Do I force my child to go to church?

Do I force my child to go to church?

On Sunday mornings you can find me serving in the children’s ministry. This past Sunday, I watched as a mom literally pulled her child into the…


Parenting when you can’t see the forest for the trees

Parenting when you can’t see the forest for the trees

#Stoptheclock This is the hashtag I added to an Instagram post of my daughter during her high school senior year. On one hand, it was simply a futile…


Ten tips for introducing your child to worship

Worship the Lord with gladness (Psalm 100:2, NLT) My husband and I served as copastors for thirty years, so when our three children came along, they…


Simple ways to focus on Christ this Easter

Simple ways to focus on Christ this Easter

Once I heard a youth pastor say that Christmas is like the National Championship and Easter is the Super Bowl of our faith.  I think about that every…


Why new dads should go on a post-partum diet

Why new dads should go on a post-partum diet

If there’s one four-letter word I can’t stand, it’s the one heard most often in January: diet. Maybe I should blame it on being raised as a Baptist.…


Five ways to prioritize church as a mom

Five ways to prioritize church as a mom

“For the tenth time, please get your shoes on now!” I yelled toward my two kids from the kitchen. I was attempting to refill my travel mug and get…


The power of music and worship for children

The power of music and worship for children

I believe in the power of music. Practically nothing else is as sticky and powerful as a melody. It enables us to jump back in time to a memory that…


When should I start talking to my kids about sex?

When should I start talking to my kids about sex?

“When should I start talking to my kids about sex?”  We always answer that question with another question—When does the world start talking to your…


How Jesus meets us in distraction

I took a deep breath as we got in the car. We did it. We managed to get all five children in the car to go to church, and we are only going to be 5…