Author: Bethany Douglas
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In a World of a Thousand Yeses, What are You Saying No to?
If I were to take a quick look at your schedule what would I see? Basketball games, employee meetings, church, PTA meetings, bills due, doctors appointments? Our lives are nothing if not a culmination of a thousand scheduled moments- each one individually agreed to and committed on. Each entry chosen to be a part of…
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No Shadow in His Presence
Have you ever contemplated what standing (or, let’s be honest…. falling to our faces) in the presence of the Lord would actually look like? Often I imagine the picture on the other side of this world; at the end of my time, in the heavenlies, surrounded by cherubim, enjoying the eternal hereafter, well…. eternally. I…
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The God Who Weeps
For so many of us worry, anxiety, sorrow, and pain permeates our lives. If this discomfort does not push against us daily it still can filter through to even the most protected of hearts during times of stress, fatigue, sickness, and mourning. We are fragile. Our emotions and hearts are prone to breaking. And too…
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Press In
My husband and I attended a marriage retreat this last weekend and the speaker told a story that hit me profoundly. He told of a time when he was sick, discouraged, mad, frustrated… and he purposefully turned all his angst and venom towards his wife. He knew his words would hurt her… he spoke them…
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Mindset of Persistence
One of my greatest irritations is my kid’s inability to truthfully keep at things. The second something isn’t interesting anymore or doesn’t hold enough weight for them, they drop their attention like a hot potato. And yet, for that special event they wish to go to or that new toy, you’d think it was literally…
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Be Still!
Stop struggling. Be still. Quit wrestling. Be still. Do not panic. Be still. Cease looking for answers. Be still. Calm your mind. Be still. Quit trying to figure it all out. Be still. I got this. I have you. I am Sovereign…. El Elyon. Be still. Rest. Come take shelter. Find peace… Jehovah-Shalom. Be still.…
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The Day After Christmas
The gifts are opened. The food eaten. The house is a disaster. Some return to work, others are left with family (who linger too long or not long enough) before schedules demand a return home. Leftovers are scattered throughout the kitchen. Pesky remnants of wrapping paper stay hidden behind couches and the tree. All that…
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It\’s In Your Head
It’s In Your Head In a world teeming with violent images, harsh news, back-biting, gossip, visions of terror, war and fear-mongering it is no wonder that many Christians find our sensitivities dulled by the onslaught of the filth we come into contact with. Living on this side of heaven should come with a warning label…
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Mind Control
Over at Holy Beautiful I’ve been tasked with writing a year-long series on Mind, Body, and Spirit- what scripture says about these tenets of our selves as well as how to keep them healthy and scripturally sound. Our mind is THE first and most extensive battleground for ourselves in this spiritual war we are fighting.…
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Opening the Eyes of My Heart
As I’ve been preparing to write each Tuesday for Holy Beautiful on our MINDS, I was brought back to a passage out of Ephesians that holds special significance to my personal spiritual journey. “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so…
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What\’s the Tempo of your Mind?
Today I wanted to take some time to mediate on the speed at which we intake and output things from our minds. We’ve been searching out mindfulness on our Tuesdays together over at Holy Beautiful so today instead of focusing on what particular information is going in I want to focus on the speed at…
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End of An Era
My first-born, who started Kindergarten this year, informed me earlier this month that he had twenty days left of school. I was caught off-guard since we were still solidly in April… and, let’s face it, I birthed him last week. Or at least it feels that way. Ugh! It continually amazes me how quickly time…
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Filled to the Brim
Any cup-hoarders out there? If you are anything like me, I love me a cute cup. Mugs in particular. Being an avid coffee drinker and a nurse to boot, I have my fair share of cups to go around. We have more than my family needs, but I just can\’t seem to part with many…
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Sometimes Looking Down is the Best Way to Look Up
One of my favorite things to do with my little ones is to play \”I Spy\”. Whether it be the books or just driving down the highway, it is by far one of our favorite family activities. As my children get older, they put more time and energy into finding \”the hard ones\”. More often…