A Cultivated Life Blog Content

What is your story? We all have one. You know, the story that contains the good, the bad, the ugly of...

Are you feeling OK? Our typical response it a quick, "I'm fine." Even when it's not true. It really is OK to not be OK. Even when others don't know how to handle this truth. You don't have to make yourself OK to be OK, in fact, attempting to do so might keep you from...

My friend Tammy asked this question a slightly different way, "Is God interested in the details of our lives?" This discussion has come up over the years in different places. Some say God is interested in every single detail, down to the color of clothes we wear. Some...

One day, in the middle of heavy tears and feeling like a piece of my heart was collapsing, I got an email. That email invited me to contribute to an upcoming book by a community of encouraging and hope-filled writers. 80 authors altogether, and every one of them...

I pray. I plead. I beg on my knees. I want something big and I'm sure God wants it too. Surely, if it's a good thing and it lines up with what God desires, then I should get it. Right? When any of us pray fervently for months and years, it's easy to wonder why the...

Is that really you, God?   Should I move?   Should I stay?   One Option: Nah, that doesn't make sense. I'll just stick with what I know.   Another Option: Hmmm...maybe it is you. I don't understand it though. It sounds awfully hard, or too small....

I’ve been wrestling with a tough decision lately. It’s tough because it means facing the reality of what’s on my plate and the fact that it’s overloaded. The truth is, I’ve done it again. There are so many things I want to do, that I say yes. Yes, yes, yes. Lord, let...

I'm weary today. If I told you of every day I felt weary you'd grow weary of hearing it. All too often I ask myself, "Do I stick with this theme of cultivating a life well-lived? How do I keep writing about it when I experience numerous challenges that make me feel...

Father God, We're in battle. This battle is one you're intimately familiar with and one you've fought. The enemy seeks to destroy us through every avenue. Through the good things we experience and the bad. Somehow he finds a way to get us feeling weak, disoriented,...

When someone is hurting, it can be challenging to know what to do. Hearing their hard story may cause our faces to reveal conflicted hearts. Eyes shift towards the floor and our body language shows defeat. Or, the opposite occurs. We jump into assumptions and...

I awoke at 2:25 AM. Again. Ruthless thoughts tend to permeate my mind when I lay down with nothing to distract me. Sometimes I can't stop the replay of hurtful words and broken dreams. Depression and I have danced off and on for the last few years despite a heart...

When familiar feelings of depression loom close, and the enemy’s roaring a bit louder, it’s easy to want to stay in bed and shut the whole world out. Sunday morning, howling winds outside only exacerbated the swirling feelings inside. I did not want to go to church....

Can I just say, the last couple of months have been hard. Like downright, knock you off your feet, curl up in a ball, and weep kind of hard. Frankly, I'd say the last 4 years have been this way off and on. But then, I realize I might say this a lot. Depending on what...

Christmas has always held an incredible sense of wonder, particularly in childhood. Our family carried out traditions which helped me feel safe, secure, and loved. I've passed this on with a desire to rekindle old memories of joy and begin similar flames for my...

Welcome special guest, Heather Olson, to the blog today. Heather is a member of the Rise Up Writer's community and graciously offered to share her words of encouragement. She shares her heart in an honest way and encourages all of us as we face challenges in...

Please welcome my friend and a special guest to this blog, Jen Ferguson. I'm thrilled to host her words here and I pray you are encouraged with them. Jen is a woman who lives what she says. Her love for God and her wisdom in helping others has been a huge...

When reading or hearing this verse, I've been known to cringe a bit. Not as much today as I have in the past, but still…does it get to you as much as it does to me? It's right there in the beginning of the book of James. He begins his address to God’s people dispersed...

As I look back and consider the reasons I've lived stuck, I see many. I see them now as I've fought hard to know the kind of freedom Christ offers, realizing there must be more to this Christian life than the pain and suffering I've known. God's shown me things like...

Scarcity lies to our hearts on a daily basis. It tells us that what we have, and even what we could have, is never enough. It stands on the false presumption that to have more in the way of tangible things and in the way of power, control, and influence, is what we...

Sitting in my bedroom, back when we fostered on a ranch and I was probably hiding or taking a break while a dozen kids were occupied elsewhere, I remember our nanny coming in and saying something heart-jolting to me. Maybe it was because of the stack of books she saw,...

