Girls To Grow

Nurturing moms in their walk with God

The Bible Verse That Helped Me See My Sin

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If you’re looking for a bit of vulnerability today, you’ve come to the right place 🙂

As I’ve said before, I often write about an area in which I’m currently being challenged. Today’s topic is one that’s a recurring struggle in my life.

One blessing of memorizing Scripture is that the Holy Spirit can bring specific verses to mind when they’re needed. Sometimes a verse from a particular Psalm will cheer me up when I need encouragement. Or when I sense that I need wisdom, James 1:5 will remind me to ask God for it.

And then there are the times a verse comes along and convicts me of sin in my life. Such was the case on a couple of occasions recently.

It's a sin I struggle with often, but the Holy Spirit used this verse to convict my heart and change my spirit.

I’ll share the verse with you and you’ll immediately know what my issue was.

“Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well-advised is wisdom.” ~Proverbs13:10

Before we dive into my story, let’s remind ourselves what pride is.

The definition from dictionary.com is “a high or inordinate opinion of one’s own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct, etc.“

That phrase “cherished in the mind” is interesting. Pride begins with how we think of ourselves. Eventually, if we indulge those thoughts rather than fight them, pride comes out in how we act, what we say, and the way we treat other people.

Here are two recent situations when I was convicted by this verse.

In the first instance, my feelings were hurt. I felt like someone treated me poorly, especially when I considered all that I’d done for them. And since I’m keeping it real, my first inclination was to get angry at them and let them know it.

That’s precisely when Proverbs 13:10 came to mind. There was about to be contention (aka some conflict), and according to that verse, it would be my pride that caused it. I was going to play myself as the victim and try to get the other person to see how I’d been hurt.

Thankfully I heeded that warning and realized that there was a better way to handle the situation. In this case, it was to just let it go. I’m not saying that’s always the right thing to do, but it was in this moment.

The only reason for the conflict would be that I wanted my hurt feelings to be recognized. I believe it was unintentional on their part, and nothing about addressing it in this particular instance was going to build or better the relationship going forward.

And since I didn’t learn the lesson well enough that time, I got another opportunity to be tested! This time I had a different take on a situation than someone else did. I held a great conversation in my head about how right I was!

But once again, Proverbs 13:10 slipped into my thoughts. Did it really matter who was right? And even if I was correct in my assessment, was it worth potentially damaging the relationship? Thankfully I realized that it wasn’t before I started the conversation.

So what’s the moral of the story here? I’ll make it brief.

~Anytime you’re about to enter into a conflict or argument, ask yourself if your pride is involved. Are you practicing meekness and humility or just wanting your own way?

~Hide God’s Word in your heart. The older I get, the more difficult it is, but memorizing Bible verses is important. It’s especially helpful to focus on those Scriptures that can help you in areas where you struggle.

~Praise God for His Word and His Holy Spirit that convicts us of sin.

~Thank the Lord that when our flesh overrides His convicting of our souls, He forgives our sin as we come to Him and repent.

Is there a verse that God’s been using in your life lately in some way? I’d love to hear about it!

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8 Things That Will Matter When You’re 80

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Hello and welcome to the blog today!

Has it been unseasonably cool where you are? While we’ve had beautiful sunshine this week, it’s been breezy and definitely not our typical warm May temperatures. But I know that the heat and humidity of summer are on the way, so I’m not complaining!

I know those of you reading are of various ages and in many different stages of life. For some, turning 80 years old is a very distant possibility. For others, it’s just around the corner.

Each of us also has responsibilities each day, whether it’s working a job, mothering full-time, being a caregiver, or a host of other things. I was thinking the other day that of all the things we do, the duties we perform, which ones will matter when I get older? Assuming that the Lord allows me a normal lifespan, what will I be glad that I did?

I hope I can be like those who are referenced in Psalm 92:13-14

“Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;” ~Psalm 92:13-14

No matter what your age today, if God gives us 80 or more years to live on this earth, here are eight things that I think will matter to us.

A list of eight things to be doing now that you'll be glad you did when you're 80 years old

It will matter…

...that you spent time reading God’s Word and praying.

