A Grit and Grace Life of Faith

How to Have Your Own Coffee + Bible Time

If you follow me on social media (you should, by the way), you likely see me post on Facebook most mornings (not every day—no perfection here!) that I’m enjoying “C&B” or “Coffee + Bible.” I’ve had people ask me often how I do this—what I read, and where should they begin? I love this question, and I’ll start with the biggest secret: there’s no right answer. The important thing is just to begin building a habit. If you’re new to reading the Bible, start in the New Testament. There are a couple books in the New Testament that are especially fit for beginners. The book of John or even the book of Romans are good starting places. Brew yourself a cup of […]

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How to Flip the Script on Your Infertility Journey

By Frances M. Davis / Faith, Best Of

A quick Google search will tell you that one in eight couples struggle with infertility. I never imagined we would be one of them. And, once diagnosed, I never contemplated this leg of my life’s journey would take years. This is our fifth attempt at in vitro fertilization (IVF). The first was a canceled cycle, where my body didn’t respond to medication. In the second, we lost four embryos—three of them after they were transferred into my womb. The third cycle, like the first, was canceled. In the fourth, we were filled with hope at the prospects of our sole embryo. I was convinced we would defy the statistical odds. Instead, we got another negative pregnancy test. The disappointment has become familiar.

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How to Make Journaling Your Sacred Space

By Karen DeVault / Faith

Have you ever been curious about starting a journal? And if you have, have you wondered exactly what a journal is and what purpose it can serve in your busy life? A journal has been described as a record of one’s thoughts, beliefs, desires, experiences, and observations, and what they mean to that individual. In and of itself, writing those things down can be both therapeutic and enlightening. If that isn’t quite the encouragement you need, what if I told you that journaling could also be a way to experience God? I know that got your attention. If you are a Christian, you have a built-in longing for that, whether you know it or not. Sometimes, when we don’t recognize that longing,

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3 Ways Christians Should Share Their Faith

By Maggie Bowling / Faith

Nearly everyone that moves through the earth is on some sort of faith journey, whether it’s a journey away from faith or a firm planting in one of the world’s major religions.And while our culture teaches tolerance across the board, anyone that is happy and fulfilled in their faith wants to share what they know with others. It’s like using essential oils or doing Whole30, except that one’s faith is so deeply personal that the campaigning can easily run into a roadblock. Personally, I have never been great at sharing my Christian faith. In my heart, I mourn for people that walk through life with a hole in their hearts, hustling in a constant search for love and belonging. That mourning comes

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When I’m Worn Out, I Think About Who Planted Me

By Cherie Shaw / Faith

His name was James. He planted the blueberry bushes in our yard years ago, when our yard was his yard. I only spoke with him twice. During our first conversation, he introduced me to this yard I love, the yard he loved. He struggled through the effects of Parkinson’s as we walked the property on a cold January day. His plants were his heart, his love, and he wanted me to know where they slept under the snow. I followed his labored steps, listened, and took note of his descriptions and instructions. It was our changing of the guard, James and me. We sat around a table filled with contracts the second and last time I spoke with James. As we closed

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Why I Decided to Pick up My Son for the Last Time

By Laura Hurd / Faith

“…There is a last time for everything. There will come a time when you will feed your baby for the very last time. They will fall asleep on you after a long day And it will be the last time you ever hold your sleeping child. One day you will carry them on your hip then set them down,   And never pick them up that way again…” —Author Unknown Every mom hears of how their child’s youth will slip through their fingers in no time. They are often told of how they are to cherish every moment with their babes because those days will soon be but a memory. A wrinkle in time. A Different Child Because I am a mother

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Not Sure How to Answer the Question: “What’s Your Why?”

By Katey Maddux / Faith

I don’t know whether to laugh or cry when I think about it. Years of traveling, working in network marketing, and even starting my own business…the same question always arose, “What’s your why?” I never knew what to say. I didn’t have a hard childhood or rags-to-riches story. I didn’t need to support my family or go through excruciating adversity to get where I am today. So I would ask myself the same question: what is my why? I love to travel. I love to help people and to serve. I like making money…but you can make money doing just about anything. “Dig deeper,” they’d say, “there’s got to be something that’s driving you.” I never knew what, exactly. Until recently. I

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How to Provide Comfort for Your Children in Uncertain Times

By Darlene Brock / Faith

I can’t seem to stop thinking about the school shooting on Valentine’s Day. Several days have passed, yet it still lies in the back of my mind. The discussion will continue, how can we prevent this from ever happening again, how do we protect our schools, so we never lose another child? The conversation needs to take place. We need to protect our children as they head out each morning to be taught, to develop relationships, to gather the tools they will need to gain life’s opportunity. But that is not the immediate conversation most of us will have with our families. Thankfully, most mothers won’t have to experience this heartbreaking loss or the nightmares of the child who personally felt it’s

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If You’re in a Hard Season, It’s Time to Speak Life

By Rachel Hagstrom / Faith

“There aren’t gloves thick enough for this job!” With my teeth clenched, my gaze shifted around the “vintage” bathroom floor. “What in the world have we done?” I silently lamented as I scrubbed rodent feces off the tiled floor. The latex gloves provided little protection from what I was sure were unlivable conditions. Our family had just relocated from a quaint New England college town to the heart of Washington, D.C. We had fallen in love with the city during a recent visit and had jumped at the chance to live in one of our country’s most diverse places. “It’s just for two years,” our adventurous sides reasoned. However, the rose-colored lenses through which I had viewed our new quest quickly faded

