The last blog in our August guest series is written by my own dear daughter Mary. Enter into her world as you read her story of a hard year and a sweet discovery.  This year has been a hard one. Every year has its highs and lows, its moments of victory and its moments of sorrow ... but this year was a whole different level of hard. This year, I was a mama of four for the first time (ages seven and under)—homeschooling 1st grade and pre-K with a two year old on one nap schedule and a nursing infant on an entirely different schedule ... while my husband deployed for 12 months to Afghanistan, and the kids and I left our entire lives behind […] Read more »

Please enjoy this encouraging blog written by one of my writing mentors, Lucinda Secrest McDowell. Lucinda nails it in this blog, and I've asked permission to share it with you. Many deep truths, shared so succinctly. —Sharon Gamble I was once young and full of it. Ideas. Opinions. Advice. Me. Truth-as-I-saw-it. Then … Life. I grew up and learned how much I really didn’t know. So I began a new quest. For Vision. Purpose. Compassion. Truth. Hope. Grace. My Story … Wisdom. Today I’d love to share with you What I Learned After I Knew It All … 1. I am deeply loved. You are too. This is where I hang my ultimate identity—I am “God’s Beloved.” If that sounds a bit presumptuous, so be it. In […] Read more »

Please enjoy this encouraging guest blog from my friend, Nancy Lindgren. Consider what small things you might do to make a difference as you read. How can you be a drop of water in a thirsty world. Thanks for these wise words, Nancy! —Sharon Gamble Last week I had one of those weeks where I was doing a lot but I began to think, “Does any of this make a difference?” Do you ever feel that way? Your wheels are spinning, your to-do list is long, and you stop to gain perspective …“will this really matter for eternity?” One day last week I received two phone calls from mentees who told me about their courage to step out in faith and become a mentor. Someday […] Read more »

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” —Luke 10:41-42 NIV (emphasis mine) I suspect you’ve read the story of Martha and her worries. Let’s face it. If you or I had more than twelve hungry men coming over for dinner, we’d be just a little bit frazzled, too. And if one of them just happened to be the Son of God? The desire to make everything perfect would notch up the pressure, wouldn’t it? Martha wanted everything to go well. It’s hard to blame her. I think we all can understand the resentment she felt toward Mary, happily […] Read more »