I hope we all desire to be 80-year-old Christian women who are strong in their faith. That means we need to have a spiritual focus today. Time spent in Bible study and prayer is never wasted. Building our lives around these things produces eternal results.

…that you served God and shared your faith.

There will come a point where we’re not able to do all that we did when we were younger. But what a blessing to be able to look back and thank God for ways in which we were able to serve Him and for souls we saw saved.

It doesn’t have to be what many would consider “big” things. It could be working in the church nursery, taking a meal to a sick friend, or praying with a co-worker. What will matter is that we were able to impact people for eternity.

…that you used your time wisely.

“The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away…So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” ~Psalm 90:10, 12

I can certainly see where I fall short here. There are certainly times we need to rest and relax. But I know that it’s easy for me to waste time, to let it pass by frivolously. That’s where having a schedule or at least a routine of some sort helps me to better manage my time.

...that you loved your family well.

These are the people you’re often with 24/7. They know all about you. As we get older and are separated by distance or even just our busy lives, we always want them to know that they are loved.

…that you saved money.

Here’s a practical one for you! I’ve heard money teacher Dave Ramsey say that money is just a tool that gives you choices. If you’ve not saved much, your choices are more limited. If you’ve got more financial reserves, you have more choices for your lifestyle. It may mean sacrificing a few things now to have more security later.

…that you went for your dreams.

Mark Twain is quoted as saying, “Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.“

This one’s not easy for me as I’m rather risk-averse. But I hope that I’ll follow God’s leading and be willing to step out into new adventures.

…that you cultivated relationships.

What a blessing to have long-lasting friendships! So invite someone over to your house, ask a friend to meet for coffee, text that person from church and let them know you’re praying for them.

…that you made time for doing things you enjoy.

Is it reading a book, playing golf, doing crossword puzzles, hiking, or cross-stitching? Find hobbies you enjoy and make time for them.

Do you know what we can be sure of? That just as God is present and active in our lives today, He’ll be the same when we’re 80, 90, or 100 years old!

“And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.” ~Isaiah 46:4

Which of these will you work on today? And if you’ve already hit that 80-year milestone, please tell us if these things matter to you!

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7 Ways to Parent a Teenager

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Hello, friends! Has it really hit you yet that it’s MAY!! I think I’m in denial. But it will definitely feel real when our college girls get home next weekend.

Today’s post was inspired by a recent conversation with a couple of mom friends. (I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Having friends with children who are similar ages to mine has been a lifesaver in parenting. Otherwise, I tend to think that I’m the only mom whose child __________ (fill in the blank with any number of actions or attitudes). Talking with other moms reminds me that we all face similar challenges and celebrate some of the same joys, too!)

Dealing with teenagers can differ from one family to the next based on the parent’s personality, the child’s personality, and many other factors. But you’ll likely experience some things during those years that are the same across the board. After all, teenagers have a reputation for certain behaviors for a reason!

Listed below are seven ways to parent our teenagers. Hopefully, they can help us build good relationships with our children during this season of their lives.

Check out this list of seven ways we can successfully parent our children through the teenage years.

Let’s parent our teenagers…

1. With love.

This is the kind that’s unconditional because your teenager isn’t always going to act loving or respond to you in love. But we can always seek to interact with them and make decisions regarding them from a place of love and wanting the best for them.

2. With patience.

This one may be needed more than any of the others!! When our teenager frustrates us, it’s so easy to respond with a quick, unkind word or an angry outburst. And sometimes when they’ve made a poor choice or a bad decision, that may seem warranted.

But here’s where we do offer up a quick prayer for self-control and don’t let our emotions take over. We can remain calm while still communicating clearly and correcting as necessary.

3. With a sense of humor.

Sometimes all you can do is laugh. This is advice to myself right here – don’t take everything so seriously. Never laugh at your teenager, but take every opportunity to laugh with them.

4. With an adult perspective.

Look at the long view when dealing with teenagers. Know that they’re going to make mistakes and use those as learning opportunities. We’re not trying to raise great kids – or even great teenagers – but great adults.

