Living as a Victorious Christian Woman

If you're anything like me, and I imagine you are at least somewhat, you have been anything but perfect during the past year. I know in my own life, I've been proud, angry, discouraged, mean-spirited, unloving, judgemental, suspicious, lazy, arrogant and probably more than a little selfish. I am just a sinner saved by grace, and my daily living is often proof of that sinful nature. It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23 This weekend many people will use the New Year as their "reason" for starting anew. They will look for newness of life in diets, kicking bad habits and trying to do a 180-degree turn in other areas. But Scripture tells us that we have new mercies every single day, not just the first day of the year. We can look for God's faithfulness today, tomorrow and even sometime next week when we've broken the die

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Matthew 1:18-24 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus

So, here's my pile of leftover, broken candy canes. These are the ones that I couldn't make into hearts yesterday because they've cracked and crumbled. Now what? We get into the kitchen and use them up! Whole candy canes: * Get fanciful and hang them around the kitchen. * Tuck them into plants, into cups and into glasses for a quick snack. * Offer them as an alternative coffee stir stick. Bits and pieces of candy canes: * Drop them into a cup of hot cocoa. * Scatter them around a dessert plate as garnish. * Add to a party mix with popcorn, chocolate candies and other munchable goodies. Crushed candy canes: * Sprinkle on top of chocolate cake. * Mix into no-bake cheesecake. * Stir into softened ice cream, then refreeze. * Add to the frosting of your favorite dessert. May the week bring you many candy canes, broken or otherwise. It might get your creativity working!

It's not every day that I air my mistakes before the entire blogging world, but today is the day. I bought the wrong kind of candy canes. There was an amazingly cute craft in a magazine that I'd been saving for just this week, so I went to the dollar store and bought two packages of candy canes. They're all pretty and red and perfectly striped. But then I got home and reread the instructions. Instead of my pretty, edible candy canes, I needed the candy cane ornaments made of plastic. Real ones won't work. So, that one will have to wait until next year. And now I have 24 candy canes. What's a girl to do? Make candy cane crafts and recipes! Yay! So here's the easiest, cutest candy cane craft int he entire world. They're perfect for a quick gift, decoration or ornament. All you need are two candy canes and a hot glue gun. Please leave the candy canes wrapped, unless you plan to never, ever eat them.   After preheating

Human beings, women humans especially, tend to categorize themselves in funny ways. Ways very different from how God sees us. We measure our self-worth by physical traits - those we lack and those we have too many of. We judge our character by the things we've failed at more than our heart condition while we've attempted them. And we'll often be much more harsh on ourselves than we would ever be with someone else. There are many times when our self-critique prevents us from seeing the saved child of God that He sees. "How could the Lord love me when He knows who I am, what I've done and what I've been?" Isn't it amazing (and such a wonderful blessing) that God sees us through the blood of Christ. Because we've come before His throne in repentance, we are a new creature, completely covered in the crimson flow. What was once a lost, struggling, sinful person is now seen clean, pure and refreshed by the grace of God. So who are we to belittle,

Everyone's hurrying around this weekend - attending events and parties, shopping for numerous gifts and writing out the last of the greeting cards. Are we anticipating the event or the arrival? But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Matthew 1:20-23 Make this weekend one of anticipation over the birth of the Savior. The other stuff can wait - praise and worship of the soon-coming King can't!

 Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. Leviticus 26:4 My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass . Deuteronomy 32:2 And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.   1 Kings 18: 41  And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. James 5:18

Just wanted to let you know that the girls are having a wonderful time in their new home. There was a little anxiety at first, but everyone is now settled and adjusted to life in Iowa. They love to be out on the property, sniffing for the deer, turkeys and the occasional raccoon. The woods surrounding us are the perfect place to do a little exploring. You can tell that everything's back to normal when your Labrador Retriever spends her time in the kitchen with you while you're baking. Just in case you need help cleaning up...  And they're happiest when they can watch the world go by from the warmth of the inside. Bailey protects the house with all her heart, especially when there are birds and deer on the loose. It's a great time to be a puppy.

