Did You Know Appreciation Could Be THIS Powerful?

Did You Know Appreciation Could Be THIS Powerful?

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She wept as her sister celebrated. They had both invested time and intention to improve. And it showed! As I watched them perform during the dance recital, I could not believe that this was only their second year with the dance studio. They had developed into phenomenal dancers in such a short time! During the awards ceremony that followed, her younger sister received a merit award recognizing her hard work and improvement for her age group. While she was happy for her younger sister, the win stung as the merit award for her age group had gone to another dancer.  Her sister’s win was like salt in her wound. As she grappled with her emotional whiplash – happy for her sister while upset about her own loss – I contemplated how to navigate simultaneous celebration and sorrow. 

I jumped up and down in proud applause for our youngest daughter who received the award. It was wonderful to have her hard work acknowledged before hundreds of dancers and families. Then I stretched open my arms to wrap big sister in empathy and encouragement. She sobbed, sharing how she felt that her little sister was always in the spotlight of accomplishment, praise, recognition, and reward – while she seemed to be standing still in her little sister’s shadow. My heart sank. I could see that while she was disappointed that she did not win the merit award for her age group, the source of her devastation was rooted in comparing herself to her sister. 

I know the illusion of comparison all too well. In a world constantly bombarding us with images of success, talent, and achievement, it’s easy to fall into the trap of comparison. I told my daughter about the many times I’ve peered through Instagram’s window at someone else’s life, skills, and accomplishments, measuring myself against them, and inadvertently compromising my own efforts. Comparison diminishes my self-worth, suffocates my dreams, and hinders my progress in fulfilling the purpose for which God has uniquely designed me.

My daughter was shocked to learn that I too have allowed comparison to wound me. She reasoned, “You’ve helped so many people. My friends think you’re awesome. You’ve written books! How can you feel overlooked?” 

I asked her if she’d noticed the phrase ‘We are so grateful to have you here’ taped to my mirrors and on the wall in my office. I placed it there to remind me to let appreciation clear the illusion of comparison. Appreciation is powerful! By shifting my perspective towards appreciating my efforts and progress, I counteract the harmful effects of comparison. Appreciation enables me to embrace my uniqueness, celebrate my accomplishments, and foster an attitude of gratitude for myself and the work I get to do.

Appreciating our efforts acknowledges the journey we have embarked upon. Each step forward, no matter how small, is a testament to our determination and resilience. Recognizing the dedication we invest in our pursuits helps build a sense of self-worth and confidence. When we appreciate our efforts, we give ourselves the motivation to keep pushing forward, knowing that progress is being made.

Also, appreciation helps us acknowledge our unique abilities and gifts. Each one of us is fearfully and wonderfully made by God, blessed with distinct talents and skills. When we focus on appreciating our own capabilities, we are reminded that our journey is not a competition against others. Instead, it is a personal quest to fulfill the purpose God has placed within our hearts. By recognizing and nurturing our unique strengths, we can make a positive impact in our sphere of influence.

Finally, appreciation fosters contentment and joy! When we constantly compare ourselves to others, we tend to dwell on what we lack or what we perceive as shortcomings. However, when we appreciate our efforts, we shift our perspective to the progress we have already attained. Contentment brings peace and frees us from the burden of constantly striving to measure up to someone else’s standards.

So, together my daughter and I reflected on our journeys. We considered the progress we’d made, the obstacles we’d overcome, and the unique talents we each possess. We acknowledged what we appreciated about our efforts. While it would be nice to be recognized for our work, being granted an award is certainly not our motivation. We committed to honoring and celebrating our accomplishments instead of overlooking them through the lens of comparison. And we will continue to trust God to guide and equip us as we faithfully pursue the purpose He has for each of us.

Let this encouragement sink in: “Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life” (Galatians 6:4-5).

Heavenly Father, thank You for the unique gifts and abilities You have bestowed upon me. Help me to appreciate the work You have given me and to find joy in the progress I make along the way. Fill my heart with contentment and guide me to use my talents for Your glory. Grant me the strength to resist the temptation of comparison and to focus on fulfilling the purpose You have designed for my life. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

 

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The Gift of Simple Encouragement

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Kind words are like honey—
    sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.
Proverbs 16:24

One summer morning, we accidentally got to the library eight minutes early. On the surface this doesn’t seem like a big deal . . . but with three spirited boys, eight extra minutes can feel like eight hours. At the time, my sons were seven, six, and four — the perfect ages for high curiosity and low impulse control. As we entered the small outer foyer and I realized the main library wasn’t open yet, low-grade panic set in. My kids were not cut from the “sit still and wait patiently” kind of cloth.

So they returned our bag full of books, slurped water from the drinking fountain, hid under the massive stairwell, and asked a gazillion questions. There was a trip to the bathroom and a thorough investigation of a row of cupboards foolishly void of padlocks. As the minutes inched on, more people joined us in the waiting vestibule. Staring eyes weren’t in short supply.

“Be aware of others. Stay near me. Quiet words, please,” I reminded them often.

My boys weren’t being bad. Just inquisitive, antsy, talkative, active kids. And after eight minutes, their mama was exhausted. When the clock struck ten, the large sliding glass doors finally opened. The small crowd slowly descended into the sanctuary of books. Jude jumped and Elias squealed and Noah started to sprint as I reminded them again to please walk and use inside voices.

An older woman who had been waiting nearby caught my eye. “It’s going to be a long summer,” she said.

“Yeah, it is,” I replied with a weak smile and a sigh.

Then her eyes brightened, and her smile warmed. “But you’re doing a great job. Thank you for being here,” she added.

I had braced myself for a stranger’s rebuke — parenting in public in the little years made me sweat with anxiety. But instead of judgment, I was met with the kindness of simple encouragement. All I could do was whisper thank you. She gave me a knowing nod and entered the library as I followed my sons — my back a bit straighter, my steps a bit lighter.

A small, unexpected thank you from a stranger. A word to make someone feel seen. Is there an easier gift of kindness to give?