5. With a mindfulness of their growing need for independence.

Don’t treat them like they’re four years old. Allow age-appropriate freedoms. Let them earn more independence by showing that they’re responsible and trustworthy.

6. Without a need to be liked.

This is especially hard for a people pleaser like me. I just want everyone to be happy and in a good mood! But sometimes we’ll have to make a decision that our teenager doesn’t like and stick to it.

7. With prayers for wisdom.

Did you see this one coming? My prayer life changed and grew once we had teenagers. Especially when parenting your oldest, the best way to handle a situation may not be clear. Ask God for wisdom and He promises to give it.

I don’t want it to sound like having teenagers in the house is such a terrible thing! They’re also a lot of fun, as I shared in my Top 10 Things I Love About Having Teenage Daughters. Parenting teenagers has definitely grown me and changed me for the better!

If you have other suggestions of ways to parent our teenagers, please share in the comments section below!

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How to Pray for Someone You Love

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It’s another middle-of-the-week post and the last one for April!

It looks like May is shaping up to be a full month around here. We’ll be happy to have our daughters home from college in a couple of weeks. There’s also a friend’s wedding and a few graduations, so lots of celebrating ahead!

A few days ago I became burdened about praying for someone I love. Have you ever had that feeling? Maybe it’s a spouse, a child, a relative, or a friend. It could be that you know they need Jesus as their Savior. Perhaps they’re experiencing a health crisis or a financial problem. Or you might recognize that a person you love is facing a spiritual battle and you want to cover them in prayer.

As I was thinking about this the other night, I was reminded of a story about Abraham. Near the end of Genesis 18, after spending time with Abraham and Sarah, the Lord tells Abraham his plan to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah because of their wickedness. You’ll remember that Abraham’s nephew, Lot, and his family live in that area.

Then there’s a back-and-forth conversation where Abraham asks God to spare the city if there’s a certain number of righteous people in it. Abraham continues to lower the number of righteous required, and God continues to agree to spare the city if He finds that many righteous people.

There’s a lot we can learn from this exchange. As Abraham pleads with God on Lot’s behalf, let’s look at five things we can apply as we pray for someone we love.

Here you'll find five ways we can pray for someone we love from the Bible story of Abraham talking with God.

1. His prayer was specific.

Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? ~Genesis 18:24

Abraham didn’t just offer a general prayer for the city to be spared. He listed specific numbers in his request to God.

Let’s be specific as we pray. What exactly is it that we want God to do in this person’s life? It helps to base our prayer on God’s Word so we’ll know for certain that we’re praying in His will.

For example, if we’re praying for someone who’s fighting temptation, pray that they will put on the whole armor of God from Ephesians 6:10-18. You could even pray through each particular piece as you pray for your loved one.

2. He appealed to God’s character.

And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? ~Genesis 18:23-25

Abraham knew God so he was able to speak to His character. He knew that God was just and always did what was right.

We can do the same as we pray. Appeal to His mercy. Ask for His grace. Our God is compassionate, loving, and longsuffering. We can rest in those traits as we bring our requests to Him.

3. He was humble.

And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes: ~Genesis 18:27

His attitude wasn’t, “God, you owe me.” No, he recognized who he was and who God was.

We can approach God boldly yet still have an attitude of reverence and humility. It’s only because of His grace that we’re able to come into His presence and have Him hear our prayers.

4. He was persistent.

And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten’s sake. ~Genesis 18:32

This was the sixth time Abraham asked God to answer his specific request. And not once did God tell him to stop asking.

Don’t give up. Remember the New Testament admonition to pray without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

5. He left it in the Lord’s hands.

And the Lord went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place. ~Genesis 18:33

Abraham didn’t try to follow the Lord to see what was going to happen. Once he’d finished talking to God, he returned home and went about his usual business.

Too often I’ll pray about something, but rather than leaving it in the Lord’s hands, I’ll continue to worry or fret over it. When that happens, I try to remind myself of Philippians 4:6, 7.

Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

I find encouragement as I read how Jesus prayed for Peter in Luke 22:31-32.

And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

Let’s take our requests for our loved ones to God in prayer and trust Him to work in their lives for His glory.

