I’m over at Christian Stay at Home Moms today. This month we’ve been talking about brokenness and today’s post is the last in the series.

Have you ever met someone who has struggled with the same battle as you? Have you ever helped someone through a difficult journey that you yourself once walked?

I have a friend in the faith who has experienced deep brokenness in her life. Her faith during these painful times has been a testimony to me. Seeing the way God has worked in the life of my friend gives me hope in what He can do in and through my own brokenness.

God not only uses our brokenness to draw us closer to Him, but also uses it to draw others to Himself.

To read the rest of this post, visit CSAHM.

I was sitting around the semicircle of chairs. It was Tuesday morning, the day when our ladies bible study meets at my church. We were going around the room, taking turns sharing prayer requests. I wrote down each person’s request: health concerns, legal issues, rest, healthy pregnancy, etc.

Then it was my turn. Feeling the Spirit’s prompting, I stepped out and requested prayer for my struggle with depression. I opened up about my battle and the challenges I’ve faced.

I wasn’t sure if I had made the right decision, going deeper as I did.

To read the rest of this post, visit CSAHM, another writing home.

Have you wanted to go deeper into prayer? My post this week at Christian Stay at Home Moms was on taking steps to a more intimate prayer life. You can see that post here.

Let’s be honest, love is hard.

It’s been a week. The flowers are wilting and the candy is nearly gone. The sweet messages in the Valentine cards are mostly forgotten.

All that’s not forged through hard love is short-lived.

For most of us, the fragrant aroma of love’s soft side is brief and doesn’t last. Life gets in the way. Trials and challenges arise. Instead of sweet messages, words of anger are spit forth. Hard love often leaves a bitter taste.

Why can’t love remain sweet all the time? Why does love have to be so hard?

To read the rest of this post, visit CSAHM.

“Patience is love for the long haul.” Tim Keller

Glancing at my watch, I call their names again. “It’s time to go!” I had told them ten minutes ago to get dressed. I walk in their room and find them half-dressed and playing. My patience is worn thin and I’m irritated.

Sadly, it doesn’t take much for me to be impatient.

I’ve always heard the phrase, “Patience is a virtue” and “Never pray for patience.” When I think about patience, I think about waiting. If I’ve waited in line at the store without getting irritated, that’s patience. I also consider it a mark of patience to not get annoyed while I wait for my husband to return home from work. And patience is also when I don’t blow my top when my kids don’t get ready on time.

To read the rest of this post, visit one of my other writing homes, CSAHM.