So I pass on these sweet words to you: Thank you. Thank you for changing diapers and reading stories. Thank you for going to work and still making dinner when you’re dog-tired. Thank you for cheering at swim lessons and folding laundry and answering the billionth question to quench a little person’s curiosity. Thank you for helping your neighbor and listening to your coworker. Thanks for getting to church early to set up or staying late to tear down. Thanks for mentoring that teenager. Thanks for doing your mundane job with a smile. Thanks for putting one foot in front of the other.

Thank you for being you. No one else could fill your shoes.

TODAY: Choose someone to give the gift of simple encouragement.

 

Written by Becky Keife, adapted from The Simple Difference: How Every Small Kindness Makes a Big Impact

When the world’s problems loom large and your ordinary life stretches you thin, is it still possible to be a difference-maker? Absolutely! One small, intentional, extravagant act of kindness at a time. The Simple Difference: How Every Small Kindness Makes a Big Impact by Becky Keife will help you to stop getting buried in busyness and distraction and discover countless opportunities for impact right where you are.

Rather than trying to do more, learn how to see more: more of the people in front of you, more of God’s lavish love for you, and more of His power within you. Grab a copy of The Simple Difference now. We pray it blesses you.

 

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I’m Learning Sometimes Failure IS Success

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“Have you failed yet?” My friend and coach asks my workout partner and me this during an early morning session. We both shake our heads. “Then you’re not done.” We take turns adding more weight to our bar until we can’t lift it. After we’re finished, we high-five each other and cheer, “We failed!”

Before you think I’m some super athlete, let me give a few disclaimers. I’m awkward and naturally uncoordinated. I run like a duck. I managed to injure myself on a stationary bike. I fell down in the middle of class today (yes, really). But I do love getting stronger — mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually.

One way I’m doing so is by reshaping how I see failure. At the gym, we’re told to “go to failure” on certain exercises. In other words, figure out the maximum you can do, which you only find out by failing. When that’s the task, failure is success.

The world tells us the opposite: “Go for success. Make sure you look good. Don’t try anything too hard. Play it safe. Keep your image intact.”

But the Apostle Paul said, “I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10 NLT). When I read this verse in the past I sometimes thought, “Whew, Paul, you’re a little crazy.” But lately, I’m starting to understand.

We see moments of failure as reasons for shame. But what if we shift our perspective? When you “go to failure,” it means you have given your best. You’ve tried as hard as you could. You refused to give up. You used every bit of strength you had. You didn’t fail; you found your growth point. Once you’ve gone to “failure,” it’s time for recovery, to ask, “What did I do well and what do I want to do differently next time?”

I recently walked through a challenging situation. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t seem to fix it. I did and said everything I could, but the outcome remained the same. I kept telling myself, “You failed.” But now I’ve started to say instead, “You went to failure, which means you did your best, and that’s all anyone can do.”

What are you working through right now? Maybe there’s a broken relationship you can’t mend, a goal you can’t reach, a dream that hasn’t yet come true. You might have a vision for your future and keep falling short of it, something you’d love to create that isn’t turning out how you see it in your mind, or you’re wrestling through hard questions with your faith. Perhaps you’ve felt discouraged or disheartened, compared yourself to others who seem stronger, or keep asking the question I did, “Why am I so weak?”

The answer: You are not weak. You are choosing to “go to failure.” You’re pushing your limits, You’re growing. You’re getting stronger. The next relationship you have, you’ll be wiser. The next project you work on, you’ll know more. The next risk you take, you’ll have greater courage.

The really good news? You won’t be doing it alone. God will be with you in every moment. When my partner finally failed at lifting her weight I said, “It’s okay, I’ve got you.” Then together we lifted her bar.

God says the same to you. He’s got you. No matter how weak you feel today, you’re still making progress. You may have maxed out for now and that’s okay. Well done for giving it your all. Now it’s time to rest, recover, and try again when you’re ready.

Remind your strong-but-weary heart of this today: Sometimes failure is success.

Are you in a season where you need more strength and encouragement? You’ll find it in Holley’s devotional book, What Your Mind Needs for Anxious Moments! Get a free except here.

 

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5 Truths You Really Need to Let Sink in Today

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God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Ephesians 2:8-10

You might already know these, but sometimes the truths that are most common are the ones we need to revisit and really let sink in.

You are saved by grace!
All you have to do is believe in God. He does the rest!

God’s grace is a gift!
You don’t have to earn God’s love or favor or help. In fact, you can’t! All you can do is receive the gift of His love, forgiveness, and grace.

You are His masterpiece!
God is so delighted with who you are and how He made you.

You are made new in Jesus!
You are not the mistakes you’ve made. God calls you a new creation and sees His beloved daughter every time He looks at you. 

He has good things planned for you to do!
If you feel aimless or insignificant, you can trust that God has a plan and purpose for your life. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you each day — He’ll show you what to do.

Remembering Builds Our Faith

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Praise the Lord, my soul;
    all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the Lord, my soul,
    and forget not all his benefits—
 who forgives all your sins
    and heals all your diseases,
 who redeems your life from the pit
    and crowns you with love and compassion,
 who satisfies your desires with good things
    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Psalm 103:1-5

Some of the best conversations with my kids happen at bedtime. The thoughts and feelings tumbling around in their young minds and hearts tend to surface in the slow quiet of evening, and I’m always surprised by what’s on their mind or how they’re processing events of the day.

After a day filled with lots of highs and a few lows, one of my daughters sighed with gratitude in her two-year-old lisp, “Today was such a fun day!”

Content, she fell asleep. Only ten minutes later, I sat with another one of my young kids who had stubbed his toe, and the conclusion on the day was quite different: “Today was the worst day ever!” How like us to forget the heaps of happiness we’ve experienced when we encounter something unfavorable. Human nature tends toward negativity. Complaining, contrasting, and competing come naturally.

Perhaps that is why God told the Israelites throughout the Old Testament, “Remember!” On numerous occasions, God commanded the Israelites to build altars, signs, or symbols as a means to help them remember who God is and what He had done, and these signs were to serve also as a prompt to teach and remind their children about God (Joshua 4).

