Have you ever wished for a relationship “how-to” manual? Over the years, I’ve collected dozens of books about marriage, divorce, parenting, friendship, and family. Always looking for ways to strengthen bonds, communicate clearly, and handle conflict. I’m a willing but impatient student, so I usually scan the pages looking for quick and practical advice. Hoping to…
byJody Lee Cates
Faith
I used to think that I could be good enough to win someone’s love. I was one of the good girls growing up. Motivated mostly by fear of punishment from my dad and disappointing my mom, I made every effort to follow all the rules and do the right thing. As I grew, my desire…
I love knowing where I’m going and what’s coming next. It’s the way I’m wired. And if it were left up to me, all of life would come with step-by-step instructions that lead directly through one season into another. With clearly marked transitions and signposts complete with “start here” and “you did it!” messages all…
Whether you’re in the camp who’s grown weary of waiting out this season of quarantine, or you’re one of us who have gotten comfortable wearing yoga pants and showering infrequently, most of us would agree that life at home feels smaller than when we were out in the world every day. But God’s big plans…
Waiting for answers can be hard. Especially when it feels like nothing is happening. We remind ourselves why we shouldn’t settle for a quick fix life and instead choose to wait for God to show us the opportunities He stitches into our pain. We’ve learned from experience that when we stop trying to outrun or…
byJody Lee Cates
Faith
Do you recognize these small things? They’re mustard seeds. Jesus says that if we have faith the size of just one, we can move mountains. Hard to believe, I know. He uses these tiny seeds to illustrate how the kingdom of heaven grows: “It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest…