Uncompromised

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...

Joy in Every Season: From Gentle Hills to the Desert Some seasons of life feel like a stroll through a sunlit path, soft hills, gentle breezes, laughter, and answered prayers. Your coffee is hot, the kids are getting along, your church family is kind, and you even had time to sit with your Bible without interruption. These seasons still come with the occasional bump, of course a flat tire or a frustrating day but overall, they’re light. You breathe easier. You smile more. And then there are the desert seasons. Those long stretches where prayers feel like they echo into silence. When you wake up already weary. When the things you used to enjoy feel heavy, and the joy you once had seems like a memory. There’s grief, uncertainty, disappointment, or even just a deep spiritual dryness that lingers longer than you expected. I’ve been talking with a few dear friends this week one facing a devastating diagnosis, another walking through deep, heartbreaking circumstances. I won’t lie some of...

As Mother’s Day approaches, many families are preparing to gather—sharing meals, laughing with loved ones, and honoring the women who’ve shaped their lives. Mothers, grandmothers, great-grandmothers. What a gift it is to see generations together. Truly, it’s a beautiful blessing from the Lord. But I also know this day can feel more like a wound than a celebration. Maybe you’re grieving a mother you lost—recently or long ago. I lost mine not too long ago. She passed just a week before Mother’s Day, and tomorrow marks two years. I’ll be honest: it still hurts. Some days catch me off guard. Grief doesn’t follow a tidy schedule. Maybe you’re mourning a child you never got to hold, or recovering from a miscarriage in silence. I’ve been there too. After a heartbreaking miscarriage, I truly wondered if I’d ever become a mother. Maybe your relationship with your children is broken, and you don’t know how to fix it. Maybe you’re single and longing for a family. Maybe you’re battling infertility...

  Dear Sisters,    I pray this note finds you resting in God’s presence, even in the middle of your busy days. I’ve been reflecting on something I would like to share with you, especially for those of you walking through difficult seasons. As we face trials, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, but we’re reminded in James 1:2-5 that these moments aren’t wasted by God. The apostle James says: “Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing. Now if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:2-5) At first glance, it can feel impossible to consider joy in the middle of a trial. But James is reminding us that God uses those very trials to shape us. When life feels heavy, we can trus...

Good Friday: The Depth of His Love Sisters, Today is Good Friday, a day that brings a quiet weight to our hearts. It’s the kind of day that makes us slow down and sit still, even when our minds want to run ahead to Easter Sunday. But today is meant to be different. Set apart. A day to remember the cost. I woke up this morning thinking about the Cross, not in a theological way (though that matters deeply), but in a personal way. As a wife, a mom, a ministry partner, a woman trying to hold it all together most days, I needed to be reminded that Jesus carried more than just a wooden beam up that hill. He carried me. He carried you . He carried our brokenness, our shame, our guilt, our exhaustion, our tears cried behind closed doors. Every betrayal, every anxiety, every time we’ve felt unseen or misunderstood—He bore it all. Silently. Willingly. Lovingly. Isaiah 53:4 says, “Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.” Not just the sin, but the grief. The sorrow . The heavi...

When You Feel Like You're Not Enough Wow, it’s been exactly two months since my last post! Things have been pretty busy around here, but I’m excited to finally share an update with you all. I don’t know about you, but some days I feel like I’m constantly playing catch-up—with laundry, with relationships, and yep—studies too. It’s like no matter how early I wake up or how much I cross off the to-do list, there’s still this lingering weight. The house is never quiet long enough to think, the inbox keeps filling up, and I forget (again) to defrost the meat for dinner. And then by mid-afternoon, I start to hear that subtle whisper: You’re not doing enough.  Maybe you’ve heard it too. Lately, I’ve been unpacking and trying to make our new house feel like home. It’s been nonstop—boxes, tasks, and a scary health moment in between. Some days, I walk into the kitchen or living room and think, Okay, we’re getting somewhere. But then I step into our bedroom—and the boxes are still there. Hone...

I’m supposed to be non-stop packing, but here I am. As I pack, listening to music, this song came on, and I just had to share my heart. "Faithful Still" by KingsPorch —I’ve loved this song since last year, so it’s been with me for a while. Every time I hear it, my heart is reminded of what I already know but sometimes forget: God is faithful. He has never failed, and He never will. How often do we find ourselves wondering, Will God really come through this time? Maybe it’s an unanswered prayer, a painful loss, or a season of waiting that feels like it will never end. Our hearts know He is faithful, yet our circumstances whisper otherwise. But here’s the truth: God’s faithfulness is not dependent on our feelings or circumstances—it is anchored in His unchanging character. When we face trials, it can feel like we’re standing in front of an immovable mountain. Maybe it’s a health crisis, financial hardship, or a broken relationship that seems beyond repair. But Jesus tells us: ...

