By Lana Christian @LanaCWrites The first half of Matthew 2 chronicles how the Magi found and worshipped the Christ Child. But Matthew ends their breathtaking story on a whispered footnote. Verse 12 says that, to avoid Herod, the Wise Men “returned home by a different route.” Our 21st-century minds tend to dismiss that as “they traveled a county road instead …
Visible Virtues: Judging Justice
by Christine Sunderland Today is December 7, a “date which will live in infamy” as President Roosevelt stated in his address to Congress and the nation, speaking of Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. This catalyst propelled our nation into World War II, hesitant as we were to get involved until then, despite the Holocaust and the rise of …
For Such a Time
by Maureen Miller Why’s it taking so long? This was my frequent cry. My frustration regarding my WIP’s publication process spilled over like coffee in a Starbucks cup sloshing over speedbumps. Similar to crickets from my content coach, God, too, often seemed silent. Over time, my inquiry changed. Is there a greater lesson to apply to my writing life? That’s …
Comparison – The Thief of Joy
by Steven Rogers @SRBooksForHope For the last fifteen years, I’ve been a member of a men’s Bible study group. During our meetings, a common theme often emerges—comparison. Based on the contributions we see from others, we worry that we’re not doing enough. For example, we might be reading about the Apostle Paul, marvel at this commitment and accomplishments, and then …
Who Does the World Say You Are?
By Tara Johnson Writers, let me ask you a question today: Who does the world say you are? In her book The Wind in the Door, Madeline L’Engle explores a powerful truth: names matter. In the story, she shows that when someone misnames you, when they call you something other than who you really are, it diminishes you. It strips …
When Your Muse is Hurting
by Chandra Lynn Smith When I scheduled my blog post dates for the year, of course I had no idea about what topics I might choose. Initially, I thought it might be about the changing of the seasons and how while summer is my favorite season and I am not a fan of pumpkin spice—yes I typed that—I might share …
Visible Virtues: Prayerful Prudence
by Christine Sunderland @Chrisunderland A note from Christine: This post is dedicated to Charlie Kirk and his family Today is September 11, or “Nine-Eleven” as we recall it twenty-four years later, when the infamous and horrific attack by radical Islamists on New York’s World Trade Center buildings woke America from her sleep. It was a path chosen by those pilots, …
Building Meaningful Connections as an Introvert
By Elle E. Kay With conference time approaching, if you’re attending, it’s time to think about the relationships we’ll begin while we’re there. If you’re not able to make it this year, there may still be a nugget or two that will resonate with you. If you’re an introvert like me, you may get overwhelmed by the thought of interacting …
Lessons from Birthing a Second Book
by Linda Dindzans My most recent blog compared the release of my first book A Certain Man with birthing a baby. The next book in the series, A Certain Mercy, is undergoing content edits. This manuscript has readily confirmed that writing a second book is like expanding your family by the birth of another child. When I was expecting my …
Write Like a Four-Year-Old
by Dr. Dwight David Croy There is a very common story told about a four-year-old girl who was concentrating on drawing a picture of God. Very intense, very serious, putting her all into an important project in her mind. An adult teacher, thinking to help instruct the little girl in correct theology, said to her, “You know, according to the …