For as much passion as I pour into the belief there is always more peace, joy, and freedom to know in Christ, I also wholeheartedly believe in the value of finding healing for the whole person. This can look differently for different people and in different seasons....

perseverance : steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success (Oxford Dictionary) perseverance : steady persistence in adhering to a course of action, a belief, or a purpose; steadfastness. (The Free Dictionary.com) The times I’ve...

I can’t tell you how many times I think I know something one minute, and the next I have no idea what I was just thinking of. In some ways its similar to what many of us deal with as we get older, as we become parents, and as life just gets busy. However, this kind of...

Sometimes I wish I could stop being me. All the things I don’t like about myself come rushing to mind and I must realize the enemy is active or I’ll get caught in a downward spiral. I bet I’m not the only one. The enemy and his horde of followers, they are liars and...

My head hurts and I think a cold is starting to settle in. Actually, it could just be allergies getting the best of me as they tend to do. I went allergy free for a few weeks which was a miracle, but they’re back. Darn it. I’m sitting here wondering what to write. How...

When I’ve laid in bed suffering the effects of depression and anxiety, dreams sparked here and there but I had little energy to do anything with them. Still, I fought hard for those dreams to not die out completely. Somehow, I knew that if I refused to give them space...

Of all the choices marked down in my journal, and the few days I have left to complete this series, I’m drawn to a choice I’ve yet to pen. It’s one which makes our hearts beat wild with excitement and fear all at the same time. Could we dare? Would we dare? Do we...

There are times in many a believer’s life when they have what is referred to as a mountain-top experience. Maybe it happens during a church service, or at a retreat/conference/event as loads of excitement generates, or through worship and prayer as hearts are set on...

A heated exchange between two people and suddenly the entire atmosphere changes from casual, calm opportunities for connection to postures of defense ready to shield from further attack, or postures of offense making sure we attack strongest. We’re seeing a lot of...

Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. ~ Jeremiah 33:3 Me and God, we’re wrestling today. A bit of a tousle really, and it has me all kinds of worked-up. Maybe you know what that’s like. Have you ever felt...

Upon entering the world of writers in an online age, I found myself realizing how false my quick judgments can be and how often I assume wrongly. For one, I have a tendency to assume that every one I meet has the same value system as me. It’s kind of not a safe...

I don’t exactly delight in giving God my junk. For some strange reason, and I think perhaps I’m not alone in this, it seems preferable to hold it all in than to give my worst to a God I know to be vastly good and pure. Why in the world would I dare to think He wants...

When you reach “the end of yourself”, what does it mean? To some, it means they are out of options. To some, it means they have nothing left to give. To others, it means they are suicidal. For a believer who’s been chased by a loving God and repeatedly nudged to let...

Taking care of ourselves is often misunderstood, but God has so much for us in it. Considering what self care is, what it isn’t, and why we need it, is vitally important to cultivating a life well-lived as a Christian. If you know any of my story, you know I gave and...

We’ve been tackling some potentially challenging stuff in this series, 31 Choices We Can All Make When We Feel Stuck. How are you feeling? What thoughts have you been having along the way? The thing is, feeling stuck can look like a lot of things. Like not moving...

This morning I awoke in darkness. The hour was early as I began to write. Maybe too early. I found it challenging to begin and prayed the words would come. “God, I need you.” I pray this short prayer daily and often throughout. When I don’t know what to ask or say...

Our nation feels incredibly polarized and tenuous these days. The current political climate promotes feelings of fear, scarcity, helplessness, arrogance, outrage, and a whole lot of head shaking. As I scan my feeds, I see many opinions as well as a whole lot of people...

A couple months ago, I made an open confession to being a self-obsessed woman. Sometimes I can’t stop thinking about all the ways things should be and how to fix them. My strengths are in learning and gathering input as well as responsibility and connection. I want to...

My heart is hugged. I told a friend this recently in response to her words and care. Several others in my community have done the same in the last few weeks. These are important moments to remember and hold on to because there tends to come a time when forgetfulness...

The famous emperor strutted his stuff in front of all the people in the land. His elegance was grand. His fashion impeccable. Everyone would see. Everyone would know. He was without clothes. A young child declared the state of things as he saw it and a ripple of truth...

How are you? Fine. It’s what we all say. People like me might be willing to give a longer answer, because sometimes you just want to spew it all out. But the reality is that most people aren’t interested in knowing more. Someone once told me that if they are...

Today is a day I wish never existed. It’s one of those days where it seems like all the stops have been pulled out and everything within you wants to shake your fists at very same God whom you long to adore. Ever been there? Would you admit it? Part of me clings...