Remembering builds our faith.

We will face moments throughout life when we feel overwhelmed, confused, conflicted, or hurt. We might not know how to make it through the day, what is coming tomorrow, or the grand plan for our future. We might feel worried, afraid, or out of control, but even then, we must remember. We must preach to ourselves and stir up worship inside of us and remember what we know:

God is for me.
He loves me.
He has chosen me.
He will provide for all my needs.
Nothing is too difficult for Him.
Nothing can separate me from His love.
God is good, working all things for my good and His glory.
I can rest in Him because I can trust Him.

Through remembering, we open our eyes to see God — who He is and how He works — and set our minds on things above (Colossians 3:2). As believers, we must renew our minds daily (Romans 12:2) and think about things that are excellent, lovely, and worthy of praise (Philippians 4:8-9).

Believers, we must remember.

Remember God’s deeds. Remember His character. Remember the gracious benefits He gives to His people. Do not forget. Remember!

This devotion is by Erika Dawson, as published in the (in)courage Devotional Bible. It has been edited from its original form.

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On Saturdays this summer, we’re sharing our favorite Psalms + select devotions from the (in)courage Devotional Bible. We’re loving our summer Saturdays (in) the Psalms with you!

 

And today, listen to the (in)courage podcast for a special Bonus Episode with author Georgia Brown!

How Hungry Are You for Wisdom?

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The seagulls swoop and soar above our heads waiting for the moment we’ll walk away so they can raid our snacks. I stay put on our beach blanket, guarding what’s ours, because I refuse to share our goodies with the beady-eyed creatures and their potentially germ-infested feathers. The kids call for me to fetch them a bucket of water from the ocean, and I’m torn between protecting and playing. But I drag my body away from my post and oblige. I tell myself childhood only happens once and to be the present parent I want to be. Soon, though, their giggles and fruitless efforts to build a sand pool make me stay and laugh with them. I snap photos and record videos because one day I want them to be able to look back and remember who they were.

I sneak a peek at our precious snacks, and I notice at least three seagulls creeping up on our blanket. They bob their heads to the left and right as if they’re casually taking a stroll on the sand. “Nothing to see here,” their beady eyes seem to say, but I’m onto them and run back to shoo them away.

They flap a couple of yards away, but they stay close. They’re persistent and patient and always at the ready.

I generally find birds to be disgusting, but this time, I see their scavenging as shrewdness, as wisdom. I think of Matthew 6:26, which says, “Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?” For those seagulls, the Father was feeding them through the chips and crackers spilled by children along the beach shore. The nutritional value of the food probably wasn’t great, but they were fed nonetheless. The wisdom I saw in those birds was this: they received what was provided. They looked for food, found it, and went for it with boldness.

I wonder, then, about the times I’ve asked God for wisdom but waited around for it to drop from the skies instead of actively seeking it. Or the times I’ve asked but didn’t receive what was given to me because of the way it was provided or because of the messenger it was given through. I wonder if my preferences become pickiness and I end up foolish instead of wise when God’s been providing wisdom for me all along.

My friend, Chantel, often quotes the idiom, “Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.” Not every advice or encouragement or warning should be taken in whole, but neither should it be thrown out in its entirety. Wisdom is being able to pick out the truth from the things that don’t matter and feeding ourselves accordingly. I’m not great at this as I like to receive what I like the way I like it. I can be incredibly childish and immature and stubborn in that way, and I am more often than not. But I want to learn from the birds. I want to be hungrier than I am picky for the wisdom God wants to give me.

If we are more valuable than the seagulls at the beach, then God must be providing wisdom for us more abundantly than we can imagine. So when the opportunities to learn and grow in wisdom present themselves, we need to be shrewd enough to find the truth and open enough to receive it. Our job is to be like those birds – hungry, persistent, and ready to receive what is given.

 

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It’s Not Just a Table

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As tears streamed down my face, I tried reminding myself, “Jen, you’re only saying goodbye to a table.”

I understood the reality of that statement. Yet… while it’s an inanimate object, our kitchen table represents a lifetime of memories, meals, and milestone moments that span nearly three decades. It’s more than simply a table, yet somehow last week in a spontaneous act of earning cold, hard cash, I posted our kitchen table and chairs on Facebook marketplace.

To say I didn’t think this through on an emotional level is an understatement.

Nice “stuff” isn’t important to me. I’m the queen of thrift store shopping and this table was purchased secondhand when our children were only babies. Before the internet, I’d page through the classified ads to furnish our humble abode, and when the newspaper description stated this table could seat up to ten people (or more if we smooshed), I knew this was the one.

My vision for gathering around our kitchen table started small. A day-by-day family routine that served more scratches, spills, and spaghetti stains than suppers. But as I extended additional invitations, it became a standard-bearer of sorts for curating sacred moments. Passionate about the power of family meal time, our normal ordinary rhythm became a call to linger, exhale, and pause amidst the hustle and bustle of everyday life. A time to give thanks, share bits of our day, and remember who called us to the table in the first place.

Within hours of my spontaneous sale, someone messaged that they were on their way and the memories started bubbling over.

How could I sell the only table our children have ever known? For twenty-six years, nearly all our meals have been eaten here. Our five kids spit out their first veggies at this table and then scribbled with a permanent marker across the top in the name of creating art. We cheered on potty training success with their favorite ice cream cake in the same spot as the marker, and then in a blink, the same recipe was shared here for their graduation.

When I told our adult kids I sold the table, our eldest son jested in our family group chat, “Well Mom, that is the most special table and I don’t know if we can come home and eat family dinners on any other one.”

Celebrations and tears. Prayers, praise, and petitions. Sacred songs and silly banter. All have intersected around our life-giving table.

In Acts 2, we witness how the believers’ steadfast devotion to simple, everyday choices – God-honoring teaching, biblical community, prayer, and mealtime together — became the launching pad to their explosive revival in the church.