This recipe is so easy and so fantastic that I made it twice in one week. Restaurants everywhere have included it on their menu, but for a better value (and quicker service) you can make it yourself. I found several recipes around and about for toasted ravioli, mainly because I didn't want the hassle of frying them. These are baked instead, and take just a few minutes in the oven. Interestingly enough, I had also screwed up some step in each recipe I had saved...yes, surprising, I know. So I had to modify and make things up as I went along to compensate. Mind you, my measurements are a little guess work - I added enough spices to make the bread crumbs smell just right and look really pretty. The exact numbers are really up to you. Take a whiff and decide what you like. Ingredients: 1 bag frozen meat ravioli, thawed overnight 1 egg white 2 Tbsp water 1 cup Italian bread crumbs 3 Tbsp basil 3 Tbsp oregano 3 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese marinara or pizza sauce 1. Pr

After a while I get tired of hearing people say that it's too time consuming and too difficult to make your own Christmas cards. Then they settle for some generic design that many other people will purchase and that may not say exactly what they'd like. Let me show you, in just seven pictures, how quickly and easily you can make a beautiful card to share the joy of the season. Step one: gather one blank card, one sheet of decorator paper, two coordinating scraps and one 3D embellishment. Yep...that's it. That took me about two minutes, mostly because I'm still not reorganized yet. Step two: adhere the decorator paper to the card and trim to fit. That took about a minute. Step three: with your paper trimmer, cut a small strip of paper, long enough to run top to bottom on your card. Then adhere it to the coordinating piece so there is a thin border on either side. This may take three minutes, tops.  Step four: adhere your new strip to the cente

If you've been following along with the Daily Devotion on this site, you've just read through the entire Bible in less than 50 weeks. It's truly hard to believe that it's been that long, but it's been a blessed journey. We've watched the Lord of all Creation make a universe...and then create a man. Through the miracle of His power He made that man a help meet, which started our own beautiful family. But we've also had to read about sin coming into the world and the need of man for a Savior. From the first chapter of Genesis to the last chapter of Revelation, we've clearly seen that scarlet thread that is the blood of Jesus Christ work its way through history. We've seen how God can use a shepherd, a slave girl, a king, a harlot, a publican, a Pharisee, a fisherman and thousands of other lives to give glory and honor to the King of kings and Lord of lords. If He can do that with this variety of people, what can He use me for? And possibly the

Our new home sits well off the road in a great area of trees. You can't see it from the highway and there is little traffic noise. It's not somewhere people just happen to be passing by, so when someone arrives in the driveway, it is normally planned and expected. And usually they are here for a purpose. Anyone who isn't here by invitation or to complete a necessary task for our family is trespassing. They have no reason to be here and probably aren't up to anything good. We've heard about people hunting on surrounding land without permission, and that is a scary thought. This space is precious to us, and we like to protect it from anyone who would do it harm. Unfortunately, I have been guilty of allowing trespassers onto our property. No, it wasn't hunters or salesmen. There hasn't been anyone on our doorstep that shouldn't be, but I have allowed other things to creep their way in. When I worry, I am allowing those people and issues that have evil

Just wanted you to see what happens when you try to "encourage" the snow. (Reread yesterday's craft post.) This is how we woke up this morning, and it's still coming down. Just sitting inside praising the Lord for the beauty of His creation. Have a wonderful day bundled up in God's love!

