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Anxiety is a Gift
[Guest Post by Teri Antti] – Anxiety is a Gift? Yes! A Blessing! I once read that true peace can only be sustained when what you say, what you believe and what you do are all the same thing. At the time I read this anonymous quote, my thoughts, beliefs and actions were as far from being aligned as you could possible imagine. I was in a season during which my anxiety was at an all time high. I could not leave my house. Fear had found its way into every ounce of my being. I was rapidly loosing the confidence to even parent my three daughters. I had a…
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Quarter Life Conference
“You want whom to come speak at your church, and you’re willing to pay how much to get this person there?” Each time the phone would ring I knew exactly who they were asking for and why. My only problem? Said Christian celebrity wouldn’t speak for less than a certain amount and a certain-sized church. I didn’t have the heart to tell Mr. Small Town Pastor he couldn’t afford said celebrity Christian to come speak at his church. No matter how touching a story–and there’s always a story–churches across America are looking for ways to reach out to their community. I know this because I booked 300+ events at churches,…
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On Dating: Everybody's doing it
[Guest Post by Alexandrea J. Wilson] – Because I grew up in a Christian home–I knew better than to believe the lie that everybody’s doing it. I went to the True Love Waits conferences and even pledged to be faithful to God until it was my time to share that special wedding night with my husband. Even when my friends started to lose their virginity, I stood firm because I knew I made a promise to God to save sex for marriage. My confidence in my ability to execute self-control made me think that I would be able to endure any temptation–on my own. I wouldn’t need to fall at…
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On Dating: Should Men Pursue Women First?
[Guest Post by Marc Fisher] – Recently, I heard a panel on dating & relationships that tackled many interesting questions–should men pursue women? It was extra special because my wife Renee was one of the panel speakers. I felt encouraged afterwards because it gave some real challenges to put into practice in my own life–but what stood out the most was a single question. A question asked often in Christian circles, but often merely glanced over, Should men pursue women–first? I think we miss something that can radically alter our relationships if we don’t stop to ponder this question in more depth. We need to ask why does the question…
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I Love My Post Baby Body
[Monthly Columnist – Jaimie Bowman] – I’ll be honest–I’m not sure how to love my post baby body. It started in the 6th grade–didn’t it for most of us? I was in P.E. class, bending over for our warm-up, when the muffled laughter came from behind me and then grew louder and louder. I turned around and asked what was so funny. Three girls looked at each other, then back and me, and said, “It’s just that….your butt…it’s as big as Mrs. Rowan’s!” Mrs. Rowan was our P.E. teacher–I was 12. I stuffed that experience way back in the deep dark corner of my soul, hoping to never remember it…
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I Love My Body – Fat Girls
I once thought I had this really great idea for one of my next books. I wanted to call it: For All The Fat Girls: Who Never Thought Their Dreams Could Come True. Whew. Long title. It took me even longer to realize it was kind-of-offensive. Whoops. Maybe that’s because I was used to carrying around the label that: I Was Fat. One thing I know: labels might lie, but clothing labels sure don’t! Just try putting on a size 9 when you’re a ballooned sized 24. Yep. That was me in high school. Last week, I mentioned in more detail about my health issues related to eczema, and how…
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I Love My Body – Green
[Guest Post by Arlene Pellicane] – It was a breakfast appointment with an unexpected blessing. A green blessing! My husband James and I were at a business breakfast a few weeks ago with a group of realtors–my husband is a realtor–in fact, he sold Renee and Marc their house! Across from me, there was a fit, thin, and very energetic realtor wife. She happened to be a fitness instructor and as we begin to chat, her enthusiasm for the color green came out! “In the morning, I take a cup of spinach, a cup of kale, and a cup of collard greens, mix that up with a few grapes for…
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I Love My Body – Baby Bump
[Guest Post by Kimberly Davidson Campbell] – Weight gain and the numbers on the scale have always been a troublesome spot for my mind and heart. From the time I was in 3rd grade I remember disliking the school pictures for the year book. I always criticized them and stared at them wondering if there was anything beautiful I could find in them. I recently finished a 39+ week maternity photo shoot. I sat at our dining room table and started glancing through them, then sobbed uncontrollably and buried my head in my husband’s side. I hated all of them. Why? No, my hair was great and makeup looked good…
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One Year Anniversary
Today is my one year anniversary! I can’t believe how quickly time flies. I feel like I have learned so much about myself, Marc, and relationships in general. I can definitely say the transition from saangle (really single) to married has been fun, interesting, and tiring at times–but so worth it! As Marc and I approach our one year anniversary, I thought I would share 12 lessons I’ve learned since I said–I do. 1. Don’t Force Love Years before I got married, my friend Angela told me not to force a relationship with Ishmael for God would bless me with Isaac (Genesis 18:10-15). I always held this close to my…
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I Love My Body – Thighs
[Guest Post by Angela McNeil] – Thunder Thighs, more cushion for the pushin’, child bearing hips, Saddlebags… I can go on and on about the names I was called throughout my life–it didn’t stop at high school. Even when I was on the swim team super active in sports, the comments still came about my thighs. It was even more frustrating because, being a child of the 90’s I wanted a pair of Guess Jeans but they weren’t styled for curves. I have always thought pants would fit better if I got rid of my saddlebags. Many of moments in the dressing room with tears because a dress didn’t fit…
