When we moved to Charlottesville to plant a church, we knew one person—our realtor. Then we …
Resources for Planter Wives
Let’s be willing to care for the refugee
“I wasn’t God’s first choice for what I’ve done for China. I don’t know who it …
Recognizing the painful reality of racial divide
In a small town outside Selma, Alabama, shortly after my dad graduated high school in 1960, my …
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How to respond to those who hurt us
Have you heard the old joke that ministry would be great if it weren’t for all …
Leading women to advance the gospel
I’m plagued with a burden that I’ve played it too safe. And what’s even more dangerous, …
Vulnerability: The currency of bravery
As we conclude this series on True Bravery, we end with the ultimate factor that produces …
God calls the unlikely to be used for the extraordinary
There are many examples of bravery in the Bible. Esther. Moses. Ruth. Joseph. Rahab. Paul. The …
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We are to be courageous as we give ourselves completely to God’s work. But how? Lately, …
How to strengthen a child’s resolve to cling to truth
Recently in our home, the background music of noisy toys and the Bubble Guppies theme song has given …
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Five ways to pass bravery on to the women you lead
We have been hearing from some very wise women about how true bravery is necessary in …
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I sat in my elven-sized, silver Toyota Yaris, crying. My family was miles away on the …
Building relationships with those different than me
It’s hard to imagine there existed a time before walls. Today, we can barely imagine how …
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Four ways to lead our children toward bravery
A new year provides a time for reflection. We recount the stories that make up the …
“True Bravery” really comes down to one thing
When I think of bravery in 2017, I think of the people of Aleppo—the fighters for …
God’s people have always been called to bravery
“Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the …
In our previous blog, we issued a call to show daring courage and take necessary risk …
Biggest ministry lesson from 2016: True bravery
Flourish unintentionally started a New Year’s tradition by discussing valuable lessons learned in the previous year. …
The most significant viewpoint we can have of ourselves
A statement on Twitter three years ago revolutionized my version of baby Jesus in the manger. …
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You know you’re a pastor’s wife if…
It’s happened to all of us. People say and do some unusual things. Things can get …
How and why we still tuck in our adolescent kids
We still tuck in our kids. It’s just that the tucking looks a little different these …
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Four steps to take before confronting others
In my last post, we talked about everyone’s favorite topic, receiving reproof. I mean, who doesn’t love a hard …
Three reasons to be receptive to reproof
I can remember clearly where I was standing the first time it happened. I was engaged, …
How to handle a one-sided friendship
I was asked, “Why does friendship at times feel one-sided?” That question, of course, could mean …
God’s heart in reproof is to make us more holy
“My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the …
I love the whole holiday season, from the first signs of fall to the beginning of …
Waiting for the bus in a frigid, biting wind reminded us of the ease of transportation …
The healthy practice of letting go
Not only did Jesus set an example of being sent. He also set an example of …
“As the Father sent me so send I you” (John 20:21). Sent is a word straight from …
Four grace-filled responses to the Jen Hatmaker conversation
Surely this headline caught your attention: “The politics of Jen Hatmaker: Trump, Black Lives Matter, gay …
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How the influence of others makes us more useful
“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” (Prov. 27: 17). In reflection on our …
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On Monday, I stayed in my pajamas until 4 p.m. Although I woke up early and …
Why time away from your church is a good thing
Today finds me sitting on a lava rock in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean. …
Four ways to deal with annoying church members
It happened almost every Sunday morning. His cell phone would ring loudly in the middle of …
Are you an emotionally healthy woman?
I have found much enjoyment these last few weeks in telling my friends, “I’m reading a …
The year was 1990. It was the month of March, and I had been diagnosed with …
In the middle of a busy day, I found myself having a mental “conversation” in which …
How to praise God on the most awful days
On Monday, December 15, 2014, I found myself somewhere I really didn’t want to be. I …
God brings redemption into our mourning
Attachment to one’s mother is a mystery of the heart. The desire to know my mom …
How to respond when the wicked prosper
She was weeping over the phone. Grief, anger and frustration were pouring out of her as …
A good, hard look at sin and repentance
This summer has been rough in some ways. Not in every way, of course. I did …
What does it mean to meditate on the Bible?
