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…

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about avoidance. Trying to avoid the chocolate calling for me in the pantry. Avoiding too much screen time. Germs. Crowds. The scale. Overextending. Traffic. Snakes and spiders. The news. Avoiding staying up too late because I just can’t seem to put the book down. What I’ve slowly come to realize is most of these are physical aggravators. Oh, indulgence in any of them can affect my emotions, possibly even harm me. Yet while we tend to focus on external things we should avoid, most of us are missing a huge aspect of our spiritual…

Lord, We come to Your feet, praising You for being the God You are--holy, all-powerful, King, and friend. Father, You hear the cries of Your children in Afghanistan and all over the world. You hold them in their darkest moments, when terror squeezes the breath from their chests. Be their peace. Be their hope. Give them courage. I ask, in the name of Jesus, to blind the enemy as You did in the days of Elisha. Confuse their plans and rescue Your children from danger. Not for their name's sake, but for Yours. Forgive us, Lord, for our apathy. We…