Uncompromised

What We Mean When We Say Family We use the phrase church family so easily, and I have used it myself more times than I can count. But I have been asking lately whether we truly live as though it means what we say it means. Because family does not disappear when it becomes inconvenient. It does not quietly withdraw when someone is no longer in the same season or no longer easy to be around. In a real family, distance does not erase love, and disagreement does not cancel care. And this is true not only within the church walls but inside our own homes. There are families with prodigals, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, spouses, who are alive but far, breathing but distant, once close but now gone in ways that have nothing to do with miles. Some of them walked away from faith altogether. Some never had it. And the temptation, after enough silence or enough rejection, is to quietly let go, to protect yourself, to stop reaching. But our side of it does not change based on their r...

Do the Next Thing As I wrapped up Easter promos for a couple of churches last week, this part of an old Saxon poem came to mind - the one Elisabeth Elliot made famous: "Do the next thing." She didn't mean being busy for the sake of busy. She meant faithfulness. Trust Christ and do the good work in front of you. Active faith, not passive waiting. Just like Psalm 37 teaches. Scripture reminds us: "We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10 Elisabeth Elliot learned those words from an old Saxon poem found scratched on a wall. Do the next thing. Not the grand thing. Not the perfect thing. Just the next one. She lived that out in some of the hardest circumstances a person can face and came out the other side not bitter but faithful. Because faithfulness isn't a feeling. It's a decision you make before the feeling ever shows up. Nobody feels faithful every day. That's actua...

  More Room for What Matters Spring cleaning. Decluttering. Minimalism. Call it what you want, but what if God is using all of it to teach us something far deeper than a tidy closet? My friends, This morning I stepped outside with my iced coffee (yes, iced!), because it is already warm and glorious here in Mississippi and I am not sorry.  The sun was doing that beautiful thing it does in (almost) spring, the kind of warmth that feels like a exhale after winter. My cat Moe was right there with me, completely unbothered with life... until a squirrel strutted across the fence like he owned the property, and Moe absolutely lost his mind. I laughed out loud, just me, my coffee, and this silly cat. And then, the birds. They were back. I had my app open, identifying them one by one. A Carolina Wren. A mockingbird. A flash of a goldfinch. And something in my chest just settled. That quiet, full-hearted joy that only comes when you notice that life is returning. That new things a...

The Grief No One Prepares You For My Friends, There is a kind of grief that has no funeral. No casserole dropped at your door. No cards in the mail. No one dressed in black, sitting beside you in silence. It is the grief of watching someone you love become someone you no longer recognize. Maybe it's the friend who chose bitterness over healing and now lives in a permanent state of offense. Maybe it's the family member whose heart has grown so hard that kindness bounces off like rain on concrete. Maybe it's the person you prayed with, laughed with, dreamed with, who is still breathing, still posting online, still living their life, but is no longer here in any way that matters. They didn't die. But you lost them anyway. And the world expects you to act like nothing happened. This week, I sat with a dear friend who is walking through this kind of grief. As she shared her story, my heart ached for her. Not because of obvious tragedy, but because of the slow, quiet ...

  Words Spoken in Secret My Friends This past week, I had phone conversations with two incredible women who are suffering deeply. As they shared their stories, my heart was heavy. It was not because of obvious enemies or public conflict, but because of quiet conversations, whispered words, and gossip that slowly caused real harm. It reminded me how easily our flesh is drawn toward what is sinful. Gossip often feels “harmless,” even caring at first, but it enters the mind like poison. Quietly, without us realizing it, it reshapes our hearts, our words, and even the way we see and treat others. God’s Word is loving, but very clear. “Do not be deceived: bad company corrupts good character.” (1 Corinthians 15:33) Gossip is not entertainment. It is spiritual decay. It fuels suspicion, stirs division, provokes arguments, and spreads slander. Scripture also warns us about those who thrive on controversy, even wrapping it in religious language for attention or gain. “If anyone teaches fa...

