Our Blog
Encouragement for every season of lifeSeeing Treasure in Those Considered Trash
Jackie is an ordinary woman but she’s doing extraordinary things to help Russian orphan graduates. Jackie grew up in northern Minnesota, went to school for hotel management and worked in hotels and then in children’s ministry. In 2002 Jackie met her future husband,...
Life’s Just Better with Friends
We looked ridiculous. One friend ran in front of me wearing white Michael Jackson-style gloves, 12-month-old footie pajamas flung around her neck like a scarf, managing to look graceful despite her strange accoutrements. Behind me, our other friend jogged even while...
Something’s Gotta Change
“And I don’t like what they’re doing in the bathroom, Mom,” he said with a tone of strong indignation and serious concern. WHAT? I thought, as I caught my internal response before it came out of my mouth. “What are they doing in the bathroom?” I said calmly. It was...
How to Build Trust on Your Team and Survive Stress Together
Image is from bpsusf via Flickr. Every team - whether in the home, workplace, or church - experiences periods of stress, tension, and even conflict. Too often these seasons result in teams fracturing, productivity decreasing, or people leaving. Waiting until a crisis...
Navigating Relationships As A Single Mom
Our guest contributor for this article is Carol Battista, a single parent. Did you know that the Single Moms Retreat is arriving in just a couple of weeks, June 2-3, in Alexandria, MN? Find the details here. My son Douglas was born when I was 25 years old. I was not...
Elissa’s Story
This is the fifth article in our new 7-week series called "Her Story," stories of ordinary women experiencing, overcoming, or choosing to do extraordinary things. This week’s story is from Nancy Raatz, who is a Missionary to Russia alongside her husband, Andrew, and...
Forced Delay
Image is from Thomas Leuthard via Flickr Life had gotten a little too chaotic -- running here, hurrying there. Two hours early, I was leaving for a business trip and found myself delayed at the airport for no apparent reason: no weather or mechanical issues. I decided...
7 Snacks to Sneak at Work
Image is from D. Sharon Pruitt via Flickr When I ask my clients what they really want to know regarding nutritional health tips, the question that comes up repeatedly is how to prepare healthy, delicious snacks for on-the-go. From my first published book, Living...
Trust
My husband hurt my feelings. I felt as if my trust had been broken. And as I lay in bed angry and stewing two days later, I realize that my hurt feelings toward my husband had not only turned to anger towards him, but also toward God. I’m so mad I could just yell. Or...
So You Didn’t Expect It? Trust God Anyway
You can’t learn to trust God without first going through things that require trust. It’s something I’ve learned from experience. As my husband and I find ourselves in a sudden whirlwind of financial craziness, we know our God is faithful. In a matter of two months our...
