Living as a Victorious Christian Woman

We've had some pretty wild winds in Southeast Iowa in 2025, and this tree was one of the casualties. It was so cool to see the root system, still with a tap root, and what was happening under the soil all those years. There were a lot of small roots, but they didn't go out very far or very deep. It's no surprise that it keeled over. There are a couple of passages of Scripture that always come to mind when I see exposed roots like this.  As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:  Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6-7 We can't be built up in Christ until we've firmly and completely rooted ourselves in Him. That means making a habit of studying His word, spending time in prayer communicating with Him, and placing His glory first and foremost in everything we do. Then comes the building up, the benefits and blessings that come when we have relat...

Over the years I have always been drawn to acrylic dots as my go-to paper craft embellishment. I love the having multiple sizes, color options, and super-shiny-ness all on one card. Here are just a handful of creative ways you can use dots on your next project. If your layout leaves you with some extra space, fill it with dots. You can leave them in the corners like I did here, you can make a line of several dots, or you can create patterns in rainbows of colors. Color is so important in crafts, especially when they're going to be given to someone going through difficult times, like this sympathy card. The green dots in the corner coordinate with the leaves, but contrast really well with the red background. Using acrylic dots as flower centers is a no-brainer. If I hadn't used them on the flowers for this particular card, I would have added them on the butterflies' wings for some dimension. Once you've found some techniques you like, you can combine dots for a one-of-a-...

With part of a bag of salmon filets and ingredients we already had in the freezer and pantry, we were able to whip up a beautiful, yummy sheet pan dinner.  Mix and match vegetables for a super healthy meal, perfect for a busy night. And the kitchen will smell amazing after roasting this combination of seasonings and melted butter! Two bonuses: it only took about 25 minutes from start to finish, and we'll be able to pack them up for meal prep this week.  Ingredients: 4 salmon filets 4 cups broccoli 4 cloves garlic, minced 6 Tbsp butter, melted 2 Tbsp brown sugar 1 tsp oregano 1 tsp rosemary 1 tsp thyme salt and pepper to taste 1 lemon 1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Spray a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray. 2. Arrange salmon in the center of the baking sheet and rub with garlic. Fill in the sheet with broccoli. 3. Melt butter in a bowl and whisk in brown sugar and seasonings. Pour over salmon and broccoli. 4. Cut lemon in half and squeeze one half over entire baking...

I don't believe in luck, and I don't believe in coincidence. Too much has happened in my life that has clearly been the hand of God. I'm sure if you look back at the situations and circumstances of your own life, you'll see God moving and working in everything you've been through, too. So it may sound cliche, but we're blessed by God, not left up to whatever luck might come along. Whatever happens today, good or bad that you receive, is a blessing from God.  The best definition of a blessing I've ever seen is that we receive God's favor, grace, and presence in our lives, leading us to His peace and well-being. We may not be blessed with a million dollars or fancy house and car, but what God does give us is His favor and grace - which are priceless - and His presence - which is perpetual. Beyond that, what more do we need? Here are some of my favorite Scripture about the blessings of God. I pray they'll bless you today while everyone else is scramblin...