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5 Fun Finds for April 2022

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Happy Friday, friends! We’ve continued to have some beautiful weather here this week. A friend and I took a long walk in her neighborhood yesterday, and it was nice to catch up while getting some exercise.

It’s been a while since I shared my fun finds here on the blog. Today I’ve got my usual five, plus a bonus!

This post may contain Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra charge to you. Thank you for supporting Girls to Grow through your purchases!

What I'm loving in February 2022

1. Reusable 4 Pack Colorful Mesh Beach/Tote/Shopping Bags. I like to use different “containers” for our daughters’ Easter baskets each year and I was excited to find these at such a reasonable price. They’re better quality than I was expecting, and would make a great beach or pool bag, which is probably how our girls will use them!

2. Custom Map Art Print. I ordered this (in the South Carolina version, of course) for one of the walls in our powder room. The walls in there are a dark blue, and it looked really nice with a white mat and frame.

3. Coolife Luggage Spinner 20 inches. Our younger daughter needed a carry-on suitcase and this one seems very sturdy. We got it in the green. She just used it when she flew home for Easter, and she was happy with how much she was able to fit in it.

4. Late July Organic Mild Green Mojo Multigrain Tortilla Chips. I was picking up a few snacks in World Market and decided to give these a try. They’re very flavorful and I like them a lot! It looks like Publix also carries them. I found them on Amazon, but they were much more expensive there.

5. Maz-Tek Plug-in Night Light. These are an inexpensive but clever solution for any area where you want a little night light. What I love is that they come on automatically when the light gets low and then go out when the room brightens up.

Bonus: Karen Scott Eanna Sandals. These just came in the mail this week and I’m excited to wear them soon! I ordered them in white. I’ve worn them around the house and they’re very comfortable…so comfortable that I’m considering getting another color.

Thanks so much for stopping by the blog today. Have a great weekend!

5 Lessons I’ve Learned in 20 Years of Parenting

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Good morning! We’re in the middle of a beautiful spring week here. I hope you had a wonderful weekend celebrating Easter and our Lord’s resurrection!

Our two college daughters were home for four days and it was great to have them around. We enjoyed some good family time including games, movies, and lots of good food!

After four days with our house full, I went to complete silence on Monday evening. I’d dropped our girls off at the airport to fly back to college and my husband left to go out of town. I’ve been a bit sentimental and reflective since then. It’s only three weeks until our daughters are home for the summer, but all these comings and goings take a toll on a mama’s heart.

All that led to the observations I’m sharing below about parenting. I’m sure there are more profound lessons I’ve learned over the past twenty years, but these are five that I’m reflecting on in this season.

Five things I've learned about parenting children over the last twenty years.

1. You don’t get any do-overs in parenting.

This is one of those things I’ve always known in the back of my head, but I didn’t often focus on it during my early parenting years.

Parenting is such a solemn responsibility. We’re given our specific children to steward for the Lord. The opportunities we have to shepherd their hearts and train them in Bible principles are priceless.

Yes, we know that there are no perfect parents. We’re going to make mistakes. But do we daily ask God to give us wisdom and guidance as we parent our children?

2. God’s grace is over it all.

I had to follow the lesson above with this one. God’s grace is greater than any of my mistakes. He can work in their lives to develop those things I failed to teach them. His grace can help them become strong in areas where I’ve been weak.

And as the years go by, if our girls grow to love and serve God and live for Him all their days, it’s not because I was such a great mom. It’s all because of God’s grace.

3. Just when you get used to one life season, things change.

I feel like I’ve gotten used to our older daughter leaving for college and then returning home for Christmas and summer breaks. But now we have one more summer and one more Christmas break until she’s married. And I’m thrilled and excited for her…but still, it will be different.

There are lots of transitions like that with our children. They start school. They develop independence in certain areas. They start going to events without you. They get a job, start driving…the list goes on.

Those are big transitions, but there are small ones, too. And just when you feel like you have a handle on parenting in a certain stage, something changes.

4. Young adult children are delightful.

One of my favorite things in life right now is when all four of us eat a meal together around our dining room table and then sit there and talk for a while when we’re done eating. I love the conversations and the laughter and the sharing of our lives.

