Looking back over the years, I recall countless stories in which the Lord has brought me through a difficult or unpredictable circumstance— and that’s putting it lightly. That’s why I shouldn’t be surprised in all that He continues to do in my life. In 2021, I graduated with my B.S. in Elementary Education and the following school year I was able to secure a maternity leave position, which shortly...

I believed in Jesus from a young age. During my late high-school years, I began clinging to God during some really hard times in my life. However, as I began adulthood, I found myself entering a period of nine years where I really tried to do things on my own. I barely opened the Bible and I leaned on my own understanding. When I did try to read the Bible, usually I didn't understand what I read...

CLEAR! (Like a defibrillator). You know? Like those electric pads you rub together to get someone's heart beating again. 2023 was like one of those. It brought ME back. To life. Back to community. Back to church. Back to God, wholeheartedly. "Let all that you do, be done in love." (1 Corinthians 16:14) For reference, 2022 was probably the worst year of my life so far. It brought so much heartbre...

2023 was a “summer season” for us, as we welcomed a new daughter into our family. It was a time of celebrating and rejoicing in the blessings of God. One of my absolute favorite worship songs is, The Goodness of God, especially the line, “all my life you have been faithful, all my life you have been so, so good!” I have had to consider it all joy when encountering various trials, and to know th...

The Lord has blessed me immensely over the course of my life and I have come to understand that blessings come in all varieties. I have had seasons where everything has gone exceptionally well and other seasons where the only hope that I had was to put my trust in the Lord. ...

When I moved here from Alabama, one of the things I asked the Good Lord was, “Here I am Lord, will You use me?” I then met Pastor Dave on many morning coffee meetings and then met with Pastor James at the church Round Room. Such great men of our Heavenly Father; (Thank ya Jesus; pour the Holy Ghost on them with rapid-fire scripture and Your thoughts.) ...

In the beginning of 2023, after a very difficult 5 years, God spoke the words “peace” and “joy” over my life, and thus began a year of walking in an entirely new freedom I had never before experienced. I had struggled with anxiety for my entire life and accepted it as a part of my identity. I never knew what it meant to have such great peace. This is significant because after my son was born in Ap...

Reflections of a gardener: This past summer I was walking past a young tree I had rescued from the choaking death of wild vines and thorns a few years earlier. I like this tree; it turns a beautiful red color in the Fall. I was pleased to see that the tree was recovering its strength and new branches were growing straight up, reaching for the sky. Then I noticed that the wild thorns I once remo...

I would like to share with you a powerful insight the Lord graciously showed me through the Women’s Bible Study at Grace last year. We looked at the story of Rachel and Leah. Each of them had something the other did not – Leah wanted to be loved by Jacob and Rachel wanted to have children. Leah had children; Rachel was loved. Each wanted what the other had, and not only were they not thankful ...

On September 23, 2023, my nephew, William Richardson, was tragically struck by a car that drove up onto the sidewalk right across the street from Grace Chapel. He passed away at the scene of the accident. William had simply been out taking his daily walk and was completely innocent in the matter. He lived next door to us and was more than just a cousin to my children; he was their big brother....

It started as “Dry July”. I thought I could just leave it at that, and move on, never ever having to say the words out loud to anyone or even myself. I danced around it for a few months, hoping everyone would be able to read between the lines and I wouldn’t have to actually say it. The Bible tells us that “they triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony” (Re...

A few months into 2023, I started a Bible Study by Jen Wilkin on 1 Peter, called A Living Hope in Christ. It was my first study by this particular author, and I was glad to have an accountability partner in my friend, Suzy McClain, as we read through the book and completed the study together. (Even though she was living in Germany at the time!)...

Dear Friends, As I reflect on my journey, I can't help but be grateful for the unwavering presence of God in my life. From my early days as a latchkey kid, I always felt a divine companionship, a knowledge that God was with me even when loneliness threatened to creep in....

Most of you may know me as the electric guitarist at Grace Chapel who had really long hair. But only a select few really know me and what I've been through. About a year and a half ago, God really started a chain reaction in my life that all led up to the place I am right now. He started a good and perfect work in me and put certain people in my life at the right moments. In the moments of ...

What happens when prayer remains unanswered? Heartbreaking circumstances unchanged? This is where I find myself since my last boast in the Lord. Actually, this is the boat I’ve been in for years. But here is what has changed; I no longer bear the impossible weight of the burden. Situationally everything is the same. Actually, this past year brought more heartache, but it opened my eyes to the ...

The night of January 21, 2023 started off as a normal night. But around 3am, my mom and I were woken up by a loud crash. She went downstairs to check out the noise, and I rolled over in bed, still half asleep. Moments later, I heard her scream my dad’s name. Now wide awake, I ran downstairs to find my dad lying at the bottom of the stairs, unresponsive, barely breathing, and bleeding profusely fro...

2023 was filled with moments to boast in the Lord! But first... In 2022, one of the biggest blessings I had was participating in an intensive Bible Study started by some of the leaders at Devoted. For several weeks, we met, and went through a book together that tackled tough issues like identity, overcoming family sin patterns, healing wounds and overcoming fears. We committed to living life wit...

It was January last year when God chose to give me one of the desires of my heart. About 24 years ago, we moved back to NJ and built the house we currently live in. Although we chose many upgrades, we left the small, original builder’s deck off the kitchen which was adequate for a grill, and to lean off of and enjoy the view. But in my heart, I always wanted to extend the deck, adding bigger, m...

As I reflect on these past few years, and all that we have seen and heard as a culture, it's easy to feel completely overwhelmed by negative thoughts. Raising children in our current culture feels like we are constantly swimming against the current on so many different subjects. Besides our culture and raising kids, we have jobs, marriages, finances etc., that can also consume our thoughts. Fin...

This year I became a mom! And let me just say… there’s no book, podcast or advice that can actually prepare you for this journey. Before having Luca, I planned for almost everything postpartum but I didn’t think about how I would continue to nourish my relationship with the Lord or at least I thought it wouldn’t be THAT affected. I didn’t realize my capacity for most things would greatly diminish...