When I think about the way we forge our own trails or the ways in which we might feel helpless and stuck, I think about how often we need help but aren’t willing to ask for it. Do you ask for help? If so, what kind of help do you ask for? Are you looking for others to...

I heard a woman on a call-in radio show the other day. She began to share her story before asking a question, as most callers do. One claim after another stated how everything was happening to her. How people wouldn’t call her back. How the church wouldn’t acquiesce...

They say that when the going gets tough, the tough get going. I don't really know who they are and sometimes, I'm not so sure I agree with what they say. On the one hand I do. I totally get it. On the other hand, somewhere in this phrase and how it gets used, is...

A few weeks ago, in one of my Facebook groups, a woman put out a call for prayer because her teenager left home before turning eighteen and they were hanging out with dangerous crowds. My heart immediately jerked and I wanted to lunge forward and give her a hug,...

I want to keep this post bottled up inside. I don’t really want to write it for all kinds of reasons. I could tell you it’s wiser to keep it to myself, because over-sharing and all. I could also tell you it’s safer to live without telling others about our faults. Or,...

Can you have joy without a little happiness? Or dare I say, a lot of happiness? Could you dare to pursue happiness while continuing to love holiness? This question of joy without happiness may seem odd. I know several who love God and live with a pursuit of happiness...

A few years ago, prior to moving to "the ranch" where we fostered many and my life became forever altered, I set out to paint our home in pretty much every room and living space. On the southeast side, a long stretch of wall turned golden yellow. One accent wall in...

It took me days to write the story of young Grace and how her father declared the goodness of God in the face of her tragic death. My emotions caught me in my throat as I became engulfed in a flood of feeling. I have not known this kind of loss personally, but I have...

Did y'all see the BIG glasses I wore recently? If not, the pics are below and on Instagram. Oh my, the silliness that happens when you grab these strange things on your way out the door. You see, we attended this fabulous appreciation event for volunteers at our...

The other day I posted a status update which wasn’t quite in line with my typical word sharing. It’s one I wondered about later. I wondered if it was wise or foolish, brave or stupid, and if I should have left alone the current hot topic of the day altogether. In the...

I’ve been talking about bravery lately, particularly with those who participate in my Rise Up Writers group. "Be Brave," I say. And I believe it. I wonder, though, if my attempts to encourage others come out with the scent of tainted waters. Because, for many of us,...

Recently, Daddy D and I altered our plans, ones we’ve had in place for many years. Before I agreed to the change, I choked up inside because I knew. Deep inside, I knew. It’s time to let go. Again. With deep breaths and the allowance of a few tears, I made this subtle...

This story chokes me up like crazy and it reminds me why God is giving me the word 'Surrender' for the year. Because when we release our idea of what must be God because it's good, we find out how really good ideas can be when they are God's. In this year of...

At least once a week I plan my grocery trip & store routes for all the pickups, returns, and drop offs. I like to be efficient so I plan them in order. Then I list my items on Cozi and estimate the time I need with a little extra for extra events which may occur,...

Sometimes when I sit down to write, all I know to do is pray. So I leave my blank screen and head for journals filled with desperate pleas among testimonies and praise. I need to get the yuck out and the words which stick on my insides. In the confines of private...

For at least 30 years I've played the same Christmas music every Christmas morning. Amy Grant's original Christmas album is a must have for the moments planned just right. Like when the fireplace blazes, egg nog awaits and every one sits calmly positioned to open...

Two weekends ago I looked forward to a quiet evening hibernating alone in our closed-in garage while the rest of the world went door to door for Halloween. After all, no one needed to know I was there in the windowless room. I didn’t want to run to the store. Or pay...

For several days in a row, and hours on end, I’ve stared at my computer or fiddled at my desk wondering how the words would come & what to put down. I considered a blogging break after Write 31 Days, but I have work to do. Like an overdue newsletter for Rise Up...

Here we are, at the end of this #Write31Day challenge. Yesterday, I mentioned how my writing took a turn from what I planned. Originally? I thought about pointing to the things of God which we can believe in. Like His character, His goodness, His steadfastness, His...

Dear reader, today is the second to last day of Write 31 Days, 31 Days to Believe. If you’ve stuck with me this far, can I just give you a big, hearty thank you? I mean it. You bless me with your presence, your stories, your words of encouragement and how you let me...

Please join me in welcoming special guest, Amy Breitmann. Don't forget to check out the ViBella Jewelry giveaway either!.This post is part of the 31 Days to Believe series in October 2015. What we believe impacts how we live. Choose to believe &...