“The Psalms represent the Bible’s own spiritual root system for the great tree we call Christianity.” …
How the Psalms speak words of life into the dark
Trouble brings out the best in some. I am not one of those people. Externally, I …
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One phrase in a powerful sermon completely paralyzed me. Dr. Robert Smith Jr., who serves as …
Stop assuming your neighbors are hostile to your faith
Some of the headlines are ominous. The value of religious liberty is on the decline. Many …
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Six ways to teach children about suffering
My oldest son just turned five, and this age is a joy. He understands the world …
Seven things you might not learn in seminary: Part 2
We are talking about the hard parts of ministry [part 1] that you may not have …
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The pen is in your hand, the card opened and yet you are paralyzed. What should …
Seven things you might not learn in seminary: Part 1
When my husband and I married, we were packed and ready for seminary. I felt prepared …
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The most frequently asked questions regarding race
The following post from Trillia Newbell’s blog gives great insight and wisdom as we continually learn to better …
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Proverbs 31:26, “The law of kindness is on her tongue. . .” The Proverbs 31 woman …
Community requires vulnerability
For the first eight years of our ministry, I didn’t have a friend to my name. …
Entering the conversation about the racial divide
I grew up in a town stamped and molded by racial issues that were never discussed. …
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Finding freedom from your own expectations
If you are like most women, you are your own worst critic. Being hard on ourselves …
Understanding the economic divide in the Church
I had no understanding, prior to my life in ministry, that socioeconomic class is a powerful …
The danger in entertaining lies
It would be convenient if Satan would show up as a talking snake. Then, we could …
When it’s better to be weak than strong
The following is a journal entry I wrote in May on Mother’s Day: Today was Mother’s …
How to battle discontent and despair
I have known the antagonism of discouragement. In early adulthood I was a newcomer to marriage …
The emotions in a time of transition
Ron Edmonson’s website is rich with leadership and ministerial wisdom. This recent post on moving caught my eye as he …
I made an observation recently, and found it interesting when a friend said something similar to …
How to support missionaries on the front lines
One of Christianity’s most compelling mission stories is that of William Carey, called “the father of …
What I wish I had known about moving
Most of us in ministry will move several times during our careers and lifetimes. We will …
What I wish I’d known about friendship
As a young ministry wife, I was totally unprepared for the requisite sacrifice required of me …
Why you need to talk to your kids about race
“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he …
What I wish I had known about forgiving others
I never thought I had an issue with forgiveness. I mean, in my sheltered life, I’ve …
I’ll admit it…I care what people think about me. Oh, I talk a big game of …
9 ways to tell the difference between a prayer warrior and a gossip
I love reading anything Chuck Lawless writes. This insightful piece nails something we all know is true. Chuck …
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Walking alongside the mom of a special needs child
My heart has been heavy for moms who walk that special path—one that seems mostly up …
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Be mean about the vision. Wondering what I’m talking about, today? Vision. Tenacity. Determination. The ability …
Lessons learned from Amy Carmichael
While looking through some old books recently, I happened across a beloved Christian classic, one I …
Why family stories are important in ministry
Stories stick. People remember them. Let’s not kid ourselves both as parents and leaders. We may …
The city needs christians to dwell in its midst
Living in the city is hard. There are more inconveniences and risks. It’s a fact. (Why …
The life-preserving comfort of a godly friend
“When we arrived in Macedonia there was no rest for us. Outside there was conflict from …
Why solely giving to the church is dangerous
As a pastor’s wife, I’m prone to think of church in certain terms, and it’s mostly …
Showing up in both the joyous and the ugly
Just show up. Ministry life can be joyous. We have the privilege of being present at …
The key to being a resilient leader
“We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We …
Looking at the true root of relational stress
For a long time I have allowed myself to become extremely emotional as I have parented …
The importance of family rituals
The word spooked me out for the longest time. Rituals. I couldn’t help but think of …
We love drawing your attention to great resources. Today we are interviewing fellow ministry wife Holly …
When I got pregnant in early 2010, I feared that something was wrong with our baby. …
Learning to celebrate the difficult journey
We checked no. Well, let me back up for just a moment. God gave us Alex …