“I believe our car is overheating,” my husband exclaimed as he carefully drove our trusty station wagon down the Asheville mountains. We had attended a family reunion and were on our way home. Tired and thirsty children added to the tense moment. “Oh, please, not car issues now, “ I mumbled. We were still three long hours away from home.

Sexual trauma can severely derail life. Choosing to heal can be a long, hard journey. But learning to process emotions and express oneself after experiencing the trauma of sexual exploitation is possible.

What an exciting time to be alive! Yes, for real. For followers of Jesus Christ, walking by faith, trusting in the Lord our God, and leaning into the hope of our calling, we have nothing to be afraid of in this world.

Suggested reading from the Editor's personal library.

According to Google, “Is God real?” is searched 200 times per second. Why? Because we are wired to worship something greater than ourselves and we will search for that greater thing until we find it.

Like most people, I struggle with waiting. I’m in a season of waiting for direction from God as to my next step vocationally, and it is not easy. Waiting is never easy. 

According to the Center for Bible Engagement, the life of someone who engages with Scripture four or more times a week looks radically different from the life of someone who doesn’t.

How would you navigate life if you didn’t have a car? Most of us take reliable transportation for granted. How hard would it be to live one year without a vehicle?

Our youth have it tough. Addiction to technology, rampant mental health issues and antisocial disorders, increasing rates of teen suicide, and more plague this upcoming generation.

Anxiety seems to be more prevalent and powerful than God does these days. You can’t go a day without hearing the word anxiety. And most people can’t go a day without experiencing it on some level. It was in the midst of my struggle with anxiety where God strengthened my faith.

The highly anticipated day finally arrived. Blue skies and a gentle breeze enhanced the excitement as I loaded my four young sons and their new kites into our van. It was kite flying time!

We are living in serious dark times. Lies are rampant, but we know, as Christ followers, God’s Word is truth.

As we embrace a new season, I want to share some personal encouragement with you.

“You have a brain tumor” is one of the scariest sentences a person can hear.

Every day we’re invited into so many stories. Some are uplifting while others are heartbreaking. Some are infuriating, scary, and others make us laugh out loud. Whether the story is in the news, a movie, a book, or listening to a friend share a page from their life, the lens from which we view this world is story.

South Carolina Obesity Surgery Center at Lexington Medical Center is an accredited center for weight-loss surgery from the American College of Surgeons and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Its team includes the most experienced bariatric surgeons in South Carolina. The practice is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Here is one of its success stories.

The custody battle caught me off guard. I was nervous and anxious, but the truth was on my side. I fully expected God would honor that; but, when the gavel fell, truth lost. With temporary custody awarded to my ex-husband, I was devastated.

Do you ever feel like some seasons of life seem busier than others? It’s easy  to allow life’s busyness to deplete our strength.

I make it through these seasons by standing firm on a strong foundation; one of faith and mental and physical wellness. Here are some  things I do consistently to help me remain strong and focused.

Family vacation. Those two words unlock a suitcase of memories packed with emotions—epic, mediocre, or never again. No matter, I still love family vacations. East Coast, West Coast, or somewhere in between, the destinations, food, and fun excite me, but it’s family that fuels the flames of fellowship.

To suggest this world is embroiled in an authority crisis is, perhaps, the understatement of the decade. Almost every country is divided politically, socially, racially, and morally. The church is also in crisis.  Many take personal conviction and personal preference as absolute truth.