For years, my kids and I have begged my husband to put up outdoor Christmas lights. For twenty plus years he has refused. He knows it’ll be a pain. He fears it will damage the house. I personally think he’s afraid it will look like the Griswold residence and doesn’t want the hassle. Finally, last year he conceded and bought thousands of lights after the post-Christmas sales hit the stores. During the passing of the year, he forgot all about those lights tucked away in the closet…but I didn’t. When I reminded him about the lights, he groaned but reluctantly…

  Once upon a time, there lived a poor girl named Anna. Anna’s only talent was weaving. She lived with her mother in Salzburg, Austria until, on one fateful day, she met a soldier named Mohr who was stationed in her town. As their friendship grew, she fell in love with the dashing man, and felt nothing but joy when she learned she was carrying his baby. Little Joseph was born on December 11, 1792, but her elation soon turned to heartbreak when her only love, the father of her child, abandoned them both to an unknown future. Ann had…

Writer, editor, mom, wife and friend Janyre Tromp sits down with me to talk about the messy stuff, and the fun stuff, in life. We talked about growing up in church and how Jesus doesn't make things easy once you're saved. From a hard home life to watching her daughter struggle to live, Janyre has walked through some dark valleys. We explore the idea of beauty in the mess and what it means to lose control. Also in this show, walking miracles, writer inspiration, God's will, C.S. Lewis, weird research facts, Janyre's upcoming releases, and the annoying pat answers that…

This is the month many of us set aside to contemplate our blessings…or so we say. We see social media posts about gratitude, make holiday plans with our families and enjoy an abundance of rich, decadent food. I fear we’re choking on our wealth, empty inside from the striving to have more. Several years ago, I spoke at a woman’s retreat in Belize. The women who attended came from poor villages—many of their houses made from nothing more than hastily constructed plywood and tarps. The fortunate had coarse plumbing. Women washed their clothes in the river and could make the…

I sat in my rickety lawn chair, waiting for folks to walk up our driveway and buy our old treasures and trinkets as part of our neighborhood garage sale. Things were slow. Granted, I didn't have much to put out, but still, I'd hoped to make enough to put a dent in our Christmas budget. Sighing, I watched another car drive past. Our cat purred, rubbing around my legs as I sat and waited. At least she was getting plenty of attention so early on a Saturday morning. An hour passed, then two. All I sold was a set of…

Redemption is a beautiful thing. There is something, dare I say, romantic about someone with power and position plucking a nobody from the crowd and claiming them as their own. Perhaps that's why I've so frequently heard the Gospel compared to a fairy tale story. A king sweeping the lonely girl away to a land where all her dreams come true. Not long ago, I heard someone compare what God has done to the story of Cinderella. I understand the gist of this kind of thinking, but it just doesn't ring true. Not for me. See, Cinderella was pure and…