Daily Devotionals

Not alone!It’s that time of year when Facebook is chock full of precious first-day-of-school photos. So being a slave to conformity, I searched the archives for this gem: Five-year-old me heading to my first day of first grade. (Don’t judge the outfit — there was no Rachel to style me, but I do believe my minty green and gray lunch box was the perfect accessory.)Even after all these years — let’s not dwell on how many — I distinctly remember...

I don’t know about you but the week of Labor Day feels a lot like the week of New Years to me!Our family has started fresh with a whole list of things! A new school year, a season change, schedule shifts, and goals for better physical and dietary choices. The Type A, planner in me loves it! I thrive with structure and it feels good to be a week into new routines! However, I know my sinful flesh well and it’s...

Have you ever felt like you’re out of options in a certain situation in your life?Like perhaps you’ve arrived at the end of the road and there’s no where left to go?You’ve tried and worked and prayed and wondered and thought and hoped and kicked and fought and cried and begged and pleaded. Have you ever felt like you arrived at a DEAD END?Perhaps you feel like you’re there right now.You can’t seem to be able to move forward. The...

My boys start school today! It’s the beginning of a new year at a new school. Both of them have had lots of feelings and much anxiety swirling the last few days as they thought about the first day.We have been talking and praying together, asking God to help guide and protect them, as well as to use them to be a light in the dark.Each year, we set a theme verse for the year… a sort of mantra to...

Muscle up!Well, we’ve reached the end of my fraud case saga. The $19,000 on my Visa card has been erased. Do I hear a hallelujah? I wanted to tell you because I know there have been prayers prayed and for those, Sisters, I am most grateful!God really does answer prayer!But here’s what was rattling around the old cranium even before I got the good news: Isn’t it our tendency to say God answers our prayers only when we get what...

The other evening, I had a complete and total meltdown that I am not at all proud of. I could list my personal reasons why I acted like a complete fool but they aren’t important. Truth be told, they only excuse my behavior which I know was just dead wrong. In fact, I snapped this picture right after as I took a walk to clear my head and repent to the Lord. The cruddy part… my daughter saw the entire thing. The...

Recently, my family and I traveled to southern Utah to do some hiking and canyoneering. My “little cousin” lives out near Zion National Park and just happens to be an expert at this sort of thing. He was eager to share his passion and show us around the playground of Zion as well as the special routes and adventures that tourists don’t normally get to see.After a warm up hike our first day, we were all feeling pretty good about...

Yesterday was a big day at our house… our son, Zeke, got braces.He didn’t love it.His teeth are so sore and his mouth feels uncomfortable. Before the braces went on, he had to get two teeth pulled and then have spacers and an expander placed.It was a lot of correction for one little mouth.He kept saying, “Why do I have to do all this? It’s not fair. It hurts.” To which I would reply, “Because your teeth need it to...

All things through ChristI had just started reading a book by Max Lucado and was stopped by this story. Max is in church and a stranger sits down behind him. Turns out this guy’s a famous opera singer. Now comes time to stand and sing and oh wow, can this guy S I N G!Max writes: “His vibrato made dentures rattle and rafters shake. He tried to contain himself. But how can a tuba hide in a room of piccolos?“For...

A couple of months ago, I found myself waking up in the middle of the night with anxious thoughts  I decided to start listening to sermons before bed. I have done this on and off and wanted to equip my mind for those mid-sleep battles. It’s been working great!One topic that continued to repeat itself was listening to God. I have to be honest, I have never spent much time trying to listen to God. I spend a lot of time...

Good morning, ladies!This may seem like a funny picture to post, but there's a story behind it. A couple of weekends ago, we traveled to Mason City, Iowa, for our first out-of-state overnight barrel race. When I went to register, the stalls were full and we were offered the option of a tie out, meaning we could tie our horses to the trailer overnight.Our trainer and friend assured us that it was fine, so Josh set up a portable hot...

Do you need to pour out your heart to God today?David is an example for us. David, “a man after Gods own heart” - was the one God inspired to pen the liberating words of Psalm 62:8, which says, “Trust in him at all times, O people. POUR OUT your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.”If you read the Psalms, you will soon discover that David practiced what he preached!We, like David (and countless others in scripture) can...

Last week, I got the awesome opportunity to be on the radio! My dear friend, Sondra, had me join her on the mid-day show for Praise FM. We took the hour to pray over all of the students who will be going back to school in the next few weeks- from pre-school through college; homeschool to those going overseas.We prayed for the well-being and safety of the students, of course, but we also pressed into these four specific areas. I...