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How to Channel Both Mary and Martha When Hosting People

By Madeline Marlow / Faith

Haven’t we all had that moment of feeling unprepared and frustrated when having people over? Is my home clean enough? Do my guests have a nice place to sit? Where did I put that corkscrew? Now imagine the pressure of the ultimate guest coming to your home: Jesus. When I plan my own parties and events, I find myself coming back time and time again to the story of Martha and Mary hosting Jesus at their home. Luke 10:38-42 Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all

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Why We Can Look at the Dark Parts of Life With Hope

By Elise Heerde / Faith

I have a beautiful tapestry of a cottage garden hanging on my kitchen wall. As I look at the tapestry from afar the picture is beautiful, but as I draw closer I begin to see the intricate details in the cottage garden. The stunning colours that are weaved throughout the flowers, the birds and the winding pathway captures my attention and pulls me in. Each individual thread is vital for the overall vision that the tapestry portrays. The various colours and threads are weaved into the tapestry with great care and precision because every thread is essential to the finished design. Our lives are like a tapestry in action being woven together by the Creator. Every thought, dream, heartbreak, desire, and tear

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Is Your Anger Holding You Hostage? Freedom Can Be Found

By Rachel Hagstrom / Faith

The assault stole more than my innocence: it also taught me how to withhold forgiveness. As time marched on, that single event began to chisel away at my soul, leaving me worn, scarred, and enslaved. I jumped into the depths of unforgiveness headfirst. Cloaked in self-hatred, I silently berated myself for stepping into a dangerous situation. The trauma haunted me, yet I would continue to replay it over and over in my mind. I wished I could retrace my steps. Instead of seeking help, I numbed myself any way I could, finding solace in pills, alcohol, and unhealthy relationships. Held hostage by hopelessness, dark thoughts became the compass for all my decisions and actions. Bleakness and negativity became my constant companions. I

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When Opposites Stop Being So Attractive

By Ashby Duval / Faith

My husband was moving his shop and showroom to a different location the last couple weeks. I am not quite a minimalist, but I hate clutter and I am constantly getting rid of things (sometimes before I should have!). So much so that I have been known to sneak things out of the house in the middle of the night to the garbage just so I won’t get caught for throwing away a giant stuffed penguin that no one should need. Ever. Only to be caught the next day because his stuffed head snuck its way out the top of the garbage can (traitor). Long story short, my spouse is not a minimalist. He needs #allthethings. His mindset is that someday he

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6 Ways to Cultivate Joy in the Grit and Grace Life

By Karen DeVault / Faith

Most people would generally agree that while related, joy and happiness are two different things. Happiness tends to be dependent on external factors, such as events, circumstances, people, places, and possessions. On the other hand, joy is something we cultivate internally. It runs much deeper than happiness, reaching into the very core of who we are. It is an enduring state of being that remains even when circumstances change. Ultimately, God is both the source and sustainer of all joy. But we must still do our part. As I have studied joy over recent months and what it means to me, I’ve identified the following six areas that help me cultivate joy in my own life. It is my prayer that they

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You Are the Biggest Influence on Your Child’s Faith

By Teresa Christian / Faith

Having a newborn in your home is a marvelous thing. To look into that tiny face and realize that you have been given this gift is nearly overwhelming. Just a few short months ago this person wasn’t on the planet, and now he is in your arms. The weight of the responsibility far exceeds the little bit of effort it takes to lift him from his crib. Everything about him is life, newness, and precious. For parents who choose to raise their children to follow the teachings of their faith, it is no small undertaking. Our society is often referred to as “postmodern,” meaning, in an extremely simplified definition, that much of our world has stepped away from formerly traditional values of

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5 Faith-Based Podcasts for Women That Will Refresh You

By Whitney Hsu / Faith

I have a confession to make. I’m a podcast junkie. Or as much as I can be as the mom of three young kids. I don’t have much alone time, ya know? But when I’m cooking, folding laundry, running, or driving without the kids, it’s what I’m doing: catching up on my podcasts. Here are my 5 favorite faith-based podcasts: 1. That Sounds Fun with Annie F. Downs This is my absolute favorite podcast. As Annie says, she likes to have her friends become friends with her friends, so she has awesome people on each show as her guest. I laugh out loud, and sometimes I cry, too. But I always enjoy that hour of my day! (This one isn’t just for women—guys would

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You Need to Care for Your Heart With Grace

By Clare Marlow / Faith

A friend of mine gifted me a coveted Fiddleleaf Fig tree before moving across the country. You know what they are—just open any interior design magazine or look up pretty home pictures on Pinterest and you’ll see one happily living in an adorable basket in a sunny corner by a perfect chair. Despite my lifelong brown thumb, I have actually managed to not only keep my own two-year-old Fiddleleaf alive, but also watch it grow to more than seven feet tall. They’re super cool looking, but kind of pricey and usually only sold at specialty nurseries, so when she offered me hers for free I was happy to cart it home. Except…in preparation for a massive moving sale, she had placed it

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