The Blog
Truth found in unexpected places
On Hope and Horses
Last month my husband and I celebrated our twenty-second anniversary by going on a movie date for the first time in more than a year. I was a little anxious about this plan, but as we sat in a large theater with six other moviegoers all spread out, I eventually relaxed and became immersed in the story of a small town and a horse.
I didn’t get WandaVision. Until I did.
I’m not the first person to experience, acknowledge, or share about the “pandemic wall.” So many of us are hitting it was we face the one-year anniversary of when our world changed forever. This isn’t unique to me or to you. But that doesn’t make it any less real than the glimpses Wanda gets in episode 7 of the very real ways her world—and her ability to handle it—are crumbling.
When Making Do Doesn’t Make Sense
I’m telling you about my refrigerator because I’m learning that God doesn’t expect us to become so complacent that we ignore brokenness and pain or deny its existence or, possibly worse, find a bit of comfort in it. It’s just the way it is. Fixing it would be too hard, too costly. I’ll just make do . . . I’m telling you because I recently read a Bible story that I’ve read many times, even recently. But this time, I read it with friends and discussed the confusing part I’d skimmed over every other time. And it’s changing how I look at making do.
The Best New Holiday Movies of 2020
2020 brought more than 100 new holiday movies, if you can believe it! I watched nearly 60 and liked a majority of them. Here are the top 20 new holiday movies from 2020.
10 Holiday Movies to Watch When You’re Missing Your Family
It’s hard to be alone or to be away from the people we care about most, especially at the holidays. If you’re in the mood for a movie this holiday season while you are missing your family, these films might cheer you up for a bit or at least distract you (or remind you that the holiday family gatherings we’re longing for aren’t actually quite as Normal Rockwell perfect as we might be remembering).
What We Need Most This Holiday Season
What do we need most this holiday season? Do what you need to do to say centered and safe and sane. Do whatever it is that brings you comfort and joy in this season, that pulls you closer to God who promises to be with us, that keeps you mindful of the One we celebrate this time of year — our Emmanuel.
25 Lifetime Holiday Movies on Sale for 99 Cents!
If you don’t have cable or subscribe to half a dozen streaming services, getting your holiday movie fix can be tricky. Lucky for us, Amazon has marked down dozens of Lifetime holiday movies to less than a dollar. And that’s not the rental price. You can PURCHASE (and keep forever, to watch however many times and whenever you want!) each of these movies for 99 cents. Wow!
When God Calls You to an Unexpected Ministry
All the personality, spiritual gifts, and strength-finding tests in the world have never revealed to me the most significant (and sometimes sneaky) ways God has used me to love His people. These unlikely callings have taken me by surprise over and over again, and I’m finally seeing the blessing in them.
The Way to Stop Spiraling into a Storm of Emotion
The specifics of what hurt me that day don’t matter here. What matters is that on that day, God gently and generously whispered, “Stop. Take a moment. Let it out. I’m here.” He pushed the pause button on my agitation cycle, pulling me away from the feeling-stuffing and problem-fixing, opening His arms to hold me as I let it all out.
14 Delicious Hallmark Movies About Cooking
The Hallmark Channel has created so many movies about cooking. And cooking contests, in particular. So many cooking contests! If you love watching people fall in love in the kitchen, here are some delicious movies you shouldn’t miss.
Have Mercy! How Full House Reminded Me to Press Forward
Who, living in the year 2020, can’t identify with those thoughts? How did we get here? What is happening? Where did our normal lives go? What happened to our plans, our lives, our world? And then, how do we and when will we get back to normal? What did happen to predictability? The old TV show playing in my living room made me think of a time gone by, but as I thought about that, I began to wonder: What exactly do we mean when we long for the “good ol’ days”?
Looking for a Beach Read? 12 Romantic Comedies to Read This Summer
We might not be able to go to the beach this year, but we can still indulge in a beach read or two (or twelve) this summer! Last week we talked about the best (cutest, light-but-not-fluffiest) young adult novels you might read this summer. (Get that list here.) This week? Light-but-not-fluffy romantic comedy novels about grown-ups! Here are a dozen romantic comedy novels to read this summer.