Category: Faith & Grace
Abortion- It’s Not What You Think
I was recently inspired by one of Julie Anderson’s Facebook posts. I asked Julie if she would share her story here. The result is the collaboration below. This is Julie’s 2nd guest contribution to ASD. To read more about Julie, see her bio below. When I was in grad school in the mid-1990s, I attended a small church on the other side of town. As I crossed town, my Sunday mornings’ drive was a quiet one. The empty streets framed by empty sidewalks I traveled bore little resemblance to the student-filled, noisy streets of the night before. And every...
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How Overparenting Cripples Their Faith
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3: 5-6 When it’s time to let them go, you learn a whole lot about what kind of parent you really are. Many of you know or have heard me share that my first child is going off to college this fall. Actually, she moves into her dorm exactly one month from today. One. Month. Letting go has been easy in some respects and in others, well, much harder than we expected. ...
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Friends: It’s Something You Do, Not Something You Have
Growing up, my mom always said if you want to have a friend, you have to be a friend. And she was right. Proverbs 18:24 says that “a man who has friends must himself be friendly.” Now that I have kids of my own, I hear a lot about ‘having friends’ … or not ‘having friends,’ who’s friends with who, who’s not friends at all, and so and on so forth depending on what’s going on in the world of junior high and high school. And in return, I hear myself saying those same words my mom used to...
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You Can Keep Your Desert Season. I’ve Got a Well.
Let’s talk about the dry times. You know what I mean, those awful times in our Christian walks when we feel stale, lifeless, unproductive, maybe even pointless. Maybe we feel like everything is a struggle. We feel tired with nothing else to give. Worse yet, we might not be able to feel God’s presence. In fact, He might even feel so distant we find ourselves wondering if He even exists. If you’ve walked with Christ very long, you’ve probably experienced some of what I’m talking about. Some people call it being in a spiritual desert or a wilderness season. ...
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What is a Gracious Thanksgiving Hostess?
Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is presented to you, because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” Genesis 33:11 Because I have enough… Graciousness and hospitality are forever intertwined since it is quite impossible to practice one without the other. More than place settings, décor, or even good food, a hostess is defined by her graciousness… or lack of it. And, well, that’s just the way it is. So just what does it mean to be gracious and how can we all practice a little more graciousness this holiday season? We can begin by knowing that...
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Host a Coffee Get-Together
Life is busy. YOU are busy. We are all running like crazy through schedules, work and the like. But it doesn’t negate the fact that, busy or not, we need one another… like REALLY need one another if we are going to make it through this life successfully. Most of us know that, so we find ourselves trying to squeeze in coffee with a friend at the local coffee shop between errands, appointments, and meetings. A coffee house is neutral ground. Someone else makes the coffee. It’s a quick in and out. Catch up, share, and we’re done. ...
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A Christmas Table To Spread JOY
This year, I have been so excited about putting together a whimsical little table celebrating the JOY of Christmas. A Christmas table that is perfect for that get-together with friends, your cookie exchange, even a Yuletide brunch. Something bright. Something colorful. Something fun. Because JOY is important. If you’ve been around for a while, you know that Christmas is my favorite! Well, other than summer. But that’s really beside the point. Christmas happens to be one of my absolute most favorite times of the year. The food, the family, the festivities. It was all so special growing up, and...
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Righteousness: 5 Reasons It’s Not About Us
Recently, after receiving some absolutely disheartening news, a close friend of mine burst out in angry frustration, “I have done all the right things for so long,” she cried, “but God still didn’t answer my prayers! It doesn’t matter what I do. Nothing makes a difference! I quit!” My heart broke for her. I felt her pain and disappointment– we’ve all been there at one time or another– but I also knew that she had put her faith in the wrong things. Most Christians would outright reject the idea of works-based Salvation, quoting Ephesians 2:8-9; For by Grace you...
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Do You Need A Special Invitation? A Callings & Purposes Checklist
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14 Growing up, my mom was always asking me, “What are you waiting on? Do you need a special invitation?” You see, I was not the most punctual child, and she was always having to follow along behind me to prompt and push. It’s a problem that can still sneak up on me if I’m not careful and sometimes even when I am. Late to the dinner table? “Do you need a special invitation?” Last in the car on Sunday...
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When It Comes to Callings, We’ve Got Hang Ups
…I became a minister in accordance with the divine stewardship which was entrusted to me for you, to make the Word of God fully known… For this I labor, striving with all the superhuman energy which He so mightily enkindles and works within me. Colossians 1:25, 29 AMP “Dear God, what am I really supposed to be doing?” About 3 years ago, this question started rolling around in my head and getting stuck in parts that I just couldn’t shake. Suddenly it seemed like life was getting ‘real.’ As if there wasn’t any more time for just going through...
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3 Divine Stewardships to Declutter Your Pencil Cup
…I became a minister in accordance with the divine stewardship which was entrusted to me for you, to make the Word of God fully known… For this I labor, striving with all the superhuman energy which He so mightily enkindles and works within me. Colossians 1:25, 29 AMP My pencil holder is a cup. It sits on my desk crammed full of all sorts of things. A finger nail file, some business cards, markers, Sharpies, highlighters, rubber bands, and of course, pencils. Lots of pencils. Short ones, long ones, mechanical ones… Yes, even ones that don’t work. I’m sure...
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Change Your Words; Change Your Life
This week, I want to introduce a very special guest contributor, Leann Guzman! Leann, author of Daughters of Blessing and other insightful and powerful devotionals, has a passion “to see Christians who live mediocre, powerless spiritual lives grow in the grace and freedom Jesus purchased for them at the Cross, so that they live in all the spiritual prosperity, power, and freedom that He intended.” -leannguzman.com To learn more about Leann and her passion or to visit her website, see below! Maybe I’d read one too many inspirational quotes on doing the impossible – you know, one of those...
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MEET STACEY
Southern Discourse is a place where you can find southern family dishes, along with special recipes and table settings. We’re bringing connection & friendship back to the table by wrapping everything in the faith and grace from which true hospitality springs! … Read More