We’ve had a couple of snow days here in southeastern Oklahoma, and let me tell you, snow in the South is a whole different experience than what we were used to in Massachusetts! Every time it snows, I remind my husband: “Snow days in the South are the best snow days.” Here’s why: the snow comes just long enough to sprinkle some joy into our lives. It accumulates just enough to play in, snap some beautiful pictures, make snow cream, and soak in the peaceful stillness that only a blanket of white can bring. And then—poof!—a couple of days later, it’s gone. No mushy, slushy, muddy mess sticking around for weeks, no grimy ice piles hanging on for dear life. We can just enjoy it for what it is and move on with our lives, snow-free and stress-free. This week, as I watched the snow, the hymn “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” kept running through my mind:  "Morning by morning new mercies I see;  All I have needed Thy hand hath provided,  Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me." It’s...

Fruit grows in the valleys Earlier today, a friend shared a post with a quote attributed to Billy Graham:  “Mountaintops are for views and inspiration, but fruit is grown in the valleys.”  The words immediately intrigued me, making me pause to meditate on their meaning. Out of curiosity, I decided to fact-check whether Billy Graham actually said this. It turns out, he did! This quote is featured in  Quotes from Billy Graham: A Legacy of Faith  and has been referenced by his grandson, Will Graham, in a devotional on the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association's website. This discovery made me reflect deeply on the profound truth captured in the quote. As I turned to Scripture, it became clear how much this idea resonates with biblical teachings. - Mountaintops: A Glimpse of God’s Glory Moses on Mount Sinai received the Ten Commandments (Exodus 19-20), a pivotal moment for Israel’s relationship with God. Elijah on Mount Carmel witnessed God’s power as fire consumed the a...

  Rooted in Hope: My Favorite Passage to Start the New Year Happy New Year, friends! As we welcome 2025, I want to share a passage that holds a special place in my heart—a scripture that has encouraged me time and time again: “But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” — Jeremiah 17:7-8 This imagery of a tree, deeply rooted and constantly nourished, gives me hope for whatever lies ahead. No matter the challenges or changes a new year may bring, when we trust in the Lord, we are strengthened by His steadfast love. On this last day of 2024, let this quote from Dr. Adrian Rogers bring comfort and encouragement: "We don't know what the coming year will bring—sickness, heartache, or trouble. But I do know that you can boldly say,...

El Roi: The God Who Sees Me  Life feels heavy sometimes, doesn’t it? Disappointment, grief, betrayal—they press down on us, making it hard to take the next step. Some of the deepest wounds come from those we trust most. People we cherished and believed in can turn against us, creating false narratives that feel impossible to untangle. And yet, I know I’m not alone in this. These past few weeks, my heart has carried much. They’re the kind of burdens I used to share with my mom. We’d pray together, and she always had a timely word from the Lord—a verse to meditate on, a prayer to lift me up. But she’s not here anymore, and oh, how I miss her. She knew me well. She knew my husband well. She knew our hearts and loved us deeply. That kind of love is rare, and I don’t take it for granted. While the world looks at the exterior, God looks at the heart. “Man does not see what the LORD sees, for man sees what is visible, but the LORD sees the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). He is always seeking hear...

Can We Talk About This? Why is it that believers can sometimes be so harsh with one another? Have you noticed that when a believer makes a mistake, it often feels like a little gang of “perfect” people comes after them with vengeance? This self-righteous response reveals a heart issue. Instead of being quick to extend grace, we become fixated on the faults of others while ignoring our own. Yet Scripture reminds us: “Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other” (Romans 12:9-10). Many unchurched people I’ve spoken with have shared stories of being hurt or disappointed—often by fellow Christians. That pain is real, and I don’t dismiss it. At the same time, we know our ultimate hope isn’t in people but in Christ alone. You’ve probably seen the phrase, “If you left the church because of people, you were never there for Jesus.” While there’s some truth ...

Ah, here we are—November! The month when leaves take their final, glorious bow, the aroma of all things pumpkin spice fills the air, and we get to savor the cozy comforts of sweaters and scarves. But beyond the pumpkin pies and harvest tables lies the true gift of this season: gratitude. As we enter this month, traditionally marked by thanksgiving, we’re reminded of God’s unchanging goodness and the abundant blessings He showers over our lives. For some, Thanksgiving stirs warm memories of family gatherings and laughter; for others, it’s a reminder of heartache or empty chairs at the table. Wherever you are on that spectrum, my prayer is that you’ll find refuge in the One who is always present, always faithful, and always worthy of our thanks. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all that we don’t have or everything that seems to be going wrong. Life is full of its own trials and little heartbreaks—believe me, I understand! But did you know that cultivating gratitude isn’t just a nice idea...