Is it all rainbows and sunshine parenting young adults? No. We’re still learning to navigate this. But it’s neat to see that we share some common interests. And their energy can be contagious – except that my bedtime still has to come a lot earlier than theirs!

5. In every stage, your relationship with God is most important.

We can easily get so wrapped up in our husband or in our children or really anything including jobs or hobbies. But at some point, every last one of those things is going to change in some way.

The one constant in our lives is God. He will always be there, never changing. He is our source of strength, our comfort, our joy, and our peace. May we make spending time in His Word and in prayer a priority through every stage of parenting.

Are there any parenting lessons you’ve learned lately? If so, please let us know in the comments!

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5 Easter Truths to Give Us Hope in 2022

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Welcome to Girls to Grow on this week before Easter!

Our two daughters are flying in from college tonight to spend their Easter break here at home. That means I have a grocery pickup scheduled for this morning. I plan to feed them well while they’re here!

There are many things to focus on this time of year. It can take some effort to turn our thoughts toward the spiritual significance of this season which is the death and resurrection of Christ. Our salvation, our sanctification, our home in Heaven, all depend on this central part of God’s redemption plan for man.

As we sing the Easter songs, read the Easter verses, and hear the Easter sermons, I trust that our hearts will be overwhelmed anew with love for our Savior and celebration of His victory over sin and death.

Today I want to share five Easter-related truths to bring hope and joy to our hearts in this significant season.

As we celebrate Jesus' death and resurrection at Easter, we can find joy and hope in these five truths.

1. God always has a plan but we won’t always understand.

In Mark 9:31-32 we read that Jesus told his disciples that he would die and rise again. It also says that they didn’t understand what he was teaching them. And we can’t fully know when each of them grasped that Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection was God’s plan all along.

God was in full control of every single detail, from the arrest to the trial to the crucifixion to the resurrection. God also has a plan for each one of us, a work that He’s doing in us and through us. Sometimes we can see how and why God is moving. But for those times when we don’t, we need to trust Him anyway.

2. You never know whose heart is ready to receive the gospel.

Out of the many people around the cross that day – some followers of Jesus, most who likely were not – there were two whose eternities were changed forever. One of the thieves crucified alongside Jesus believed on him and entered Paradise that day. A Roman centurion, observing all that was happening, declared, “Truly this man was the Son of God.” (Mark 15:39)

May we be attentive to the needs of people we come in contact with as we go through our day. We don’t know who God might put in our path that needs to hear about Jesus.

3. God keeps His promises.

Four times in John 19:23-37 we find events happening “that the scripture might be fulfilled.” Numerous prophecies made hundreds of years before came true on that day.

Is there a Bible promise you’re claiming in your own life today? Our God keeps His promises.

4. Things often look the darkest just before they get better.

Think about those women who came to anoint the body of Jesus so very early on that Sunday morning. Maybe their tears had dried by this point, but surely their hearts were still heavy with loss. The one whom they had loved and followed was dead.

But what a surprise awaited them when they arrived at the tomb. They found the angel of the Lord presiding over an empty tomb! Their sorrow was turned to amazement and then to joy. When we feel like we’ve reached rock bottom, let’s look up in hope for deliverance.

5. The same God that caused Jesus to rise from the dead has the power to help us in any of our struggles.

“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his…But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” ~Romans 8:9,11

We can have victory over sin through the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead. He is our Comforter and He makes intercession for us with God the Father.

You and I don’t serve an impotent God. He holds all power – including the power of life and death – and He can meet our every need and give us grace for every trial.

May we find renewed hope as we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ this Easter!!

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What Does It Mean to Walk with the Lord?

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Hello friends! Now that we’re almost a week into April, is it feeling like spring where you are?

My husband and I went to Lowes on Saturday night and I bought a couple of plants for our front porch. I put them next to the bench that’s there and now I’m wanting to add a couple of spring pillows. That’s about the extent of what I do on the outside of the house to celebrate the arrival of spring!

Sometimes I like to do word studies during my Bible reading time. For the past week or so, I’ve been focusing on the word “walk.”

