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Is A Good Prayer Life Just a Pipe Dream?
“How do you have a good prayer life?” I’ve been asked this question numerous times over the years. To be clear, I’m not a perfect prayer life guru. I’ve had moments in my life where I never prayed, moments where I’ve been hitting on all cylinders, and everywhere in between. I know I’m not alone.…
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Why We Aren’t All Like St. Mother Teresa
When Mother Teresa died, I was not Catholic. In fact, I was a Protestant on life-support, meaning that I was barely, and I mean barely, eeking out a faith life. I remember, though, exactly where I was the day she died. I was in my college dorm room just starting out on my freshman year.…
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Q & A: How Do I Navigate a Relationship With Someone That Is Different Than Me?
I wrote last week about how I learned to love and forgive a family member that was completely different than me. Here’s that blog if you’d like to read it. From that blog, a question was posed to me. I’d like to take this blog to answer it. Question: How do you navigate a relationship with someone…
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My Type A Personality Was Killing Me
I’ve decided I’m going to have to scale back my blogs a little, while learning to adjust to having a baby in the house again. Â So, my blogs will be more like journal entries and shorter, until I can find more time to write more elaborate pieces. Â Just writing something down always helps me…
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Saved Through Tough Love
I was a hard-core criminal when I was six-years old. Â Hard to believe, I know, but it’s true. Â I was on my way to a life of thievery. “Oh, come on, Amy. Â What did you steal? Â A lollipop at the grocery store?” No, ladies purses were more my thing. Â Initially, I got caught a couple…
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Dropping the Chains That Bind Us
You know something I like to do frequently? Â I like to think I’m pretty awesome. Â In my defense, I do it mostly subconsciously. Â Okay, maybe not mostly subconsciously. Â Alright, alright, not at all. Â I know full well that I consciously think that I am better than “that person over there.” Â That darn humility train is…
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Is Chastity Too Extreme?
I’ve really struggled with this blog.  Not because I feel wishy-washy about the topic, but because, to me, it’s so important that I’m not sure I can give it due justice.  I’ve recently heard a lot talk regarding this issue and it’s left me…well, disheartened.  Fear crept in over the negative attention I know it will…
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My New Career Choice: Lighthouse
So, I know what I wanna be when I grow up. Â I wanna be a lighthouse. Â It’s taken me a long time to come to this conclusion. Â First, I wanted to be a veterinarian, but me and needles don’t really see eye-to-eye. Â Then, I wanted to be an FBI agent, but marrying a military man…
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While You Were Sleeping
I’ve never taken Advent as seriously as I have this year. Â Maybe it’s because I’m weary of the hoopla that the secular world has injected into the season. Â Maybe it’s because this year has been a remarkable and profound spiritual journey for Dustin and me. Â Maybe I’m finally realizing that this is what I need…
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Why I Get Excited About Guilt
That’s me in the picture to the left. Yep, there I am carrying around my heaping bag of guilt, while crying about about how unworthy I am. (Sigh) The sad, little Christian lugging around bags of guilt and feelings of unworthiness is truly sad. If only we would let go of our belief in unicor…excuse…
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The Picture That Broke My Heart
One Christmas, my then brother-in-law (who was a cop) came home after working the night shift and had quite a story to tell my family. He said, “You guys gotta see this.” He then proceeded to pull up online a picture of a girl he had arrested that night. I have never seen a picture…
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Crazy is, as Crazy does.
My kids on occasion tell me that I’m crazy.  They usually tell me this while I’m playing a mean air guitar to some rock song.  I like to do air drums from time-to-time, but I don’t feel I’ve got my moves down as well. When I go to add a cymball crash it just messes…
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When Faced with Tragedy, How Will You Respond?
Who in this life has been dealt a perfect hand? Â Not many I would guess are going to raise their hands to this question. Â But is being dealt the perfect hand the goal for life? Â I don’t think it should be. Â I realize that sounds cold and callous, because shouldn’t I want everyone to lead…
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Silly Christian, Science Isn’t For You
You might say, “Don’t do it, Amy. Don’t go there.” I know, it’s gonna be shocking, but, yes, I am going to use the words science and religion in the same blog and not to contradict each other.WAIT! Don’t leave yet! I promise this will be good. I know what your thinking. “Seriously, Amy, why? …
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Figure Something Out
I used to work for The Salvation Army Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis Program. Â What I learned in my time there is invaluable. Â But, working for a non-profit organization, while rewarding, can have it’s definite moments of frustration. Â Little money to work with coupled with high demand for service can lead to periods of time…