BY MARY DEMUTH:

What if our act of patience, fueled by the Spirit within us, was not merely so we could endure our adult children’s choices, but for our betterment? What if this is not about our kids at all, but about our relationship with God? 

STORY BY CHRISTINE CRAWFORD: I was in the throes of grief from the unwanted end of my marriage when a friend recommended I go on a silent retreat. So, naively hoping the experience would expedite my healing, I wandered into the desert for three whole days. Completely and utterly alone. In complete and utter silence.

BY CRYSTAL LOGAN: You don’t have to wait for life to calm down to meet your deepest emotional needs. You have access to love, safety, and compassion right now, both internally and from the Lord.

FROM SOUL CARE: Soul Care invites you into a quiet moment of connection with God through the ancient practice of Lectio Divina (Latin for “divine reading”), which is a prayerful way of engaging with Scripture, not to study or analyze it, but to let it speak to your heart. Whether your week feels rushed or restful, this is a moment to be still and let God speak.

BY LAURA L. SMITH: God wants goodness for you and me. But someone else’s pace is not necessarily my best pace or yours. As long as you’re tracking with God and his plans for you, you are right on time.

WISDOM FROM PETE SCAZZERO: We live in a world addicted to speed. Everything around us screams, “Move faster. Produce more. Achieve now!” And if we’re honest, that same pressure seeps into our ministries and leadership.

BY DR. SAUNDRA DALTON-SMITH: Emotional exhaustion affects brain function, making it harder to focus, make decisions, and regulate mood. Over time, this can contribute to anxiety, depression, and burnout. If you've been feeling constantly fatigued, irritable, or disconnected, it may not be physical exhaustion you're experiencing—it could be emotional depletion.

BY DR. SAUNDRA DALTON-SMITH: Wouldn’t it be amazing if you could know for sure that you’re getting the type of rest you need to truly thrive?Take this quiz and find out what type of rest you need to live your best life!

BY DR. SAUNDRA DALTON-SMITH: Rather than striving for perfection, what if we approached our goals with a focus on mindfulness (mental rest) and spiritual rest? Mindfulness invites us to intentionally focus on the present without judgment. It offers a powerful way to work toward resolutions while preserving mental rest and resilience.Let's choose a restful approach to resolutions. Here are 3 Restful Resolution Strategies to help you achieve your goals without stress or shame:

BY JAN JOHNSON: Simplicity is often misunderstood. As a discipline of abstinence, it does involve setting aside certain things, but it’s much more about making space for God in your life and living in the beauty of that space.

A BLESSING BY EMILY P. FREEMAN: I will hold you in the Light honors the imago Dei, the Divine image-bearing identity of every human. It reminds us that we don’t have to say perfectly eloquent words or make elaborate requests of God.

REFLECTION BY JENNIFER CAMP: It might be time to let go. It might be time to empty your hands. It might be time to stop grasping.

PRAYER BY THE SISTERS OF LIFE: That I Let Love cherish me; Father, hold me in Your Heart.That I Let Love receive me; Jesus, keep me in your wounds.That I Let Love be my rock and security; Spirit, keep me in your peace.

ARTICLE BY KAT ARMSTRONG: The cost of obedience you can’t post on socials, the pain in the offering only a few will be privy to. You might feel lonely as you process the upheaval. After all, you likely love what you are leaving. Take heart.

ARTICLE BY KELLEY MATHEWS: 2024 brought a steady stream of changes that felt more like the waves we encountered on the Oregon beach this summer—wild, rough, anticipated yet often unpredictable, and beautiful.

READING BY ELIZABETH STEWART: How lovely is the place where you live, O Lord who rules over all! I desperately want to be in the courts of the Lord’s temple. My heart and my entire being shout for joy to the living God.

READING BY ELIZABETH STEWART: A favorite prayer from The Valley of Vision (Authur Bennett, Editor) for those suffering from loss or struggling with faith.

POEM BY RACHEL JOY WELCHER: Do not wait to rejoice. Do not wait to enjoy. Do not save and save and forget to spend yourself...