It's finally time to share the culmination of a past post - one you've probably been sitting on the edge of your seat waiting for, right? I've been thinking about these tiny cupcakes for days, and finally made them yesterday morning. Half went to work with Danny and the other half went to the newsroom with me. Only a handful made it home, but we're not complaining. Ingredients: one white cake box mix the ingredients called for on the package one jar marshmallow fluff one can creamy white frosting one can spray frosting (or your favorite kind) one container of chocolate-dipped graham crackers 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place one tiny cupcake wrapper in each spot of a 24-count mini-cupcake pan. 2. Bake 48 miniature cupcakes, 10-12 minutes for each batch. (Try not to eat them as they come out of the oven.) 3. Meanwhile, mix most of the jar of fluff and most of the jar of frosting together. If you use all of each one, you'll have tons leftover. Hm

After spending six years in a state with very little snowfall, I'm so looking forward to winter in Iowa! It's been predicted that we'll have some snow on the ground soon, and I can't wait! So perhaps to encourage it along, I challenged myself in the craft room this weekend. Each card I made had to be on the snowflake theme, but completely different. Have you ever tried that? Not as easy as it sounds... I used my snowflake punch to just make some accents for my phrase. I love the way they look against the dark tree background. Contrasting colors make everything pop a little more. And there's also a snowflake in the torn corner panel. Did you see it? It's really subtle. The look of these snowflakes on their contrasting circles proves my point about making colors stand out. Layering also adds tons of texture and makes your project more interesting to look at. Two punches, a simple border cut from another sheet of paper and there you go. Sometimes it

It's been a very chilly week...alright, it's been downright cold! This icy scene has been pretty typical on our ponds for the past few days. And it's quite beautiful - from the warmth of inside! If you're brave enough to venture down to the water's edge, you'll quickly see that the waters are still swirling underneath that thin sheet of ice on top. It will get thicker as the weeks of cold continue, but for right now a light tap will break through that covering. O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker. For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work. Psalm 95:6-9 Make this a weekend of breaking through whatever has begun to harden your heart. It may be like that thin layer of ice right now, just a l

I started a new round of workouts this morning - and I'm whooped! With the move, living in a hotel and the moving-in process, I had completely given up "exercising" for over a month. Oh yes, I've gotten in some good workouts just moving boxes around, but nothing that really challenged my body the way an organized workout does. So, needless to say, I found muscles I forgot I had. Just a couple of minutes into my routine I was ready to give up and crawl back into bed. Those few hours of sleep I just finished would have been a really good excuse and who needs to do a full workout the first day anyway? But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 3:14-15 Isn't it easier to stop when things get uncomfortable? Why keep pushing your

This is what we woke up to earlier this week. They're dining on our new grass seed. And yes, they're all still out there - I guess they've all received pardons for this year's meal! I pray you have a fabulous Thanksgiving Day. And let's all strive to stay in an attitude of gratitude for the rest of the week...month...year...decade...until Jesus Christ comes back for His Bride. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

I knew exactly what I was going to the store to buy. The menu for Thanksgiving is set and I needed just one thing - the decoration for my dessert. I knew where to go and I knew what to get. But when I walked down the aisle where I had seen what I saw...it was no longer there! The seasons had changed and I was now looking at Christmas trees and penguins. Not in my plan...but really, really cute! Oh well, next trip. So my brain had to switch over from prepared-mode to what-next-mode. That's when I saw them. I don't know if these are new or if they're just new to me. These bite-sized beauties are tiny graham cookies covered in chocolate and drizzled with peanut butter. Now, this is my favorite combination in the entire world, so to be able to take a handful at a time is a wonderful notion. And these will be the perfect decoration for my Thanksgiving dessert. I think they'll be even better than what I had in mind, and I can enjoy the leftovers, too! Stay tu

I'm now one step closer to being settled into our new life in Iowa - I've opened my etsy shop back up! Yes, after days and days of toting boxes down to the craft area of our basement (lots and lots of boxes), I can finally get back to work. Or is it play when you love it so much? Hmm... If you go to the shop this week, you'll see lots of black and white. There's a reason for that, so don't adjust your screen. I challenged myself to do something completely different for an entire week. I'm using one set of papers, in just two colors, just to see how many different styles and combinations I can create. It's a lot harder than it sounds! But the results have been amazing! Two sets of cards have already flown out the door (Thank you Cherie!) and I'm so excited with the traffic that's coming through. It's been a long few weeks with all of my crafting supplies packed away, so be ready for lots of new stuff. It was like a really weird Chr