 “And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts.”
Acts 2:46

More than seven hundred times the imagery of eating laces itself throughout Scripture, but this simple phrase, “day by day,” gives me pause. As I scroll through Instagram, my life feels so chore-like, so “daily” compared to others. I have nothing extraordinary, no great stories to share. And yet, could our seemingly common, day-by-day, hour-by-hour, mundane faithfulness be the catalyst for a strong legacy that can shift the next generation?

As I processed the sacredness of this table transition, it hit me: Thousands, yes, thousands of guests have joined us around this very ordinary table. Day by day, meal by meal, bread is broken, His Word revealed, and the true Bread of Life nourishes amidst the most daily of rituals.

My tears continued. Our table isn’t quite as busy as it once was when we had little ones . . . but I began to think about the new family who might gather around its edges. In a moment of crazy, I shot out a plethora of texts to the woman buying our table. I found out that she has three young boys. (We have three boys and two girls.) And that commonality was all the encouragement I needed to share the back story of our beloved table and impress upon her the power of gathering with her family for mealtime. What I’m sure started for her as, “Facebook Stranger Lady, I just want to buy your table,” turned into deeper conversations. We even have another meet-up planned for one last “chair” exchange.

Who knows what the Lord has planned for the next season of this second-hand table? It’s served our family well and now there are new life-giving stories to tell. One thing I’m certain of: It’s not “just a table.”

If you want to see my table and hear my heart on the day I sold it, check my Instagram highlight.

 

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The Extraordinary Power of Hope (and what we all need to learn from 13-year-olds)

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As we pulled up to the field that morning, I checked the time on my phone and immediately wondered how long the game would last. If history repeated itself, we should be done by noon and able to move on from the difficulty of the last few days and enjoy the rest of our weekend.

We set up our folding chairs behind the fence along the first baseline and settled in for what was likely to be another beating.

This was game four of our son’s 13-year-old All-Star Pony baseball regional tournament. To say the first three games didn’t go so well would be an understatement. Our team got “mercied” every game. That means instead of playing seven full innings, each game was cut short because we were down by ten runs in the 4th inning or fifteen runs in the 5th.

Losing 3-14 or 4-14 or 10-25 isn’t fun. In fact, it’s just plain disheartening.

So as the early summer sun warmed our shoulders and I swatted mini mosquitos and biting flies (why do the bugs always like me?), we braced ourselves for another brutal defeat.

Which makes what happened next so extraordinary . . .

While my hope for a victorious outcome was nil, this band of underdog teenagers and their coaches hadn’t given up. The Glendora All-Stars stepped onto the field and up to the plate humble and hungry for a different story. The opposing team’s attitude clearly showed they had already counted us out. But no amount of arrogance or intimidation was deterring our team from playing hard and clean.

From fielding grounders and catching pop flies, these boys showed remarkable composure and grit. Inning after inning, our team gradually scored more runs than their first-place-ranked opponent. The energy at the field was palpable.

Excited murmurs spread among the spectators.

“Is this really happening? Could we possibly keep this lead? Could we actually win?”

The Glendora All-Stars started the game with no external reason to hope. The evidence that they had been outmatched and outplayed all tournament was clear. The odds were stacked against them that this game could produce a different ending.

But here’s the wild thing about hope: it doesn’t require concrete proof – just belief in what’s possible.

I think about the times in my life when it feels hardest to hope . . .

When anxiety weighs heavy, when bills stack up, when the injustices of the world scream loud — hope can feel impossible, even foolish. As adults, we are trained to look at the evidence. We are told to trust logic and statistics more than things like passion and intuition. But when we focus only on what can be seen – like numbers on a scoreboard – we miss out on the wild goodness, beauty, and possibility of what is unseen. Hope helps us fix our eyes and hearts on that which is beyond mere calculation or reasoning.

Hope isn’t a falsely shiny filter meant to blur the hard. It’s okay to acknowledge when circumstances feel insurmountable or discouragement feels like a lead blanket. Rather, hope helps us recognize that the hard is not the whole truth. The hard we face today – on the ball field or in the board room or in your messy living room – is not the end of the story!

I find solidarity in Paul’s words to the Corinthians: “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9).

Being hard-pressed, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down seems like plenty of reasons to give up hope. To wave the white flag and beg to be mercied, beg for the suffering to end. So what enables Paul and others to persevere, to show resilience, to keep on hoping?

Jesus.

Because Jesus took the sin of the world on Himself, because He died for all the seemingly ordinary and clearly vile ways we miss the mark, and because He was victorious over death – we can keep on hoping.

Paul said it this way:

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
(2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

Where are you tempted to lose heart today? Where do you feel outmatched, outplayed, like all the odds are stacked against you? Perhaps this is the time to shift your eyes from the circumstances you can see to the unseen (but very real!) hope of Jesus.

The situation you face today might seem fatal by all human standards – but you don’t have to face it with human strength. If you feel doomed to defeat, it’s time to rely on the One for whom all things are possible.

The previously defeated Glendora All-Stars ended up defeating their first-place rival 17-10!

Later that day, they went on to compete in the championship game. Was their victory a fluke? Was failure imminent or would their hope prevail?

Several hours (and countless bug bites for me) later, the most unlikely group of 13-year-old boys held the Championship banner. For our SoCal small town, it was a magical moment not one spectator or player will soon forget.

But even more than the shiny medal my son proudly wore around his neck, I will remember this day as an example of the extraordinary power of perseverance, humility, and hope.

If you are trudging through days of defeat or discouragement, remember that this is not the end of your story. I’m praying these words for you:

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
(Roman 15:13)

*photo used with parents’ permission*

For more inspiring stories and encouragement when life is hard, follow Becky on Instagram @beckykeife.

 

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Holey Jeans and a Holy God

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I grew up in a church where we wore our “Sunday Best.” And according to my parents, my ripped jeans with holes in the knees did not make the cut. I was okay with this exchange where my dresses and nicer clothes took the lead for one day a week. . . . until the final years of high school rolled around. Trying to bargain with my parents, I would say with a giggle, “These pants belong at church! They’re my HOLEY jeans!”

