3 Action Steps + A Prayer For Those Days When Disappointment Strikes
Since returning from the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, my days have had more twists and turns than Disney World's Thunder Mountain. On my ride home from the conference, I could barely see the ground for all the clouds. Two weeks later, I was sniffing dirt. Two weeks after that, I was back to downing coffee, tweaking chapters and polishing an introduction,...
Tiny House Tuesday // The Walls We Build
The tiny house sat flat on the hill. It sat this way for a few months. We didn't want to rush the foundation and who could forget the tropical monsoons that blew through our area in May? But then came June and with it, the first wall. With one hefty hoist, the tiny house began to take shape in all of its 9' x 16' glory. Then came the second wall and with it, the first...
Balancing Summer Months with Your Calling
Notice the title doesn't say How to Balance Summer Months with Your Calling. That's because I'm still learning. But I hope by sharing my struggle we can face the fact that it's not easy and that's okay. So how do we leverage the blazing days of summer for God's glory? I remember being a mom of young boys during the summer months while also teaching a Women's Sunday School class....
Tiny House Tuesday // The Waiting
I stink at waiting. But I knew waiting was part of the deal when we set out to build our pocket-sized paradise on the hill. We are weekend warriors, after all. But it was the month of May that put me to the test. So, why the wait? First, God opened the floodgates last month. Then, my week-long writer's conference quickly followed, and finally we needed to wait on the tax refund...
5 Ways to Connect through the Business Cards You Collect
I'm all about collecting. Over the years, I've collected bright vintage Pyrex bowls, fountain pens, anything our grandkids created, books, and even galvanized houses. Since our most recent move, however, my desire to collect has decreased (except for the grandkids creations, of course.) Moving has a way of doing that to a person. But when I attend conferences, I enjoy collecting...
Three Ways to Quietly Serve Others
I've been spending time in John 21 lately, and not because I'm a breakfast lover. If you read this post you know I have a lot to learn about being a servant. My heart bends toward awe as I study the ways Jesus quietly served Peter and the other disciples on the beach that morning. Yes, food was involved but Jesus, spoken from a heart of love, also asked a question that required them to face...
Tiny House Tuesday // The Anchor Holds
And holds, and holds...us up. At first glance, this auger (anchor) appears to be an innocent bystander with its curved staff-like silhouette⏤but don't let it fool you. Anchoring the Lil Red Writing House into the ruddy clay ground has proven to be the most aggravating and time-consuming part of this process by far. Because the winds whistle to their own tune on the...
Because I’m Probably Not the Only Mom Seeking Validation
Ah, validation. Receiving it frees us. Desiring it paralyzes us. Seeking it in the wrong places {spouse, children, job, fame, employer) eventually crushes us. But finding it in the right Person? It can will change your life. I know because I've sought validation all my life⏤maybe everyone does. First from our parents as defined by two words, "Watch this!" Then, the teenage years hit and we...
After You Blow It, Do You Hear the Voice of Conviction or Condemnation? Here Are Five Ways to Tell the Difference
All I wanted to do was study my Bible that morning. I'd eaten breakfast early and washed the dishes before sitting down to have some study time before we headed to church. Brian likes to sleep in whenever possible but on this particular morning, he woke up a little earlier than expected. When I say earlier, what I really mean to say is that he woke up just as I'd started my study. I greeted...
Tiny House Tuesday // Foundational Truths
As we begin building our tiny house, I'm learning that one of the first things that must be determined is the foundation. There are options, after all. If you want to travel with your tiny house, you'd opt for a trailer. If you want the option to move it at some point in the future, it would most likely be built on blocks or some other propped up way. And if you're serious about staying where...
Why Everybody Needs God in the Dark + Enter to Win a Free Copy
Only a handful of years had passed since my divorce when I studied the book of James. My heart was raw, as were my tears. Wet ink melted onto more than one page in my Bible but one verse stood out: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” James 1:2, 3 [emphasis mine] ...
CATHY BAKER
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