Unless you stay in your house all day - or you live under a rock - you have to be out and about in the world. There are all kinds of people around us: saved and unsaved, devoted and wishy-washy, dependable and undependable, faithful and not-so-much faithful. We come in all shapes and sizes, for better or for worse. It's challenging for a Christian woman to stay victorious and faithful to God when the world around us isn't. Scripture tells us to do a lot of very difficult things in the face of opposition. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. 2 Corinthians 6:17 There's no choice to just blend into the crowd or take the easy route - to simply do what everyone else is doing and hope we don't stand out. We will be noticed when we come out from among the world. Separation can be a frightening, lonely experience when we're just trying to be loved and accepted. But following

Yep, this is what the two garages still look like. Moving is hard work, but we're making some steady progress in getting settled. A few boxes a day and we'll be done before you know it! Know anyone who needs cardboard boxes? The whole process of setting up a home can be daunting. Just the unpacking alone seems endless, let alone finding a home for everything, keep things clean and still finding time to eat and sleep. Maybe less of those last two than anything else... When you're feeling overwhelmed, you quickly lose your focus. You're unpacking boxes and decide to take some things to another room. While you're in there you think of additions to your shopping list. So you leave that room and go look for your list...but where did you put it? Oh, and that trash needs taken out, the phone company needs to be called and you still need to go check the mail. Where did your focus go? And what did you actually accomplish in the last hour? Seek ye first the kingdo

The Internet installer didn't show up until the next day, leaving me waiting without word. The telephone company had to send a repairman out, too, which meant a couple more days without communication. I know my shoes are in a box...somewhere. We still have to register the cars, get new driver's licenses and get all of our insurance worked out. For every one thing I check off the to-do list, it seems like four more get added. And they all seem like inconveniences. No, I never assumed I'd walk right into our new house and our new life in Iowa would just begin without incident. But while working odd hours at the newspaper and trying to get the house turned into a home, anything extra just makes me sigh. And then God does something miraculous. In the middle of another evening of unpacking, breaking down boxes and cleaning the driveway, He paints the sky with the most beautiful array of colors. The mundane is instantly replaced with awe and joy because of a simple bl

Usually the word "squirrely" has negative connotations. It's typically a slang word to describe someone with questionable character, someone odd or a little crazy. But this weekend I want to give the word "squirrely" new meaning. This little guy couldn't see me taking his picture through the front door. He could hear a little noise and was alert, but because of the angle of the sun I was completely invisible. He was aware of my presence, but went about his business of finding lovely things to eat. This weekend I challenge all of us to have this same squirrely attitude. Yes, there are things behind the door that we can't see - evil, the unexpected, people who would see us harmed, maybe even a tragedy or disappointment. At this moment we're aware there's something out there, but we just can't quite see what's happening. We have two choices: be afraid or be squirrely. We can hide inside and cower in fear. Or we can be victorious in

We are still not in our house. Through postponements and questions and paperwork and heartbreaks, we are still living in a hotel. There is joy in someone to clean up after you, but there is still longing for home. There are simple pleasures in someone else's roof over your head each night, but there are desires for a place and a purpose. You take those blessings for granted until you're uprooted. Normal has been exchanged for new adventures, familiar faces traded for people you've never met. Suddenly you are out of your routine, unsettled and aching to have that normal life back. It will be different, the house will be different, but life will seem stable and permanent again, if you were just in that house. But home isn't about a house. Yes, we will move into our house in just a few more days, but I'm still home. Not because we're back in my hometown or because this is where my family is. I'm home because I'm in the presence of the Lord. Abide in

When you're not sure what the future holds...God does! When things don't seem to be holding together...God is! When human strength can't handle it...God can! The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. Psalm 18:2 When the flesh won't even face the circumstances...God will! When you may not see how everything will work out...God sees! When peace seems a million miles away...God has it! Truly my soul waitheth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.  Psalm 62:1-2 When the day begins to unravel...God ties the knot! When uncertainty attacks your heart...God fights back! When the road ahead seems dark...God lights the way. Because isn't it all about Him?