A faint laugh made its way from their lips, but I saw in their eyes, it wasn’t about me or even the jeans. It was about God and His holiness. I didn’t quite understand what “holiness” meant, but my parents were trying to teach me that even with my clothing, I had the opportunity to give God my best and honor Him. Why should we give Him our best? Because God is holy.

After Jesus tells us to come to God in the prayer in Matthew 6, He goes on to describe how special God is. “Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name” (Matthew 6:9 nasb). Jesus could have said, “Mighty is Your name” or “Perfect is Your name” because both are true statements. But instead, Jesus specifically wanted us to know that our Father is holy. If we dig a little deeper, in Hebrew the word “holy” means set apart. It also means entirely pure in all ways. We could read this as, “Our Father in heaven, set apart and pure is Your name.” When I think of something that is set apart, I picture something special. Kind of like our “Sunday Best” clothes. The only thing that makes these clothes any different from the rest of the week’s outfits is the fact that they are set aside for a special occasion: church. But far more than clothing, God is holy and set apart because He isn’t like the rest of us. He is not just any earthly father. He is greater; your heavenly Father is God!

So, as you share your days with your Father, who so deeply cares about every little detail of your story, may your heart be encouraged as you acknowledge that God is set apart. If He is your Father, then that makes you . . . His girl! So come to your Holy Father. Come as a holy child who is precious in His sight.

Everything about the Father is holy —  from the words He speaks in the Holy Bible to His Holy Spirit which He has given to you as a gift and helper to the holiness He is pouring over you, His beloved, right now.

But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
I Peter 1:15–16

This might surprise you, but we are called to be holy too. Again, this means, “set apart.” Friends, we are called to be set apart to and for our Father! In Christ, we are set apart and called to be different because of who God is and what He has done for us.

This call to holiness is stated many times throughout the Old Testament (the time before Jesus) and the New Testament (the time of Jesus and beyond). I like to think of this repetitive reminder like when your mama doesn’t just tell you something once, but MULTIPLE TIMES — you know she means business and that it’s important.

Through spending time with God in prayer, I’ve come to understand the beauty in these verses and why they’re so important. It’s like when you hang out with a friend so much and you start to say the same phrases they do, or you even start dressing alike. The more time spent with someone, the more you end up reflecting one another. The same is true with our relationship with God.

He has saved us and called us to a holy life — not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.
II Timothy 1:9

Because you were bought with holy blood on the cross, in Him, you are holy. Because of His holy grace, in Him, sister, you are set apart.

As we dance through this side of heaven, I am beyond grateful we get to live out this call to holiness together. But don’t view it as a sprint, or a pass/fail college class, or even like a waltz. When you picture dancing and partnering with Jesus in His holiness, don’t worry about falling or missing a step. Let Him guide His girl in His grace. Let Him take the lead, then as His child, place your feet on His, hold His hands, and let Him twirl you through the kitchen for a daddy-daughter dance.

You shall be holy; for I am holy.
Leviticus 11:44

Devotion by Georgia Brown from Hi God, It’s Me: 20 Days to a Stronger, More Powerful Prayer Life

For many, engaging in prayer can feel like a constant “stop-and-go” experience. It may be tough to get into a rhythm or frequently find the right words to say, especially during busy seasons or stressful days.

Hi God, It’s Me: 20 Days to a Strong and Powerful Prayer Life by Georgia Brown encourages you to see prayer differently — not as a moment in time, but as a lifestyle that you can enjoy. In this 20-day guide, you will discover how to build a resilient prayer life that withstands waves of feeling or trying times. As you read selected Scriptures, pray, and engage in the fun activities provided, you’ll learn how to get carried along in a current of fresh and meaningful conversations with God.

Pick up your copy of Hi God, It’s Me today, and leave a comment below to enter to WIN one of five copies*!

Then listen to the (in)courage podcast this Saturday for a bonus episode featuring a conversation with Georgia and Becky!

Listen to today’s article below or on your favorite podcast player!

Giveaway is open until 7/24/23 at 11:59 pm central to US addresses only.

 

 

No, You Don’t “Got This”

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A sweet friend sent me a message on Snapchat. The image was her darkened living room, with curtains drawn, and I knew immediately that this dear soul had fallen into a deep malaise.

Over the top of the pictures were words that she’d typed: “I am trying to pull myself together. But I just can’t.”

I clicked on the reply button, my fingers hovering over the letters as I searched for the right words to encourage my friend.

Because of the way I’m wired and because I’m a product of the culture in which I’ve been raised, I immediately thought of all the ways I myself have tried to “pull myself together.” A few action steps, mixed in with some positive “you got this” affirmations, came to mind.

But then I remembered the truth I need to know, and maybe you need to know it too:

You actually DON’T have to “pull yourself together” on a hard day.

In fact, sometimes you CAN’T.

Sometimes, all you can do is lift your chin to the sky and say to God, “Send help.”

And that is enough.

We tend to put a ton of pressure on ourselves to slap on a pretend smile and march forward, even amidst the pain we didn’t cause, the heartbreak we didn’t see coming, or the grief that we can’t quite move past.

You don’t have to do that.

You are allowed to break down.
You are allowed to weep.
You are allowed to cancel plans.
You are allowed to take a nap.
You are allowed to simply “be.”

The truth is, you don’t “got this.” Only God does.

Through Scripture, God reminds us that we don’t have to rely on our own strength to pull ourselves out of a funk. Instead, God repeatedly offers comfort along these lines: “I’ll sit with you in the funk.”

One of the Scriptures that assures me of this is Psalm 34.

These words were written by David, and it is traditionally believed that he wrote them while he was in a cave – a very dark place not unlike my friend’s room. During that time, David was fleeing from King Saul, who was pursuing him out of jealousy and a desire to kill him.

The psalm reflects David’s trust in God’s protection and deliverance even in the midst of difficult circumstances.

In Psalm 34, David repeatedly draws our attention to God’s comfort and provision.

