Focusing on the love of God changes us. It changes our very beings. And it brings hope to impossible situations. Today, as I was going to work in the rain, I felt God’s hug. It’s strange. Here I was driving to a simple cleaning job, and God reached over and held me close. No doubt…
When I awoke this morning, I knew, above all the chaos and noise, that God is faithful. Maybe it was the morning light shining in the window, but I knew. Then I went to the kitchen to make coffee, and the wretched dog had gone through the trash. But I still knew that God is…
I’ve been on a journey to see what decisions I can make as a Christian that will bring about lasting change. My life isn’t “awful,” but I need some significant change! Changes that last. I feel like I’ve been wandering in the desert for forty years, seeing the same landmarks. (This happened to the Israelite…
Lately, I’ve been hearing a lot about the power of declaring God’s truth over your life. At first, it seemed a little “hocus pocus”. But the more I thought about it, the more sense it made! I became a little more willing to try this new idea! Over the last few months, I have been…
Sometimes, we all need a miracle, and this post is about what to do when you need a miracle! It’s not an easy fix. I don’t believe that there are easy fixes for some things. But I do believe that we start from a place where God is good! It’s a small step, but one…
This week, I have been coping with shame. Something happened. I tried my best to handle the situation the best I could, but I failed. The “I should’ve done this instead” list began to surface. And I found myself embarrassed and ashamed, sending a frantic apologetic text to a friend. All was right, and she…
I found a renewed interest in the names of God while actively fighting cancer. A friend contacted me when she heard what I was going through and gave me a list of the names of God. Using different names for someone promotes intimacy. Words like “dad, sweetheart, son, daughter, friend” bring about a certain intimacy….
It’s not easy to find your faith after trauma. After battling breast cancer for the last eight months, I’ve been having trouble trusting God and the path he has for me. (For more on Fighting Breast Cancer as a Single Mom-you may find this post helpful!} https://www.singlemomoutwest.com/health/how-to-fight-cancer/ I admit that this battle made me doubt…
Forgiveness as a Christian is tricky. It’s flippantly handed out as an afterthought. But there’s much more to it than that. As a single mom, I’ve had my share of opportunities to practice forgiveness. However, I admit that it hasn’t always been my first choice. There are reasons for this. They can range from not…
We all have one: that mountain you must cross for things to get better. And it’s not just any mountain. It’s the big one. You know, that chance to be strong and courageous. Mountains come in different sizes. Some days, it’s a walk in the park. Others, it makes you feel like you are hanging…
I’ve never given much thought to putting on the whole armor of God. It was just a random verse in the Bible. However, I have lately come to realize the wisdom of applying this verse tangibly and comprehensively. My failure to put on the whole armor of God has resulted in my being weak, indecisive, passive,…
Gaining self-esteem as a single mother can be challenging, but it impacts every aspect of our lives. One day, I woke up without any self-esteem. Oh, yeah, that’s right; it was in the third grade. The cool girls I sat next to in school told me that I was absolutely “not cool.” I remember being…
“Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.” Psalms 37:3 This verse is brilliant because that’s where we’re at. Because dwelling in the land and doing good is available to all of us. Most of us did not set out to become single parents. It’s…
Endurance and grit are qualities that Christian moms possess. Life isn’t easy. That’s not a bad thing. But these qualities help us to hold on a little longer when things are hard. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 This kind of grit and determination…
Words of encouragement for single moms. Encouragement for single moms is vital! Life is challenging, and finding hope can be a daunting task. One of the most encouraging things to hear when you struggle is, “This isn’t over yet.” It’s easy to see why that brings hope. That’s why this is one of my favorite…
Facing trials as a Christian can bring deep comfort. Christians know that God loves them. They may not entirely understand what is happening, but they know God sees their suffering and has a plan. Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of…
These are some great ideas on how to maintain focus in your life: Staying focused is a valuable skill, and here are a few ideas to help you maintain focus in your busy life. We see it in leaders, athletes, and businesses. And every once in a while, we find it in a person close…
There are days I don’t understand God’s plan and timing. During these times, I’m tempted to question God’s goodness. Somehow, I know I’m not the only one. I’ve heard the stories from single moms and lived through my own. And I’m left confused. I know God is good, but some days, it doesn’t feel like…
Bible verse memorization may be something you’ve never considered. After all, we are barely making it as it is. I’m convinced single moms are overworked and overstressed daily. Why go that extra mile? And why force those whining kids to use their brains? My answer is, “You should do this because of its impact on…
Steps to freedom in Christ are taken slowly. Sometimes, you can’t see how far you’ve come until you look back at your path. Holidays make me think. I have sent the kids off to see their dad. And strangely, I am no longer sad or broken over this. Instead, I am aware of how far…
Learning how to feel more positive about life is a skill that all of us need. It wasn’t long ago that the doldrums of winter set in. The lack of sunlight and a never-ending supply of complications began to get to me. The truth is, the calendar may say it’s spring. But, oh no! It…
Some days, we need a new song and a fresh start. I once knew a man who had struggled with the same thing for years. He was exhausted. During this time of exhaustion, Satan pressed hard on him. He believed the only way to remove the burden was to give in and give up. I…
It wasn’t very long ago that reality snuck in. I gained a full understanding of the lies I had believed and the mistakes I was making. I wondered how to admit mistakes and move on. The truth is like seeing yourself in a well-lit room in a full-length mirror. Rather unpleasant. But every once in…
Finding rest for your soul means quieting yourself before God and centering yourself. It’s a challenge for everyone, but peace requires it. Here is my favorite, peaceful music. On the urge to run. Away. Far away. I’ll be honest: this week, I wanted to RUN. And while I was at it, I wanted it to…
Giving yourself grace and talking kindly about yourself may be the start of finding peace regarding your past. It’s around this time of year that I get spring fever. I have forgotten last year’s gardening fails and chicken woes, and I am ready to start over! Winter lasts forever here (I honestly don’t think I’m…
Gaining a positive self-image is possible, but we must rethink our identity. Seeing ourselves as daughters of “The King” can give us a new start! The starting point requires us to slow down long enough to deal with our uncomfortable feelings. This deep sense of unworthiness? I’ve seen it a hundred times. In others and…
Sometimes, I don’t recognize the gifts from God. I’m so wrapped up in difficult circumstances that I miss them. While wrapping the Christmas gifts last night, I had some lulls. It’s nothing big, but I am slightly tired of the complications. And thinking that life would be better if it were easier. A lot easier….
Being grateful is always a choice. It may mean sorting through what you thought should happen in your life and looking for and finding things to be grateful for. The way it is. My life isn’t terrible. I’m a lot better off than lots of people. I have two older vehicles, a small (barely worth…
Some days are just hard, and this is hope for the hard days. Some days, I’d like to scream, but it would do little good. No one would listen. And then you would have to apologize. And who likes to do that? Murphy’s Law. Murphy’s Law. When things can go wrong. They will go wrong….
Finding hope for the Christian single mom is essential. Hope will lead you through the dark days. Statistics for a single mom can be terrifying. And the reality isn’t much different. We do hard all day long. When I first became a single mom, I was so overwhelmed. It took me a while to realize…