You know your moving date is close when your phone and Internet are disconnected! That's the stage we're at this week, so you won't see updated Daily Devotions until next weekend. I encourage you to keep up with your Bible reading, though, by giving you the schedule to read on your own. Monday: Acts 14-16 Tuesday: Acts 17-19 Wednesday: Acts 20-23 Thursday: Acts 24-28 Friday: Romans 1-4 Saturday: Romans 5-8 Sunday: Romans 9-12 Please continue to pray for us as we prepare for loading the truck at the end of the week. We're running out of time to do everything we'd like, but never running out of God's blessings!

Anyone who looks at my rose bush right now can tell that it's got issues. I would never have called it full and healthy before, but it's definitely seen better days. Fall and the colder weather are taking their toll and it's just been pruned back for the winter. Someone who doesn't know anything about plants, or roses in particular, might think this little bush is past its usefulness and rip it out. They don't notice the new, pink leaves that are coming through and green shoots that are replacing the old, weary stalks. Without the understanding of this rose bush's potential, watering and feeding it would seem pointless. Someone without knowledge and understanding wouldn't put in the time and effort to make this beautiful little plant bloom in cascades of blossoms in the spring. Wisdom is the principle thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thine getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when

If your mind is anything like mine, it's probably working overtime, all day, every day. We put our brains into overdrive trying to think, plan, understand and figure out all the little details of life. In truth, this is completely unnecessary. We expend large amounts of energy on some pretty unproductive thinking. 10 Things To Stop Thinking About: 1. What other people think of how you believe, think, speak or act. 2. What the future holds. 3. Things that have happened in the past. 4. What the world considers important, necessary or entertaining. 5. The boundaries you have set up for yourself, mentally, spiritually, emotionally and even physically. 6. Comparisons you make between yourself and other Christian women. 7. The what-if's in life that we're completely unable to control. 8. Some imaginary perfect life that has nothing to do with the way God designed you. 9. Worries over mistakes that you've made. 10. All the things that you don't have

It's less than two months until Thanksgiving Day. We've set aside an entire day of our year just for naming all of the things we're thankful for. But what about this weekend? Are we supposed to set aside our thanks until an appointed day? I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people, In the courts of the LORD'S house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD. Psalm 116:17-19 Make this a weekend of thanksgiving, regardless of the time of year. We can find a never-ending list of blessings to thank God for, from the shiny pinwheels by the sidewalk to the family you'll wake up to tomorrow. Make the sacrifice of thanksgiving and praise the Lord!

For a while this summer I was addicted to avocado. They were fairly inexpensive at one of our local grocery stores, so I picked up a few several times over the warmer months. I also quickly learned the art of distinguishing a ripe avocado from one about to go bad. (The squishiness gives it away.) I also discovered that you shouldn't buy more avocados than you'll eat in a couple of days. (Yes, I learned this the hard way.) This was my favorite concoction from my avocado experiments. Super easy with the help of some prepackaged veggies, and so deliciously lovely. Ingredients: 2 ripe avocados, halved and diced 1 7-oz package of pico de gallo drizzle of olive oil course ground black pepper to taste 1. Halve, core and dice two ripe avocados into a large bowl. 2. Add the package of pico de gallo. You can also create your own with tomato, onions and oil. 3. Drizzle with about 1 Tbsp of extra virgin olive oil. 4. Season to taste with course ground bla