Right now, if you’re in a dark “cave” of your own, imagine David Snapchatting you the following words from his own dark cave:

“The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry” (Psalm 34:15).

“The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles” (Psalm 34:17).

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18).

Not once does David say to pull yourself together. All of the “pulling” comes from God, as well as all of the comfort.

Indeed, God’s got this, not you.

So, when I sent a message back to my friend, that’s exactly what I told her. She could simply … be.

The same is true for you.

If you can’t pull yourself out of the dark place you’re in right now, maybe you actually don’t need to do that today. Try this instead: Invite Jesus to come into the room WITH you — and let Him just hold you.

If you’re currently in a dark place, desperate to experience God’s presence, Stuff I’d Only Tell God, is for you. It’s a journal that gives you space and permission to be right where you are, in your healing.

 

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There Is Wonderful Joy Ahead

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So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold — though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:6-9

It’s easy to feel like the trials we are facing today will always be this way. It’s easy to believe that no good could possibly come from the hard, the unjust, or the pain in our lives. But Scripture reminds us of this:

There is purpose in the trials we face.

Are brokenness and betrayal, cancer and car accidents from God? Of course not! These are the consequences of living in a fallen world. But the impact of sin and suffering doesn’t have the final say! (Pause and praise God for that!)

Because God is faithful to work through everything for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28), He uses the very things we’d rather avoid to strengthen our faith, compel us to  trust, and ultimately give us greater joy in Jesus.

“So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while.”

 

Love With (and Without) Strings

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Show us your faithful love, Lord,
and give us your salvation.

I will listen to what God will say;
surely the Lord will declare peace
to his people, his faithful ones,
and not let them go back to foolish ways.
His salvation is very near those who fear him,
so that glory may dwell in our land.

Faithful love and truth will join together;
righteousness and peace will embrace.
Truth will spring up from the earth,
and righteousness will look down from heaven.
Also, the Lord will provide what is good,
and our land will yield its crops.
Righteousness will go before him
to prepare the way for his steps.
Psalm 85:7-13

“How many times have I told you?”
“Why should I believe you when you’ve said the same thing before?”
“Don’t you remember how nice I was to you today? And then you do this?”
“I’m done! I mean it. This is it. I can’t take anymore.”

I’ve said these words. I’ve said them so many times I couldn’t begin to keep track of their frequency, much less their effectiveness. For all their use, you might assume they must do the job. Those searing sentences must cut their recipients to the quick, poking them right in the conscience, right in the deepest part of their hearts. Clearly, my word-arrows strike their targets and initiate repentance and change.

Right? Because if I keep saying these things, it must be because doing so accomplishes something important. Not so much.

Over the past few years, I’ve realized that I am guilty of loving conditionally. As my daughter has grown older and my marriage has grown stronger, I’ve been forced to face head-on some of the challenges I bring to my most dear relationships — and one of the biggest is the ball of strings I have tied to my love.

Looking in the mirror is hard, friends. It’s hard when my jeans are tight or my face is broken out, and it’s hard when my sinful nature is shining brightly through the cracks. It’s hard when I see the expectations I place on people I call beloved, when I see the score sheet I keep against the very people on my team, and it’s hard when I realize how far short my love falls from the love our Father gives us so freely.

In Psalm 85, the author begs God for forgiveness, for another chance, for one more redemption story. He’s remembering all the times God has forgiven His people completely, and he’s believing that God will do it once again. God promises that He will, and our God is faithful, as the psalmist says.

He will forgive us every time, and no matter what, He will love us with unfailing love.

Today, I am thankful for God’s faithful love and the example He gives us in loving unconditionally. When I read through the Old Testament and into the Psalms, I can’t help but shake my head at the Israelites — those fickle, faithless Israelites, who I might have more in common with than I want to admit. Yet God never shakes His head at me. He never shouts in exasperation, “How many times have I told you?” and He never, ever says, “I’m done.”

Thank You, God, for Your faithful love. Teach me to love faithfully too.

Are you placing strings on your love? To whom do you need to offer grace or forgiveness? Do you need to accept God’s faithful love? It’s right here for you, no strings attached.

This devotion is by Mary Carver, published in the (in)courage Devotional Bible. It has been edited from its original form.

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On Saturdays this summer, we’re sharing our favorite Psalms + several devotions from the (in)courage Devotional Bible. We’re loving our summer Saturdays (in) the Psalms with you!

 

Wave-Tossed Love Can Still Endure

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As the sun was descending, sixteen of us encircled my parents for the celebration of their golden wedding anniversary. Dressed in shades of blue like the ocean waves curling behind us, we dug our toes into the soft sand and all stood witness to their sacred renewal of vows. 

My youngest daughter and niece sang a rendition of “We’ve Only Just Begun,” which was originally sung at my parents’ wedding by a cousin. The words were surprisingly fitting as we looked back across the decades and marveled at how they “started walking and learned to run” through life, growing along the way. 

As the story goes, this cross-cultural couple met at a Halloween party. My dad, who is from a Filipino-Chinese-Polynesian family, sized up my mom. She stands a respectable five feet tall and was dressed as the Jolly Green Giant.

Then he popped the question: “Can you cook?”

Lucky for him, this dark-haired Italian wonder dressed in green was a fantastic cook. And she’s still cooking up healthy feasts for him five decades later. (And he is still the clean-up king and diligently does the dishes.)

My sister read from 1 Corinthians 13, the same passage read at my parent’s wedding. I revisited these verses in the message I shared at their vow renewal ceremony. The apostle Paul originally penned these words in a letter to the church in Corinth, which was made up of a mixture of worshipers from all walks of life. Some were converted Jews. Others were Gentiles originally from far-away cities. They were a motley crew of folks from different generations, social classes, political persuasions, and diverse cultural roots. Division came naturally to this bunch.

The oft-quoted passage was not originally poignant prose for wedding ceremonies. It was written to compel all kinds of people to come together. Paul learned from Jesus’ teachings about how He wanted His followers to be known by their love for each other. Paul describes love as the greatest of Christian virtues that starts with being patient and kind (1 Corinthians 13:4, 13). These are “fruit of the Spirit” also listed in Galatians 5:22.

