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One of my favorite things I did when I was single was taking an annual girls’ beach trip with a few of my closest friends. We always had the best time just chilling by the water, eating junk food, watching movies, and of course, talking - lots and lots of talking.
Read MoreThe three months after my wedding were some of the most stressful I’ve ever experienced. I got married. I moved in with my husband’s apartment, but only for a couple of months before we moved to a different state. My husband sprained his ACL and LCL playing basketball. Our dog had three different health emergencies. We had one of our cars in the shop so we were down to one car for two people. And we were trying to buy a house. Needless to say, a lot of different things were occupying my mind.
Read MoreA while back, I was listening to a sermon that was talking about leftovers, more specifically, the leftovers of our time. And the main question that really stuck with me that the pastor asked was this: Is God getting your leftovers when it comes to your time?
Read MoreI was reading a devotion by Lysa Terkeurst recently, and in it, she wrote a line that hit me like a ton of bricks. Or as I like to say, the Holy Spirit knocked me upside the head with a heavenly two-by-four. The line went something like this: You will make so much more progress in your life as a result of praying than you will from worrying.
Read MoreA while back, I wrote and published a devotion called Encouragement For The One Who’s Stressed Out. The day the post went live, I received quite a few messages from people saying things like, “I needed this today Kristen!” or “Thanks for sharing - it’s been a stressful day here.” While I always love getting messages like this and knowing that God is working through these devotions to help and encourage other people, those weren’t the only kinds of messages I got that afternoon.
Read MoreStress is an inevitable part of life. When we find ourselves in stressful situations, particularly like the ones we’re experiencing now across our nation, God wants us to come to the place where we learn to handle stress in a healthy way. Of all the ways we can deal with stress, both good and bad, I believe the best way to handle stress is to practice the right disciplines
Read MoreI’ve been going back through a lot of my old journals recently, and as I flipped through the pages yesterday, I stumbled upon an entry from early 2022. I had decided first thing that morning to get up and go for a walk, which wasn’t something I normally did, but apparently, I needed to get some fresh air and spend some time outside - away from my phone, away from work, away from all the things that were overwhelming and demanding.
Read MoreMy opinion on Mondays changes from week to week. Some weeks, I really like Mondays. They’re a fresh start to a new week. They’re a chance to get organized and plan for all the tasks and events the next seven days hold. They’re a good excuse to have a second iced coffee without any self-judgment. Those kinds of Mondays are great. But sometimes, Mondays aren’t so great. Sometimes they’re overwhelming. Sometimes they come with mile long to-do lists, piled-up laundry, an empty fridge, and a jam-packed calendar staring you in the face, making you wonder how you’re going to have time to get everything taken care of.
Read MoreFinding rest this time of year feels about as easy as finding a pumpkin in Hobby Lobby. We’re covered up in stress, busyness, and mile-long to-do lists, just like the shelves of my favorite decor store are covered with garland, ribbon, ornaments, and Christmas lights. And honestly, it feels like we’ve just come to accept that stress is as much a part of this season as the Christmas trees.
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