Updated from 2018 post. As I dove into the fourth week of the Priscilla Shirer Discerning the Voice of God study, it was like a light bulb switched on in my mind. Suddenly, I realized I've been going about things all wrong. For the past three weeks, Priscilla has been guiding the reader to recognize when God is speaking to them. She ...
Mommyhood
Finding Hope and Praying with Purpose This Election Season
No matter which political side you lean towards, we can all agree that our world feels chaotic. As the upcoming presidential election approaches, it seems many are filled with apprehension, bracing for heated debates, negative ads, and the inevitable flood of social media posts. The question looms: What will the next few months bring, and how will ...
What’s a Christian to Do with the Enneagram?
I find the brain fascinating. How God created each person beautifully unique, yet with similar traits, is humbling and amazing. That's probably why I have enjoyed learning about personalities. It has helped me understand myself, work with others, and better parent my kids. My favorite personality resource is the Enneagram. This guide became ...
How Chores Can Help Reduce Child Anxiety
Growing up on a farm, work was a significant part of my life. Whether it was loading livestock into the trailer, preserving vegetables from the garden, or cutting thistles when the grass was waist-high, there was always something to be done. It took everyone working together to stay on top of it. However, I believe that working together has many ...
How to Create and Use a Prayer Journal to Deepen Your Faith
If I were asked what has had the biggest impact on my spiritual life, I would say, without hesitation, my prayer journal. However, it's important to know that my experience with prayer journals hasn't always been great. Each time I purchased or received a prayer journal, excitement overflowed as I imagined that this journal would suddenly ...
Letting Go with Love: The Journey of Biblical Parenting
Updated and reposted 2020. Parenting in the Franz house is emotionally arduous right now. Bubs, at 16, is embracing new responsibilities such as driving to school and starting a part-time job. It's as if he's spreading his wings to prepare for flight right before my eyes. I find myself wondering: When did the little boy who was the ...
Are You Losing to Gain?
I woke up this morning thinking about the quote, "In order to gain something, you must be willing to lose something." I don't know the original source but wonder if it's a modern take on Matthew 16:25, "For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it." I understand the biblical call to deny myself ...
How to Break Free from Lies to Embrace the Truth
Ever wonder why stories about people not practicing what they preach hit us so hard? We've all seen those headlines about people who talk the talk but don't walk the walk. It's a sobering reminder that integrity isn't just a word – it must be a way of life. This ministry centers around adults being intentional with the children in their lives. ...
What’s So Important about Play Stick-to-itiveness?
Resharing from 2013 an update to one of the most popular posts on Parenting to Impress.Last week I shared a simple plan to teach your child to play independently. But in writing the post, I realized that there is an additional aspect to fostering independent play: what I call "stick-to-itiveness." Stick-to-iveness is a real word. Like...in the ...
When Your Marriage Doesn’t Match Your Dreams
Her inquiry was raw and brimming with emotion. To conclude, she anonymously posted, "I'm committed to our marriage, but I am tired." I'm aware that many have experienced this same sentiment in their marriages, even though Christians often feel a great deal of pressure to have a different kind of marriage. Yet, what are you to do when you feel ...