The way we access patience and kindness is through the Holy Spirit. We can’t muster these up on our own accord. We need the Spirit to infuse us with them. As the passage points out, this kind of love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or demanding or rude or irritable or resentful.

The word for love that Paul uses is agape, a Greek word that points to a love that puts others before ourselves. Agape is contrasted with eros or erotic love and philia, which was more of a brotherly love. Agape requires sacrifice. Jesus is our model for agape love because He laid down His life for us.

According to Paul, love bears all things. I know today’s strong bond between my parents was forged over years of stormy waters they navigated. They weathered a cross-country move that took them far away from family. My dad endured multiple job layoffs through the years, which were accompanied by bouts of anger and depression. My parents serpentined their way through complicated family dynamics on both sides. They also faced the death of close family members, including their teenage nephew, all of their parents, and my mom’s siblings, as well as their son-in-law (my husband).

Through the trials, I watched my parents cling to each other and their faith, like wave-tossed sailors, determined not to be thrown overboard. 

In so many ways, my parents’ marriage has demonstrated the power of the love Paul describes.

“Love believes all things.” Belief was the central knot of their marriage. I remember my parents reading the Bible to each other and to us. There were years when Dad just folded his arms and listened, while Mom read and taught. In later years, he picked up the Word himself and eagerly studied it. At their vow renewal, he shared: “The legacy we hope to leave all of you is to have faith in Jesus Christ and to persevere in all that you do.” 

“Love hopes all things.” My parents’ relationship has been characterized by hope. As children of immigrants, they hoped for a better future for themselves and for their children. They hoped for the best in each other and encouraged each other to grow. They put their hope and confidence in God and waited for Him to unfold His promises — even when it took a long time for the tides to change.

“Love endures all things.” Endurance is the ability to persist, pursue, and sustain something over a long period of time. Not many things last for 50 years anymore, especially marriages. My parent’s relationship hasn’t been perfect. In fact, I can point to several times when their love was strained or sagging, yet it endured. Today they are a couple who still hold hands during movies, dance to their favorite songs, and kiss when alone in elevators. They continue to have their battles, especially when Dad wants to be ten minutes early, and Mom tends to run ten minutes late. Yet, with God’s help and their commitment to love, they somehow always find a way to make up and forgive.

Our family has been marked by divorce and death, but my parents’ marriage rises above life’s waves as a redemption story written by God.

What has redemption looked like in your family?
Let’s bear witness to God’s love together.

Dorina helps women discover God’s glory in unexpected places. Subscribe to Dorina’s Glorygram here and follow her on Instagram for encouragement and glory resources.

 

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This Day I Will Not Forget

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My son sat in our living room with Bibles spread on the floor around him. He and I discussed translations, commentaries, and Study Bibles: the tools we use to interpret God’s Word. We talked about things like how I think 1 Corinthians 13 in the KJV reads like poetry. 

I pulled a few more volumes from the shelf — a multi-volume exposition of the Old and New Testaments. They belonged to my grandfather, who was a minister. He passed away over thirty years ago, well before my son was born.  I thought my son would enjoy diving deeper into the Word using these family heirlooms. 

Time has aged and yellowed their pages. Nothing but duct tape and the grace of God hold some of them together. I can still picture Granddad studying in his recliner, his desk on his left, and bookshelves of religious commentaries behind him. 

He filled his Bible, worn and supple, with notes and underlined verses in red. These lines weren’t haphazard. My grandfather drew them precisely, pen guided by a popsicle stick he positioned beneath the lines of text. I found one of his sticks a few years ago; I keep it in my Bible case, a personal treasure that steadies my hand now, as it once did his. 

Inside John Gill’s Exposition of the Old Testament, Volume II, my son and I saw those familiar red lines on worn pages that still smell like my grandparents’ home. Granddad kept cards and letters in his books. In this one, we discovered a get well soon card, and an envelope on which Granddad had written “This Day I Will Not Forget.”

The envelope contained a card with a picture of a tree in bloom, flowers on its branches, and scattered petals on the ground. Inside, I recognized my grandmother’s cursive script. Grandmother was a sweet, jolly preacher’s wife who fed all who entered her home. She was loving, but not overly emotional or affectionate. I remember her concern when she found me crying at the end of a book I read in high school. She wasn’t a reader and didn’t understand that level of feeling over something that wasn’t real to her. Maybe that’s why her words touched me — and my grandfather, I presume — so much:

She wrote, “I don’t know what I would do without you. You have been my strength and stay for almost 49 years and I love you more than when we started this journey together … We don’t have the riches of this world but I wouldn’t trade our love and our little family for all the money in the world.”

I cried when I read it, and again when I told a friend about it. My grandmother hid her emotions behind a smile and a cast-iron skillet. She was known for showing love through plates of hot cornbread and steaming pots of sauerkraut and wieners, not sentimental prose.

I can be like my grandmother: focused on the laundry and the grocery shopping and the basics of managing a family, and out of touch with my feelings. I know I fail to meet my children’s and my husband’s emotional needs. John 13:35 says that as disciples, we are known by our love for one another. What love could be more important than a family’s?

My grandmother’s scrawled words remind me to express my love. And the way my grandfather marked her surprising note — “This Day I Will Not Forget” — reminds me how much my words can mean to my people, too. 

Does someone need to know how you feel? Tell them. Write a note. Your words may mean more than you can imagine, and live on for generations, treasured, not easily forgotten. 

I found him whom my soul loves …
Song of Solomon 3:4

 

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Is God Nudging You to Postpone Your To-Do List?

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I almost missed it. My dedication to checking off my to-do list nearly hijacked a precious opportunity to be with the ones I love.

My oldest son and daughter-in-law were traveling through my state on their way home from visiting my daughter-in-law’s family. They asked if they could spend the night since they had another ten hours of travel. Of course! I hustled around my house for the next few hours, scrubbing floors, changing the guest bed, and considering the food situation. As they pulled into the driveway, I greeted them with a smile, but my mind began fretting over finding time to grab groceries to fill my empty fridge and obsessing about the one pillowcase I couldn’t find.