Better togetherHow many times have you heard that, as a bunch of women getting together regularly to learn more about Jesus, we are indeed, better together? If you’re a follower of these RCC devotionals, the answer is MANY times!So I thought I’d share examples from my experience of what we mean when we say it.“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2Just before Christmas last year, I was driving to Rachel’s Closet to get a...

Well, here we are already…  The summer vibes are fleeting as anticipation for fall is setting in 🌾 I love all four of Minnesota’s beautiful seasons but saying goodbye to Summer is tough.  In fact, my daughter and I have been struggling to see eye to eye on this lately.  Ellery has been asking to take out the Fall decor and making plans for costumes, hayrides, and bonfires. “Just slow down!” I think to myself with overwhelm. 🫨 But I,...

Good Morning!Last weekend, my family and I traveled to Manson City, Iowa, for a barrel race. The girls raced for three days in a row, and I have to say, being in the arena watching them is my absolute favorite place to be! They love it so much, and seeing their passion brings me so much joy.The anticipation leading up to their runs was huge—they could hardly wait to get into the arena. Josh, their amazing coach, executed everything perfectly,...

Our favorite little 4 letter word…“H O P E !”Hope is one of those words that we can glance over a little too quickly.We may be familiar with the scripture from Corinthians that refers to “the three lasting virtues that remain” FAITH, HOPE, and LOVE.Love is referred to as the greatest...Faith is its own centerpiece...but what about Hope?Don’t give Hope the back seat!Hope it’s not the flat tire on the third wheel of these virtues!Hope is not fluffy, wispy, or...

As the election draws near, the intensity around anything political seems to be amplified a hundred fold.Ads.Posts.News stories.Yard signs.T-shirts.You name, people are saying it or slinging it.Honestly, I find it exhausting and terrifying all at once. I want to be a good steward of my vote this fall and stay informed, yet I want to shut out all the garbage that comes along with searching for answers.It feels messy and it makes me anxious.Then yesterday, while I was reading my...

When life isn’t fair ….Ever since we were three and older siblings got to stay up late, or when we were six and didn’t get that pony for Christmas, we’ve been stomping our feet in frustration, knowing that life isn’t fair. And that it ought to be!Now that our feet have gotten bigger, so have our issues with unfairness. So we wrestle with relationship conflicts and disappointments. Workplace issues. Financial problems. Health concerns. And oh so many more.But because we’re...

A month ago, we said goodbye to our family dog, as some of you already know  We had Gus for eleven wonderful years! We rescued him not long after we were married, making him our only babe until four years later when our daughter, Ellery, was born. He was very special to my husband and I (and Ellery of course) and as you can imagine, saying goodbye was heartbreaking.However, this past weekend we adopted a new puppy. Friends, I’d like you...

Good morning, ladies!Last week, I found myself tangled up in a situation that left me an anxious mess. The “what ifs” kept playing on repeat in my mind, and I couldn’t seem to shake it. I tried everything I could think of to fix it, but nothing worked. It consumed me so much that I struggled to be present with my family. Have you ever felt that way?Well, I want to share something that helped me in that moment. I...

My family was all together on Saturday! Both of my adult children came home for the evening. We took a pic to remember, so I posted it here today.This is a rare occurrence for us because my daughter lives in California and my son lives in Minneapolis. We’ve only been all together two times this summer.We played some crazy water games and then my son offered to make smash burgers (yum!). All four kids went to the store for ingredients,...

Got identity?Well it happened. A call from my credit card company (I thought) shocked me into giving out more information than I should have. Then the letter from my (real) credit card company arrived asking me to call immediately because there was a problem.Yup, identity thieves tried to make me “donate” a bit more than $20,000 to their no-doubt worthy cause. But they weren’t done. Next, they tried to set up an on-line banking account! And it didn’t stop there,...

Happy Friday, Ladies… & Happy August As a homeschooler, our morning routine is essential to me. We don’t just focus on academic learning, we focus on healthy living!For instance, once our beds are made and our teeth are brushed, we grab our water and head outside! We allow our bodies, brains, and mood to wake up slowly, say our morning prayers, and set our intentions for the day! Sometimes it’s five minutes, sometimes it’s an hour.I don’t push that.I do my...

Good Morning, Everyone! Many of you already know this, but on Monday, we sold our daughter Cora’s first pony, Sprinkles. This was so hard for all of us. I don’t just say this because she was ours, but she was the most special pony I know. And for those of you who knew her, I think you’d agree. God truly handpicked the best family for her!But back to what I wanted to share and encourage each of you with. During our...

