Whether you’re hopping on a plane or hosting a houseful of people next week, it’s good to take a minute to think ahead about bringing kindness into our Christmas celebrations. Although Christmas can sometimes bring heartache (for example, if we have suffered loss), in general most of us find it to be a beautiful season,…
One of the most encouraging research interviews I’ve conducted in recent years was a phone conversation with Carey Nieuwhof. I explained that I was seeking the perspective of Christian leaders for an upcoming book and initiative to equip the church to become a key solution to the mental health crisis. Carey is one of the…
As Christians, we live in expectant hope that this world is not our home. But have you ever pondered the wonder that Jesus left that home—His home—to come to this world? He left heaven to come to earth as a baby. We often view the Advent season as a time of preparing our hearts for…
Have you ever joked that your child’s cellphone has practically become an additional appendage? You’re not far off. As I mentioned in last week’s part 1 of this two-part series, data shows that children ages 8 to 18 now spend 7.5 hours watching or using screens per day. Over a ten-year span, that’s 27,375 hours…
I’m guilty. I’ll just get that out of the way before I write another word. More than a quarter of today’s kids report that they’re not allowed to play unsupervised outside, even in the front yard! When my kids were young, I struggled with this very thing. As a result, they spent more time in…
In honor of National Adoption Month, I’ve invited my friend (and adoptive parent) Jennifer Shaw to guest blog this week. Many consider building their families through adoption, but Jennifer’s take on building families after adoption will serve many. Enjoy, and please feel free to share! ~Shaunti By Jennifer Shaw Ten years ago, we were raising…