I use a free online concordance to find all the Bible verses that have the word “walk” in them and read through a few each day. Often I’ll take one of the verses and delve a little deeper by reading a few online commentaries about it and then writing down my thoughts on how that verse applies to me.

I was actually surprised by how many verses there are that refer to walking with God or walking in His ways. Today I wanted to share some of the verses I’ve found in the Old Testament that are better helping me understand what it means to walk with the Lord.

The Bible has a lot of verses that talk about our walk. Here are five things involved in walking with the Lord.

“Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.” ~Deuteronomy 13:4

What does this verse tell us that it means to walk with the Lord?

1. Fear God.

Just as wisdom begins with fearing God (Proverbs 9:10), so does our walk with the Lord. We are to reverence Him, to stand in awe of His might and power, and give Him the glory and honor that He deserves.

2. Keep His commandments.

We need to get to know God if we want to walk with Him. As we learn about God through His Word, we’ll also find out how He wants us to live. The Bible gives us His commandments. Our job then is to keep them.

3. Obey His voice.

Obedience is an easy word to throw out there but not always easy to do! At times what we naturally want to do goes against what we believe God is asking us to do.

If you’re a mom, you’ve certainly seen this play out in your children, especially when they’re younger. There are times they obey on the outside, but you can tell they’re rebelling on the inside!

Our obedience should involve our actions and our attitudes.

“And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed forever.” ~1 Samuel 2:35

What if it could be said of us that we do all that is in God’s heart and in His mind? Surely that’s the highest level of obedience.

4. Serve Him.

“But take diligent heed to do the commandment…to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.” ~Joshua 22:5

Walking with the Lord doesn’t include half-hearted service. We should do what we do for God with all of our heart and all our soul.

This verse also says we’re to walk in all His ways. We don’t get to pick and choose which parts of His Word we want to follow.

5. Cleave to Him.

Cleave isn’t a word we use much anymore, but in the Bible, it means to cling or adhere to someone. As we walk with the Lord, we’ll desire to be close to Him. We will find joy and peace in His presence.

And one of the most encouraging verses I found about walking with God is 1 Kings 8:36.

“Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, that thou teach them the good way wherein they should walk…“

We can be taught how we should walk! If our spirit is humble and willing, God, through His Holy Spirit, can teach us how to walk with the Lord.

Here are two summaries I like of what it means to walk with God.

The Jamieson-Faussett-Brown commentary defines it as to “…please and obey God in all things, depending on Him for our well-doing and well-being.“

In his commentary, Benson says that walking with God “…is to have a constant regard to his word as our rule, and to his glory as our end, in all our actions.“

I’m not a Bible commentator, but here’s my very basic summary of what it means to walk with the Lord!

Obey His commandments and have faith in His promises.

May we all desire to walk with the Lord and may He give us the grace to do so.

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7 Things to Do When Your Teenager Is Hurting

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Happy April 1st!!

Do y’all participate in April Fools’ Day? I’m not a fan of practical jokes, so I pretty much ignore it 🙂 I’m also terrible at trying to convince someone of something that’s not actually true, so there’s no need for me to even try. In the past, I’ve seen people share cute ideas for making April Fools’ Day a fun day for their kids. If that’s you, I hope you enjoy the day!

As our daughters get older, I’m learning that there are parts of being a mom that stay the same no matter their age. For example, any time your child is hurting, you hurt with and for them. Whether it’s a relationship issue, a major disappointment, academic struggles, or loneliness, we want to help them in any way we can.

But it’s not like those childhood years when you could soothe most of what ailed them with a hug and a double scoop ice cream cone. Not only are the issues bigger, but our teens are away from us a lot more, involved in school and work, and maybe even off to college.

So what can we do when that teenager we love is going through a hard time? Here are seven ideas.

Check out this list of seven helpful things you as a parent can do when you know that your teenager is going through a tough time..

1. Pray for her.

It sounds so simple, but it’s the single most effective thing we can do. Pray for her spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. Ask God to open her heart and mind so she’ll allow Him to show her what she needs to do.

Sometimes I’ve needed to put Romans 8:26 into practice. I ask the Holy Spirit to intercede for me because in certain situations, I don’t even know exactly how I should pray. But God knows my heart and understands all that’s going on.