A “refresh”We recently made the permanent move to our cabin. Our youngest recently graduated from high school which means we are soon “empty nesters” as she heads for college in a month.   I’m still not sure if I like the sound of that, but I do love the idea of heading into some new freedom and opportunities to adventure with my high-school-sweetheart-husband once again! With our recent relocation, we are working on “settling in.” It may be more like “cramming” in. We’re...

There is only one thing we get to bring to heaven with us, and it’s people!Therefore, there are people in my life that I am praying for, and it’s a big prayer that I am praying.I ask God that they might turn from their worldly ways and begin to walk in step with him; to know and receive the unfailing and never-ending love of the Heavenly Father.Do you have anyone in your life you wish that for?I wanted to share...

Finding peace in the stormI love a Boundary Waters morning. Grab a mug of coffee brewed over a campfire, then find the perfect spot to reflect and talk with God in the stillness and beauty of his creation. I’d love to be there again. Right now. In this storm.The enemy of our souls has always been formidable and relentless. But of late, doesn’t it seem satan is laughing right in our faces with his sickening displays of depravity and blasphemy? Do...

A couple of years ago I was introduced to the idea of praying Bold Prayers! It was surprisingly brought to my attention that this could be a controversial topic due to some people feeling that it was selfish to ask God for blessings in their lives. But the main argument for encouraging Bold Prayers, was to acknowledge how powerful God truly is!• Why only ask God for an apple when He created every single produce plant?• Why only ask God to...

Good Morning!I had a little situation happen last night that I’d like to share. It’s nothing profound, and maybe you’ve already thought of this, but it hit me pretty hard.So many of you know how scared of the dark I am. Last night at 10 PM, I had to run to my parents’ house to pick something up. When I pulled into the driveway, it was pitch dark. Normally, I would hesitate to even get out of the truck. But...

“Of greater worth than gold”I’ve been praying for a friend who just lost her husband to cancer. Their journey has been equally inspirational as it has been heartbreaking to watch. We ache for my friend and her children. We also praise God that they are leaning into their faith and the community of believers, determined to glorify God through each step. They have stood so strong in their faith, and also let God be their strength in their human weakness. I’ve...

One of my favorite things to do is take Psalms and turn them into prayers, especially when I am struggling to find the right words to pray.I love how Psalms are so real, yet they always remind me that God is control and he never fails. They are full of his promises!This morning, no matter what is going on in your life, I invite you to pray Psalm 34 with me. I find that it always brings comfort and peace:Heavenly...

Everyday joyA couple weeks ago, a friend asked, “What does joy look like in everyday life?”I didn’t have an answer then, but last week I got to see joy in real life.First though ….By “everyday,” I know my friend meant most everything we encounter regularly that isn’t all sunshiny blue skies. You all know it well; it’s real life. — health issues, monotony of daily chores, loss of loved ones, financial woes, relationship breakdowns, boredom, anxiety, over-packed schedules — the...

Last week our daughter expressed a lack of confidence in the area of riding her bike.As my husband and I dug deeper, we soon realized that it wasn’t only a lack of confidence but also a new sense of comparison  I have admired our daughter’s lack of envy from the moment her personality began to shine. She has always been her own person and though other kids inspire her to try new things, she hadn’t really fallen into the comparison trap…...

Life is hard.And it’s even harder when we feel alone, excluded, or isolated.At bible study this past Monday night, I got to see the principle of our RCC motto “Better Together” in action.You see, one of our regular attendee friends in the group had just lost her husband. In fact, she had experienced his funeral just the evening before our study. Much to my surprise and joy, she came to bible study! She drove a great distance, though tired and...

My family recently moved, so I’ve been thinking  about the idea of “home.”Honestly, it’s taking me awhile to adjust to our new place. The house we moved out of was so special. We thought it was going to be the home we grew old in and rocked grand-babies in… so we dreamed and designed and remodeled every inch of that place, investing our time, talent and treasure.These days, HGTV calls it a “forever home.”Turns out, God had other plans for...

Under His WingsLots of thoughts are swirling in the tired old brain today. It’s been one day since the assassination attempt on President Trump, and it’s just over 60 years since President Kennedy was assassinated. As a high school senior, I remember how end-of-the-world I felt back then. My safe little world no longer seemed so safe; life became more precarious and scary.One inch was the difference between life or death for President Trump yesterday. Without that slight movement of...

I’ve been wrestling with the concept of time lately. As some of you know, we said goodbye to our family dog, Gus, of eleven years this past week. And as I’ve been managing all of the emotions that come with that hardship, the concept of time keeps coming up again and again.You see, God provided our family with eleven years of unconditional love and companionship from our sweet Gus, and although eleven years sounds like a long time, once he...

