peace. Come join the conversation about letting go and letting God take the wheel.

Ever wondered what true courage looks like? In my latest blog post, I'm diving deep into Queen Esther's story - beyond her famous beauty to discover a woman of incredible strategy and strength. From orphan to queen to savior of her people, Esther's journey reminds us that God equips us with exactly what we need for our calling. Join me in exploring how this remarkable woman changed history through her courage, wisdom, and unwavering faith.

"Let it be to me according to your word." These words from a teenage girl in Nazareth changed history forever. This Christmas season, find out how Mary's extraordinary courage and faith speak to our own journey of trusting God with the impossible.