  All Glory to the Lord For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.  Romans 11:36 Oh my friends. All glory to the Lord always and forever. No matter where you are today on your journey, whether you are on a mountaintop season, deep in a valley, or in one of the hardest places of all, the waiting season, this truth is steady and sure. The Lord our God has not left you. He has not forgotten you. He has not turned His face away. God is close to the brokenhearted.   I know how heavy grief, loss, or disappointment can feel. The quiet moments, the questions that have no answers, the ache in your heart, it can feel like you are alone. But even in sorrow God is near. He carries your heart when it feels too heavy and He holds you close The Lord is close to the brokenhearted. He rescues those whose spirits are crushed.  Psalm 34:18  God’s plans are greater than we can imagine.  Friends, His heart toward you is...

  The Sound of Faith: How Our Words Reflect the Heart of God As women who love the Lord, we know that our homes, our ministries, and even our writing desks often sit on the front lines of spiritual battle. There are weeks when everything feels squeezed. Budgets are tight. Children are weary. Prayer requests feel heavier than usual. We carry concerns not only for our own households, but for sisters in Christ walking through quiet suffering. In those moments, our words matter far more than we often realize. As I was preparing supper, I felt the need to pause and put these thoughts into words. There is a particular kind of faith that does not remain quietly tucked away in the heart. Biblical faith overflows. It finds its way to the lips. When our mouths are governed by the Word of God, we do not merely talk. Our words shape the atmosphere of every space we step into, for good or for harm. Scripture is remarkably clear about the stewardship of our speech. “Death and life are in the ...

Words That Give Life Have you ever spoken something in passing and immediately wished you could take it back? Maybe it wasn’t meant to hurt, yet somehow your words landed heavier than you realized. Even those of us who love Jesus can unintentionally speak in ways that dim hope instead of lifting it. The truth is, our words have incredible power. They can wound deeply or bring life, encouragement, and healing. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.” (Proverbs 18:21) This isn’t what a life shaped by grace looks like. Those who have been saved by grace are also being molded and guided by grace. After all, we love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). Words carry weight. Criticism without love can deepen wounds. Complaining quietly can bury hope. Harsh comments can feel like a sentence being handed down. Often, people are already hurting, doing everything they can just to stand back up. Then comes a word, spoken without care, that ...

  Known by God, Held by Hope Oh Lord, You know my heart. You know exactly where I am today.  You know my thoughts and my words even before they come out of my mouth. I am here, Lord. Use me. Today, I am sad. There are days when sadness arrives quietly and other days when it feels heavier. Today, the sadness is tied to longing. I am missing my mom. I miss her voice, her presence, and the comfort of knowing she was near. Even after time has passed, grief has a way of returning, often when we least expect it. I am fully aware of all that God is doing for me. I see His provision and His faithfulness. I recognize the many ways He has carried me and continues to sustain me. Yet knowing God is at work does not erase the ache of missing someone we love. Gratitude and grief can live in the same heart. Faith and sadness can exist together. The Lord knows this. Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I stand up. You underst...

Rainy, cold day. It didn’t start this calm, running around making lunch for our son, getting everything ready for the day. But everyone walked out the door laughing and joyful, and that alone fills my heart. There is something about hearing those little bursts of happiness as my family heads off to their day, it reminds me that life is full of small, precious moments. If you know me, you know I am a planner. I love my days mapped out, hours marked, and goals lined up. I usually have a list of things to do and a plan for how to get it all done. But today, as the rain tapped softly against the windows, and the house settled into quiet, I felt the Lord nudging me to slow down. So I made a choice, no checking my art sales, my plans, or my classes. Today would be a calm, slow day. And oh, it is good, so good for the soul and for the body. The house is quiet, Moe has been extra sweet, curling up nearby, and it is warm inside. I have been savoring the simplicity of this moment, the comfort of...

  Solace: Words of Consolation On November 5, 2023, something very simple and very precious to my heart came into the world: Solace: Words of Consolation . It is not a big book. It is not fancy. It is a small booklet, a quiet gathering of black and white photographs I captured during one of the hardest seasons of my life, paired with the Scriptures that held me together. For several months, I was a full-time caregiver for my mom. Those were sacred, exhausting, tender days where love and grief lived side by side. And when she passed suddenly, the ground beneath me shifted in ways I still struggle to put into words. The verses in this booklet are Scriptures friends shared with me, prayed over me, and passages the Lord pressed gently into my heart. Solace began there, on the floor of my heart. Every page in this little booklet was prayed over. I put it together slowly, sometimes with tears, sometimes with deep breaths, and always with the reminder that the living Word of God was w...

