by Noelle Rhodes

At nine months pregnant, I pulled a small chair to the side of the dumpster. I stepped up on the chair and lifted the lid of the dumpster only to be met with the most horrifying rotting smell I have ever experienced. I held my breath and then jumped in. Yes, I jumped into the dumpster. As I began to tear into the trash bags around me, my panic began to grow inside of me. What if I couldn’t find the painting? What if I had really failed? 

by Kristin Hill Taylor

A year ago, I had no idea 2015 would be such a life-changing year for Team Taylor. We were considering a mission trip to Guatemala and knew our son Ben would start kindergarten in August. Otherwise, the year was wide open. Turns out, God had much planned for our 2015.

By Wodline Hippolyte

Over the last few years, the holiday season has been difficult for me. It was during this time three years ago that my world was turned upside-down. As a result, I didn’t care for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinners. I was holding on to the pain I experienced during those holidays.  

By Kim Hyland

Some may question giving thanks when our hearts are weary worn, as if it’s disingenuous or even delusional. But I’d argue the opposite. The delusion happens when we allow our problems to consume and define our reality. Gratitude restores a proper perspective.

exhaustion hits us all- usually when we least expect it or want it… you know the bone weary feeling- you don’t want to move eat, shower or talk…. but you pick yourself up because life calls you.

"…He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart…" Isaiah 40:11 NIV

Heart, circumcised the gentile wraps herself cozily in a wide tall it fingers the knotted tzit' tzit one by one and remembers the ordinances

by Micalagh Beckwith Moritz

As I write this, it is about three months since I gave birth to my first baby, Hudson. I feel that I am still emerging from what I like to call, “Babyland.” It’s a twilight zone where days and nights fuse into one, where sleep is a coveted and little-known resource, where there is little time for anything other than feeding, changing, rocking, cuddling, and repeating that process.

By Mel Schroeder

And though we don’t often talk about it anymore, it’s a strange existence to have two homes in opposite hemispheres that span oceans. It creates longing and homesickness that fall into categories that can’t quite be described. Some days I try, but most days I just accept that this is the way life will always be.

by Barbara Ruglio

On June 26, 2015, nine men and women in Washington, D.C., ruled that marriage between two men and two women was a right in all 50 states of the USA that could not be denied. In their decision, they declared in lofty beautiful language that love wins.

by Wodline Hippolyte

I was sick and tired of sending my resume out and getting no response, As a result, my faith was shaken. I was a single mom with a college education who felt rejected and unwanted. Going on social media didn’t help at all. There I would read posts of young adults sharing the successes of their businesses or how God opened doors for them.

by Wodline Hippolyte

I was crying hysterically while one of my closest friend’s tried to console me. She dropped everything to come over to my apartment after a brief phone conversation. I knew I could call on her because she’d been in my shoes before. Though I was ashamed, she never judged me or made me feel embarrassed about everything I was facing at the time.

by Micalagh Moritz

I recently had the privilege of spending an overnight with a sect of Old Order Mennonites in Belize, Central America, where I was living. A surprise to most, there are several Mennonite communities in Belize that are very similar to the Amish in the United States. They have managed to preserve a distinct culture, religion, and way of life despite the climate and culture of Belize.

By Mellany Paynter

Grief is personal yes, but there are elements of this  journey we all share. As I open up to my family slowly about how I still struggle sometimes with the thought of my mother gone forever, I realize that they too are hurting.

by Kathy Cheek

For me, quiet thoughts are a sweet savor, yet to have quiet thoughts there must first be quiet moments. I have found quiet thoughts and quiet moments are sanctuary. Sometimes I think something is wrong with me because I enjoy a quieter, slower pace in a world driven to go and do 24/7.

by Susan Panzica

The question of the day – most every day – for those who desire to follow God is How can I know God’s will?  No matter how strong our desire is to follow God’s plan, when given a variety of options, it's may not be easy to make the right choice. The answer is not always crystal clear.

By Micalagh Moritz

Volunteering is one of the best decisions you’ll make. For me, it turned out to be a life-changing year of growth, challenges, joys, and deepened faith. I lived with six other women in a beautiful old house in a neighborhood that was rapidly gentrifying.

by Kimberly Coyle

And I grew angry with myself for writing about my daily life on the most public forum on the planet, and withering when faced with criticism there. I exposed my son to people who, quite honestly, think the marriage of faith and everyday life is downright crazy.