We're now one step closer to our move date - we've had our yard sale! On a chilly October morning, we laid out the excess stuff from our home onto tables in the driveway. Then we let people come by, look through it, and buy it for their own home. It's a really weird concept if you think about it. You assign a value to the things you own, and then hope that other people see that same value. We pass on our leftovers with the hopes of making profit and giving someone else a joy - and a bargain. The hardest part of the yard sale experience is in choosing those prices. While some things you price just to be rid of them, others have a little more meaning in your heart. You've lived with those items, seen them every day and made them a part of your life. All of a sudden you wonder how you could ever part with that "thing." The next thing you know half of your sale items are back inside because you've refused to let go. Lay not up for yourselves treasures

Hummingbirds are incredibly aggressive, territorial creatures. The males especially will defend their feeder and living area by physically attacking and chasing other hummingbirds. They have established their space and will do whatever is necessary to maintain it as their own. You would never suspect this antisocial behavior from a beautiful little bird. We stand mesmerized at the window while we watch their little wings and listen to their hum. We even laugh a little as they chase each other around the bushes below. What we don't often realize, though, is that the male who is doing the chasing and protecting has something very serious at stake here. His territory is filled with all the food, nesting places and room to fly that he needs. If another male were to take up residence there as well, he would be fighting for a share of the food and the attention of the females. In their world, this is completely unacceptable. To humans this seems shallow and mean. We learn from a

Have you ever watched geese when they're on their "home turf"? They'll wander wherever they want, take their time getting there and refuse to move unless it's what they truly want. Geese will make human beings feel like birds rule the world. Aren't humans the ones who put up "bird crossing" signs around our neighborhood ponds? We want the geese's safety as they are stubborn in their ways. How many times will a goose walk into the road, stop in mid-step and stare down an oncoming car? It's taking a stand that it's path is right and true. If a bird can make that kind of stance and stop traffic, what are we as Christian women willing to stand firm on? Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:1 We have choices every day about where we will stand fast and where we will make compromises. I pray that each one of us will diligently seek God

It never ceases to amaze me how highway drivers rubber-neck. Whether it's blue lights at an off-ramp, a car stalled on the side of road or a huge accident in the median, we'll automatically slow down to see what's going on. This is one of the most dangerous things a driver can do. Slowing down the traffic can cause other accidents and cause everyone to move even slower. Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it can have a serious impact on driving too - no pun intended. The same goes for our Christian faith. If we're busy rubber-necking, looking in with curiosity at other people's lives, we're taking our eyes off the road. Our own path has enough pot holes, ditches and construction areas on it to keep our focus for the rest of our lives. We'll cause some serious accidents and traffic congestion if we start driving our vehicle of life with our head out the window, slowing down to watch someone else's accident. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace,

When your heart is broken by the circumstances of life, God is the glue that puts the pieces back together. When you're weary to the bone and can't move another muscle, God provides sweet rest. When people turn their backs and walk away, God will remain faithfully by your side. When the future is looming ahead, filled with the unknown, God has already seen the path and walks it with you. When others say you can't succeed, God gives you the ability to do His will. When it seems like giving up would be better than pushing onward, God reminds us that His way isn't always easy. When all you need is love, God offers His unconditionally. When you can't shut off your mind, God's Word is always available for meditation. When hope seems lost, God steps in and fights the battle for you. When your heart is broken, give God the pieces.

Are you experiencing the perfect peace of walking on God's perfect path for you? Have you chosen the serenity of doing God's will and found the joy that comes from following His course? Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight. Psalm 119:35 After much prayer, asking the Lord to show us His perfect will for our lives, we will be moving back home to Iowa in a few weeks. He has opened so many doors for us that it would be both dangerous and disrespectful to not walk through them. God is leading us down a path we've never travelled before, but He has. He has already seen the layout, the bumps in the road and the joys of the rest stops along the way. We're looking forward to rediscovering my home town and enjoying our fellowship with friends and family. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Psalm 16:11 At the same time, we are emotionally torn over