I've talked with several friends who each had incredibly difficult things happen this week (one of them, more than one). As a friend I want to be able to take at least some of the suffering so they don't have to carry it all. It's hard to know what to say or do to be able to support in a way that's ...

Today is my beautiful mama's birthday! She's not here to celebrate in person (graduated early from this life when I was 7), but we love thinking about her extra today and remembering all of the light and goodness she brought while she was here.

Mom passed away at age 33. I don't know very many people...

I've seen the most beautiful examples this weekend of inspiring married relationships that have shown me glimpses into what's possible, and we're working hard to build in our own marriage.

The first is my aunt and uncle, who are serving a mission together in Ontario, Canada (they're actually leading ...

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...

It's impossible for a newborn to fly a plane. 

It's impossible for a kindergartener to discover a cure for disease.

It's impossible for a high school junior to run for President.

Impossible is based on the present moment and existing resources. With design, focus, time, and connections -- magnifi...

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...

I grew up singing a children's song at church that has guided many of my decisions, but it wasn't until a couple of weeks ago that I found a new, even more powerful way to apply it. Here are the lyrics: 

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 ...

When we go to accept the call to "something bigger," it's important to be very intentional about which influences we allow in our decision-making process.

To bring this very important concept to life, I like to picture myself in a board room with seats all around the table. At the head of the table ...

My twins were invited to a Holi festival with their friend this weekend. They were told to bring light-colored clothes that they didn't care about, because they'd be throwing the color powder. We decided to grab some clothes at the thrift store. Before going into the store (because I knew there woul...

I love the story in the New Testament of when Jesus was teaching a group of people from Simon's boat on the shore, and afterward told Simon to take his boat into deep water. Simon told Him that he and his friends had been fishing all night without catching any fish, but was willing to take the boat ...

Sometimes the "bare minimum" is just fine, especially when we're in survival mode or in a season of just getting by with what we have in the moment. But there are other times when we need more than we can offer on our own -- when we're saying "yes" to a new chapter, taking a leap of faith, or seekin...