2. Ask God for wisdom.

God has the wisdom we need and will freely give it. [James 1:5] Often we’re presented with a parenting situation we haven’t had to deal with before. We need wisdom to know how we should respond. We need guidance to know what to say to our child and what advice to give if she’s willing to accept it.

3. Keep a proper perspective.

As the parent, you’ve lived long enough to know that most difficult situations are temporary. And from our vantage point, we can look back and see how God has taken hard times in our own lives and used them for our good.

So don’t lose hope. Encourage yourself and your teenager that this will likely pass before long.

4. Remember that God is especially near to them when they’re hurting.

This verse came to mind.

“The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.” ~Psalm 34:18-19

God is close to those who have a broken heart, to those who are hurting. We may not be able to be there in person to offer our teens comfort, but God is always close by.

5. Trust God to use this trial in their lives for their long-term good.

At this point, we control very little in our children’s lives. But God sees the whole picture. He will use this hard time to grow and mature them if they will let Him.

And if, like me, you’re tempted to worry and fret over how things will work out, refer to Philippians 4:8. Take it to God in prayer and ask Him to give you His peace.

6. Listen more than you talk.

Your teen may not want to talk about her struggle. But if she does open up, listen. Don’t interrupt her or jump in with advice. Be grateful that she’s willing to share her heart with you.

7. Remind her that you love her.

Can anyone ever hear that too much? And don’t just tell her, but show her. Write her a note, bring her a favorite treat, give her a gift card to a favorite store, or, if she’s away from home, send her a small gift that lets her know you’re thinking about her.

This is advice I need myself quite often, especially the parts about asking God for wisdom and trusting Him to use our daughters’ struggles to make them better. How thankful we can be for a God who loves us moms and our teens so much!!

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The 5 Best Books I Read This Winter

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Thanks for stopping by the blog on this last Friday in March! I always enjoy talking books and reading so that’s what we’re doing today.

My reading goal for 2022 is to average one book a week. So far I’ve finished 19 books which means I’m ahead of schedule. Only six of them were non-fiction, so I’d like to up the count on those next month.

Listed below, in no particular order, are the five best books I read this winter. Let me know if you’ve read any of these!

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Here's a list of the five best books (fiction and non-fiction) that I've read over the past three months.

1. Praying the Scriptures for Your Adult Children by Jodie Berndt. I’ve mentioned this book on the blog before. It includes chapters on specific topics related to our adult children. At the end of each chapter, the author shares brief prayers based on specific Bible verses. Not only did I find those prayers helpful, but I was also inspired to look at my own daily Bible reading through the lens of prayers I can pray for our daughters.

2. A Bride Most Begrudging by Deeanne Gist. This story is set in colonial times, which is not a time period I read about very often. Due to circumstances beyond her control, a fine lady from England finds herself the unwilling wife of an American farmer. This sounds like a familiar and overused plot, but I really liked how this story developed.

3. Doing Life with Your Adult Children by Jim Burns. I think you see a theme here for the type of non-fiction books I’ve read! The subtitle for this book is great – “Keep Your Mouth Shut and the Welcome Mat Out.” There is lots of practical advice for parents to use when dealing with situations that may arise as our children step out on their own.

4. Until Leaves Fall in Paris by Sarah Sundin. This one takes place in Germany in World War 2. The main female character owns a bookstore – and any story that has a bookstore for a setting is pretty much a winner for me! I liked how there was a bit of suspense at the end as well.

5. Crisis Shot by Janice Cantore. I used to read a lot of this type of book – it involves law enforcement and/or lawyers or politicians and unsolved crimes. This is the first book in a series of three. [Just a note: I wouldn’t necessarily recommend the third one due to some of the subject matter related to the crimes.]

Honorable Mention: I really enjoy memoirs. Danielle Walker’s Food Saved Me is a good read. She talks about her struggle with an autoimmune disease, how doctors were unable to help her, and the part that a healthy diet has played in restoring her physical wellbeing.

Have you read any good books lately? If so, please share in the comments below. I’m always looking for recommendations!

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