Our Blog
Encouragement for every season of lifeFinding the Perfect Gift
By Noël Fanti One of my oldest friends celebrated her birthday last week and, after more than ten years of gift-trading, I found myself surprisingly stumped about what her present should be. As I browsed through shelves of scarves, cosmetics, bestselling books, and...
Who’s My Neighbor?
I have been involved in church as long as I can remember. I have always loved to serve others. Children’s ministry. Women’s ministry. Youth ministry. You name it, and I’ve probably been a part of it. And although it was fulfilling to be a part of all these wonderful...
Homemade Laundry Soap Made Easy
To say my family does a lot of laundry is an understatement. With six kids, our poor washing machine has been working overtime for most of its existence. Our family has sensitive skin, with a few of us experiencing eczema at times, requiring us to purchase brands of...
What’s Your Major?
Countless college students meet each other every fall by saying, “What’s your major?” and “Where are you from?” Sometimes those questions are easy to answer, and sometimes they’re not so easy, especially when you’re not sure what you’re supposed to be doing with your...
The Sweet Benefits of Honey
“Time for bed, Elise,” I tell my 3-year-old. “Go get your spoon.” She knows exactly what I mean and races over, tripping in her haste to get to the silverware drawer. It’s time for her “honey medicine.” We started the routine one cold winter night when she had a...
Kids Say the Darndest Things
When I was a kid there was a show on television every afternoon called Art Linkletter’s House Party. It was an afternoon variety show and to be honest, I don’t really remember much about it except for the regular segment called “Kids Say the Darndest Things.” Mr....
Time to Rest
It’s hard for me to rest sometimes. I’m an all-in kind of person, and it’s hard for me to pace myself and take a break. But I have learned that resting is good. It was February 2008. I know that because I made a notation in my Bible. It had been a harried season of...
The Perfect Size
I listened as she told how she wished her daughter knew how her pear-shaped figure was “perfect.” Then in her next breath she made fun of girls with straight figures. I found myself biting my lip, not knowing what to say. As the conversation moved onto more...
Writing My Own Psalm
I once heard comedian Mark Lowry say, “If David had had Prozac, we wouldn’t have the Psalms.” And though David didn’t write all of the Psalms, Mark does have a point. If you really look at it, the Psalms are a pretty good depiction of life. Some days are good, other...
Goodbye, Mom
"Goodbye, Mom. I can do it on my own." Those were the words spoken to me by my newly-minted kindergartener at her school's open house. I don't even remember the context, because upon hearing them, my throat choked shut and my eyes blinded with tears as I smiled at my...
