Today is Good Friday, where people all over the world remember the trial and crucifixion of Jesus. In the face of unthinkable cruelty, as He hung on the cross, he pled with the Father on behalf of the people who did this: "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." 

How He was able to res...

I love watching the entrepreneurial pitch show, Shark Tank. The business owner stands before 3-4 potential investors and shares what their company is and why they're seeking investment. Each of the Sharks then takes a turn expressing either desire to invest (with an offer), or reasons why they're no...

What if there was someone who told you they don't like dogs because they're small with super high-pitched barks? 

Or what if someone else said they can't stand dogs because they're huge and slobbery? 

They're speaking from real experience, but they're missing out on some great possibilities by using s...

Momentum is one of the very best friends you can ever have. She'll take you to higher heights than you could ever dream of reaching on your own, and show you what you're really capable of -- over and over again. 

But this friendship must be intentionally nurtured and maintained; otherwise she can tur...

A fetus develops for about 37-40 weeks before anyone sees what she actually looks like (minus some rough scans, depending on where the mother lives and what her healthcare coverage is like). 

The mother knows her baby is there, without any doubt. The more time goes on, the more she feels that reality...

I'm focusing this weekend on some really powerful inputs, by tuning into our church's semi-annual conference (2 full days of beautifully uplifting talks and music focused on the Savior). So many rich lessons about Jesus Christ and how we can better follow His example. It's been a beautiful experienc...

There's the type of education with books, pencils, notebooks, desks, and assignments/tests from an authority figure.

But that's not the only kind. (I would argue that, in many cases, it's not even the best kind.)

Does the fact that a person hasn't sat in the same classroom as another person make t...

Of course it didn't go perfectly. How many times had you done it before this? 

It's easy to feel disappointed in ourselves when we fall short of the level of excellence we expect. Holding ourselves to a high standard is a great way to grow, but we also have to be reasonable.

Capacity is expandable, bu...

I started doing something regularly late last year that has dramatically improved the quality of my time in prayer: 

I pray on paper.

This will sound a lot like Julia Cameron's "morning pages" (as described in her book, The Artist's Way) -- and that's actually how it started. 

Morning pages help get th...

Every spring, over 1.5 million people visit Washington DC to see the 3,000 cherry trees blossoming along the tidal basin and National Mall. We're about 30 minutes outside of the city, so my girls and I met up with my niece in the city this weekend to join the fun. 

As I sat under one of the cherry tr...

When something comes to an end, especially when it's special to you, it feels like a massive loss. You feel a gaping hole in your life where it was, and life as you knew it is gone. In that moment, all you can see is that loss. It's one of the hardest parts of being human. We'll often go to great le...

Each one of us is offered a role from God, and it's up to us whether we choose to accept it or not. It's a starring role that will push us both outward and inward. It is the role: Beloved Child of God.

This might sound like fancy old-fashioned language. Simplified into plain ol' American English, it ...