@barefacedgirl in Leading Hearts Magazine

Read more about the article The Symphony and the Sears Wishbook of Dreams: (7 Ways to Unwrap the Presents in His Prescence)

The Symphony and the Sears Wishbook of Dreams: (7 Ways to Unwrap the Presents in His Prescence)

Here’s what I’ve been thinking about—there is a present of discovery as we sink into God’s presence every day. You hear that? Present. Presence. We get to unwrap His presents—these gifts He’s giving us—in His presence. Every single day. But do we? Do we wait for them? Do we see them? Do we have that anticipation, that excitement we had as kids circling things in the Sears catalog? Or have we just ... lost the wonder?

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Read more about the article LETTER FROM THE EDITOR: Getting Beyond Pintrest Christmas

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR: Getting Beyond Pintrest Christmas

Here’s the thing about those Pinterest quotes, those “Choose Joy This Christmas” signs—when you’re at your lowest, they just bounce off you. They’re flat. One-dimensional words that don’t mean anything when you’re suffocating inside your own head while everyone else is singing carols.

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Read more about the article LETTER FROM THE EDITOR: When Pink Chose Me

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR: When Pink Chose Me

I like pink, but on this particular September day, the shade of pink wasn’t one I’d choose—a tie-in-the-front top that came with very specific instructions that made vulnerability a mandate—not the option.

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Read more about the article A Holiday Hermit’s Guide to Enjoying Family Gatherings (without doubling up on your medication)

A Holiday Hermit’s Guide to Enjoying Family Gatherings (without doubling up on your medication)

while the holidays are supposedly all about coming together, there’s a reason I’d rather hibernate in my stretch pants, messy bun, maybe a day or two past my last shower, and watch “It’s a Wonderful Life” with an endless supply of eggnog (more precisely, the creamy non-alcoholic kind). All that festive chaos? Not exactly my idea of a good time.  As a bipolar mom with manic tendencies and anxiety served with a side of ADHD, holiday gatherings give me a little extra “something” to manage.

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Read more about the article A New Year, A New Light

A New Year, A New Light

As we enter a new year, I must be honest: to me, it just feels heavy.  There’s a sinking feeling that’s been lingering in me these past few months, an urge to put the shutters up on life and keep out whatever the future may bring.  The uncertainty can feel overwhelming, and it’s tempting to shrink back, to withdraw into a place where things feel safer and more manageable. But even in these moments, I’m beginning to recognize something powerful: God has me here, even now, amid all this uncertainty.

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