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Ask any musician, sequence matters. If we could take all the notes from the song “Amazing Grace,” put them in a bag, shake them up, and pour them onto a blank sheet of paper, no one would recognize one of the most treasured hymns of all time. That sort of haphazard arrangement seems ridiculous. Yet…

Who knew those Christmas pencils we handed out to our fifth-graders could inspire so much! For the last three weeks, we’ve learned that to make a mark on the world effectively, wood and graphite must first undergo a process. Similarly, as we become surrendered pencils in God’s hand, He patiently crafts a delightful story. Achieving…

Ten-year-olds hold a special place in my heart. I guess that’s why I enjoyed teaching fifth graders. My husband often teases that he’s married to a fifth-grader since my sense of humor refuses to grow up. I think he should just be glad I didn’t teach kindergarten. While I love elementary school kids, they have…

If you know me, you know that one of my favorite sayings is, “It’s a process!” Want to make a scrumptious cake, build a fine house, or just tie your shoe? It’s a process. Every process begins with a heartfelt desire for a specific outcome. Then, a methodical series of steps must be planned and…

As Christmastime approached, all of us fifth-grade teachers would order each student a pack of Christmas pencils with their names on them. The kids loved seeing their names on the pencils, and we loved knowing that everyone had one. Having their names on the pencils made it easy to return them to their rightful owner…

Years ago, Gary Chapman introduced five simple yet powerful love languages: Words of Affirmation, Acts of Service, Gifts, Physical Touch, and Quality Time. Chapman believed that marriages, parent-child relationships, and friendships often experience disconnection, not because of a lack of love, but because the people involved do not speak the same love language. Many people…

If you live in the South, you know the phrase “dog tired.” It describes how your body feels after a hard day of yard work, garage cleaning, or other activities that make you feel like you’ve run a marathon. Placing one foot in front of the other requires substantial effort. Muscles ache and backs break.…

I often stand in the condiment aisle at Publix, wondering if I have ketchup. I don’t know why it’s always ketchup that slips my mind. I stand there asking myself, “If I still have some, is it enough? Did the grandkids ‘borrow’ the unopened bottle? Did I use up all that I had?” Since I…

One of my earliest close friends was also named Donna. My family had just moved to Birmingham, and she helped me feel welcomed at my new elementary school. Sharing the same name immediately gave us something in common. We were excited to find out that we also attended the same church. Our parents became friends,…

(This is part 2 of “What Women Need.” If you’d like to read Part 1, “Roots”, go to https://leanintojesus.com/what-women-need-roots/.) WHAT WOMEN NEED: FOOD Does sugar tempt you? The Bible doesn’t say this, but surely the fruit Eve ate in the garden was coated in sugar—maybe the white, powdered kind! What else could have made that…