As soon as they arrived, they announced their plans to go to the zoo. “Come with us, Mom,” they begged. My heart jumped at the thought, but my mind insisted that my empty fridge and unanswered work emails needed attention first. “No, you go ahead. It will be a disaster if I don’t get a few things done.”

The kids drove off and I grabbed my vacuum cleaner. Moments later, my mind changed its mind and screamed at me: “What are you doing? You see these kids a few times a year, and you’re worried about returning emails and cleaning the house?”

I wonder if Martha had this same type of “a-ha” moment but ignored it. In Luke 10, Jesus and the disciples stopped by her home to visit. Since this is described as Martha’s home, scholars suggest that she had the means to host several guests. Martha put her heart into creating a warm, welcoming environment, but frustration set in when her sister, Mary, sat down to listen to Jesus instead of assisting Martha with making their guests comfortable.

For all of the discussions around if she was right or mistaken for tattling on Mary, Jesus’ response to Martha is full of discernment and encouragement for those of us who can focus on the to-do list and forget about who we’re doing the list for.

But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:41-42

Scripture describes Jesus and Martha as friends, so Jesus’ words aren’t spoken in rebuke or anger. Jesus doesn’t diminish Martha’s generosity or her giftings. Yet, Jesus offered a divine a-ha moment. Jesus taught Martha that if she stuck too closely to her expectations, she was in danger of missing the precious “it” Mary had discovered. What is that “it”? Whatever God wanted to do for her or around her at that moment for His glory and Martha’s good.

There will always be a tension between relationships and responsibilities. At times, we must lean more one way than the other.

Is God nudging you to do a little less hustling and a little more holding space so that you can be present with others?

What if the best way to live in your faith today is to be more present with your family or more focused on just sitting quietly with God? Most of the time, our to-do list can wait, but time . . . we can’t get back.

I called my kids and asked them to come back and pick me up. We spent a glorious afternoon at the zoo enjoying moments that weren’t particularly epic or breathtaking, but I’ll remember them for years to come. We walked around and pointed things out to each other, even though we’d gone to the zoo countless times. We laughed as we watched a 100-year-old giant tortoise who loved to escape at 1 mph to eat at the zoo café. Even though my son is thirty years old and an Army officer, my old mama bear instinct roared to life as we watched two giant brown bears fight it out over a stick. I stood ready to toss my kid over my shoulder and run if those bears got too rowdy.

I almost missed this experience because I thought that my emails couldn’t wait.

Today, you have chances and choices. Chances to be fully present with those you love and choices about what you need to do and what can wait. Where can you invite God’s Holy Spirit to discern what must be done and what can wait?

God doesn’t want you to miss whatever it is that He has waiting for you today, whether it’s seeing Him in a new and significant way or the chance to spend time being truly present with those you love.

 

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Something New, All Year Long

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Hi. My name is Anna, and I am a die-hard fan of physical, paper, hold-in-my-hands planners.

Yes, we use Google for family calendar-ing, and I’m beholden to a Teams calendar for work, but I keep a paper planner on my desk which keeps my brain in the game and organized. I’ve used a paper planner since middle school, and I’ve kept many of them over the years, tucked away in my bottom desk drawer. Looking back through them brings me a sweet, bless-her-heart moment as I page through what I considered important enough to log at the time.

School assignments, work deadlines, and appointments for me, my husband, and the kids. Birthday parties, church, volunteering, events, sports, outings with friends, trips, and meal plans. I’ve kept track of much of my life in spiral-bound sheets of paper, the blank squares of the monthly layout inviting, while the lined weekly pages wait to be filled with to-do tasks. I don’t get fancy with decorating or tons of stickers — just my trusty favorite pen and the occasional sticky note or paperclip. I log it all.

My planner is cheerfully loaded up with baseball games, weekly meal plans, to-do lists, and PTO meetings. There are even a few trips, both for work and friends! I track my cycle and my spending, I track my tasks and my grocery list, and I plan dinners out and family nights in.

And all the while, I am met on the pages by the words of my friends and the Word of the Lord.

The 2023-24 (in)courage Something New planner is designed to take you on a journey to see what new thing God is up to. We’re ready for some fresh starts, right? God promises new mercies each morning, slates wiped clean, and rivers in the desert. Each square of this planner beckons with possibility as we ask God to faithfully transform our hearts to be more like His.

In every month of the new planner, you get to read an excerpt from a story by an (in)courage writer, sharing her heart for mercy, hope, wisdom, or peace… and always asking God to do something new. You can scan the QR code beside each quote or visit incourage.me/somethingnew to read the full devotions!

This 2023-24 agenda planner also provides the classic DaySpring planner features, including a durable laminated cover and tabs, a lay-flat design with continuous spiral, an interior pocket page, and generous space for noting your plans. Ooh, and I am giddy over the return of my beloved checkboxes on the weekly lined pages! Each feature helps me stay organized (or at least feel more organized than I actually am!).

Because, friend, no matter what season of life you are in, prioritizing and planning can help make the most of your time.

You will be inspired by the beautiful monthly art spreads, weekly verses, and inspirational devotions throughout. The notes section will help you write down quick thoughts to come back to, the pass-along prayer cards will encourage the heart of a friend, and there are even three pages of adorable stickers you can write on to help bring your planner some color and extra joy!

This is honestly my favorite planner, another beautiful design from (in)courage. See more pictures, get all the details, and buy your planner! Plan and walk through your days asking God to transform your heart.

And to remind you of this throughout the rest of 2023 and into 2024, we’re giving away THREE (in)courage Something New planners!

Just leave a comment on this article telling us about your experience with or love for paper planners. We’ll draw three lucky winners.

 

Listen to today’s article at the player below or wherever you stream podcasts!

*Giveaway only open to US addresses and will close at 11:59 pm central on 7/28/23.