Good morning, everyone!I want to take a moment to thank each of you for being here! Your presence truly makes this community special, and I'm deeply grateful for all of you I'd like to share a picture I snapped the other day. As we drove to a barrel race, our nerves were high, and I found myself wrestling with some tough decisions. To be honest, worry and fear consumed me.But our Gracious Father, who knows our thoughts before we do, gently...

Good morning! As you wake and tackle your day ahead, pray this well known prayer over your day with me!It’s called the Serenity Prayer, and we are going to take a closer look at its meaning.“God, grant me the SERENITY to accept the things I can not change,COURAGE to change the things I can,And WISDOM to know the difference.”3 things:1)Serenity.2)Courage.3)Wisdom.The first one, SERENITY to accept...We all have hard things in our lives we wish we could change. Small things, like traffic...

Every year about this time, I like to post my favorite Psalm. It’s been my favorite for about 15 years… and it holds a special place in my heart.It serves to remind me to always keep God #1 in my life. To make sure that I desire him above anything else in this world.15 years ago, I was actually not walking in faith. I had gone through some really difficult life circumstances and was mad at God for not fixing...

Who are you?“Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It’s the Lord!’” John 21:7Okay, fess up. At least once or twice, who among us hasn’t wondered what was up with John always referring to himself as the disciple Jesus loved. Just a bit prideful, don’tcha think, dear John? Certainly not Scandinavian or even Minnesotan!Well I don’t think John was bragging; I believe he was simply blown away by the fact that Jesus actually loved HIM. Not less than the...

Our world likes to normalize the busy.Our crazy schedules have us running from one commitment to the next, deceiving us that it’s normal to be a part of every single thing.Just take a look at everything that is around you daily…  How many screens are on at one time? That alone can be overwhelming to both what you’re seeing and also what you are hearing.What about the smells in the air? Different chemicals, candles, oils, and body-scented smells are overpowering...

“Peace Be Still”These are the words of Jesus from the gospel of Mark, and they echo in my mind this morning.No matter how we feel today, can I encourage us to take refuge in the Prince of Peace today?This may mean intentionally shutting off forms of media and not engaging with our world’s “noise” that distracts us from focusing on ultimate truth. I encourage you to feed on God’s Word today.What if we made the bold choice of filling ourselves...

I love this saying: “Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad.”It’s special saying  to me because I spent a lot of years building knowledge- going to school, studying hard, and learning. However, it wasn’t until I was older that I realized how important it is to have wisdom. There is a big difference between book smart and bible smart…True wisdom comes only from God and his word....

Flags, Fireworks and FaithIsn’t what’s coming later this week about the only holiday we identify solely by a number? Got plans for the Fourth? What’s the weather forecast for the Fourth? Bought any fireworks for the Fourth?Do we say the The Fourteenth of February for Valentine’s Day? No. Do we say the Twenty-fifth of December for Christmas? No. Don’t know where I’m going with this. Probably nowhere, but I thought it interesting. Moving on ….A United States federal holiday since...

This past week our church hosted its annual summer program of VBS (Vacation Bible School). For five whole nights, the church was filled with 180 kids who came to “take a jungle cruise” while learning about Jesus and have lots of fun! This was my husband, Ben, and I’s fourth year participating as Game Leaders, and months in advance, we prepared themed games, supplies, volunteers, and game spaces. When it was finally time for the kick-off on Sunday night, we were...

The 23rd Psalm is one of the most well known passages of scripture.  Thanks to my Sunday school teachers and parents, I memorized it as a child. I’ll admit that it was rehearsed without conviction, as learned by rote.  But as I have grown in faith and lived life, it’s become such a comfort to me. Because it’s in my long term memory, I can use it as a tool of truth when I need it most.This version I’m sharing...

For about a year, we’ve had a saying in our house:“Praise the Lord.”We say it when things are going well.We say it when things are falling apart.We say “Praise then Lord” when God works a miracle, and we say it while we wait on him to act.Praise the Lord.Why this particular phrase?Because he is WORTHY! God is worthy to be praised no matter what is happening in our lives.He alone is good.He reigns above all other powers.He has no equal.He...

Fill ‘er Up“Rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he [Jesus] departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.” Mark 1:35Think of how much Jesus was followed, watched, listened to, hounded, debated with, persecuted, etc. Plus, he was the rabbi/teacher of his rag-tag bunch of disciples and was their leader as they traveled. Busy enough with things to be doing? You could say!And yet. And yet Jesus made it a priority throughout...