Got our Advent devotional in the mail yesterday, year 12! Even as a teenager, our son got excited about it. There is something about opening that little package each year, the anticipation, the familiar cover, the feeling of starting something meaningful together. In the middle of all the beautiful lights, music, decorations, and the busyness of the season, this tradition gently reminds us to keep our hearts focused on Him, the true reason we celebrate. As I get older, I treasure these moments even more. The years go by so fast, and the quiet times with family, reading a passage together, talking about what it means, sharing our thoughts and prayers, become the memories that truly last. These moments shape our hearts and fill us with joy that no one can take. Philippians reminds us to rejoice in the Lord always, and Romans encourages us to trust in Him so that we overflow with hope and peace. Nehemiah tells us that the joy of the Lord is our strength, and when we anchor our hearts in H...

Poking the Wound: When God Heals What Lies Beneath If you’ve known me for any length of time, you’ve probably heard me talk about “poking the wound.” Years ago, because of my autoimmune disease, I developed a wound on my left leg. It was tiny, just the size of a penny, but it would not heal. Because of immunosuppressants, my body stayed dormant, unresponsive to the injury. My husband took me to a wound doctor, and they taught us how to clean and care for it, but it wasn’t enough. My body wasn’t reacting. Then the doctor explained something I’ll never forget: the wound had to be poked. Unless it was stirred, my body would not recognize it as something that needed healing. So day after day, we poked it. At times it looked worse before it looked better, but it was the only way to stimulate the body’s God-designed response to heal. Eventually, it closed completely. That picture has become such a spiritual truth for me. Because as believers, we can live faithfully, attending church, studyin...

  “And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.” (Matthew 24:12) “But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.” (Matthew 15:18) Look around. It feels like a horror movie we cannot turn off. The news reads like satire, yet the satire is reality. The lie of “my truth” has taken root in hearts, and the coldness is shocking.  Tragedy becomes celebration, sin is worn as pride, and lives without Christ beat empty, hopeless, meaningless. And it is not only out there. In some churches, cold hearts have crept in. Smiles and polite words hide bitterness, envy, and pride. Words reveal the heart. Fruit reveals the tree. "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit" (Matthew 12:33). The urgency is real. There is no time for lukewarm hearts, complacent speech, or shallow faith. Every word, every action, every fruit matters. We cannot grow numb o...

  Start Here: Letting the Word Dwell Deeply in Real Life This morning I was meditating on Colossians 3:16: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” There’s so much beauty in that verse. It’s poetic, rich, full of community and worship and grace. And yet, when I read it, part of me also whispered, “Lord, I want this… but some days it feels so far from my reality.” Let’s be honest. We’re living in a time of constant noise and busyness. There’s always something to do, something to respond to. A constant moment of stopping and checking, “Am I forgetting anything?” Even when we want to sit down with the Word, our phones buzz, our minds wander, and our to-do lists scream louder than the pages in front of us. I’m not an anxious person, but I can be impatient. I like things to move, even if it’s slowly, I want to see growth, progress, directi...

This week has been a “catch-up” week for me. Our boy is out of town, and I’ve finally been tackling those theology exams. No more procrastinating. No more telling myself I don’t have time while giving in to every distraction. I’ve had to refocus and press on. I told myself I wouldn’t write this week… but here I am. Just once. Just this. With Father’s Day approaching, I keep watching all those sweet, emotional videos honoring dads. Little kids hugging their fathers. Grown men getting teary remembering theirs. Grandpas with grandbabies in their arms. And of course, all the dad jokes! So corny, yet somehow still funny. They get me every time. And they remind me just how crucial fathers are, not just in the lives of their children, but in their marriages, their homes, and the local church. Scripture makes it clear that fatherhood is a calling from God. "The righteous man walks in his integrity; blessed are his children after him!" Proverbs 20:7  "Just as a father has comp...