“Want to go to Sonic, Mom?” Sounds like an innocuous enough question don’t you think? But at our house, it has a deeper meaning. The question is usually asked as we’re driving by the local Sonic on our way to some activity. And it’s always asked by my younger son, Tim, with a wry smile… Read More
LISA HELLIER|GUEST As a child, about every four years, my dad took us to Colombia to visit family. My dad is from Bogota, Colombia, having immigrated to the United States when he was 18 years old to attend college. My mom’s family is from South Georgia and we regularly saw those grandparents, aunts, uncles, and… Read More
TARA BARTHEL|CONTRIBUTOR In the first post I wrote for enCourage, I listed two reasons why our churches so often lack loving, loyal, unified relationships: 1) All too often, we fake niceness; and 2) We envy. I then went on to promise future posts to help us to develop sincere affection, faithful loyalty, and lasting unity… Read More
HEATHER NELSON|CONTRIBUTOR Note – This post first appeared on my blog, heatherdavisnelson.com, three years ago when I was in the throes of potty training twin three-year-olds. I am happy to report that they are now completely potty trained. But my spiritual training (and theirs) is very much still a work in progress. There is advice… Read More
ELLEN DYKAS|CONTRIBUTOR Veruca Salt, the bratty kid in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. You know, the one we laughed about and maybe even smirked at wondering—How could a girl become SO self-centered? Well, truth be told, I’m more like her than different. So often, though not as boldly as Veruca, I demand, I want IT… Read More
HOLLY MACKLE|CONTRIBUTOR I have a very prominent nose. It’s a recognizable nose, as in, you can spot it at 100 yards in profile. Yes, it used to bother me, and yes, I kind of like it now. {I don’t know what is happening to me as I age but I sure could have used a… Read More
MEGAN HILL|GUEST “Okay, ladies, who would be willing to lead us in prayer?” And, just like that, the whole group goes mute. Women who had been laughing and whispering suddenly freeze. All eyes shift to the floor. Previously unnoticed shoes become objects of intense interest. Everyone feels an urgent need to check her phone as… Read More
SUSAN SHEPHERD|GUEST The following is an excerpt from Susan Shepherd’s book, Becoming Eve. It’s not easy being green My brothers grew up watching Sesame Street. The series that premiered in the fall of 1969 continued its influence on my own children in the early ‘80’s. One of our favorites has always been Kermit the Frog. … Read More
This post is a follow up to the interview I did with Susan Hunt about the rerelease of the her book Spiritual Mothering. CDM has published Titus 2 Tools as a companion piece to Spiritual Mothering, offering practical tips and a leader’s guide for women’s ministries to develop their own Titus 2 discipleship opportunities. In… Read More