An Uncommon People
As a little girl, I would admire my grandmother’s fine china dishes. To me, they were the picture of classic beauty. They were a soft white color with a fine line of silver around the rims and edges. …
The Rope of Hope
When I began studying Hebrew through the Biblical Language Center, I had to pick out a Hebrew name to use during class. After much searching, I settled on Tikvah, which means hope. The name resonated with me as I…
That’s Our Dad
Last summer I attended a conference with The Center for Judaic-Christian Studies (JC Studies). Discovering the Hebraic roots of the Christian faith is one of my passions. The weekend was amazing, even though it was much like drinking…
Tangled Beauty
One day a few months ago while I was driving home, it began to lightly snow. We hadn’t had snow fall for a while, as it was either very late in the winter season or early spring. Actually, I…
A Different Yoke
Sometimes reading Scripture feels like I am joining a conversation that is half-way through. References are made that apparently make sense to the original audience, but I am left feeling like I just missed something. I have also found…
A Parent’s View
Being a parent has opened my eyes to many things and widened my experience of the world. I’ve said phrases that I never thought I’d say, such as, “Why is there peanut butter on the toilet seat?” I’ve heard…
Attacked
My husband and I don’t remember what we were discussing or debating. We both remember exactly where we were and the resulting treasured phrase. Kevin and I were driving to church. It was just the two of us as…
Easter Traditions
What are your favorite Easter traditions? Do you have a cherished Easter memory? One of my favorite memories took place not as a child, but somewhat early in my marriage. It was Resurrection Sunday and I was awoken by…
The Eye Guides
Mowing season is about to begin. The grass is turning green as temperatures warm and the sun shines. We have a riding mower as we have several large areas to mow. You would have laughed at the results of…
Cry Out!
One of my sons experienced months of intense spiritual struggle. During this time, my husband and I had many conversations with him to encourage and advise. After an extended period of time with no updates or apparent struggles, I…
Clear the Way!
How many of us rush to tidy up or stash away clutter when we get word that someone is stopping by? When I was in elementary school, my mom would make us clean the entire house before we had…
A Plan to Love
This past week a friend of mine taught Bible study for the first time. We had a chance to talk about her lesson beforehand. It was absolutely delightful to witness her excitement as she shared all that she had…
Recognizing Blessing in Your Curse
I was reminded over the holidays of my limitations and weaknesses. There’s nothing like family to pull out the “best” in us, is there? I love spending time with family and friends, but as an introvert, it is also…
Ugly Warts
Warts. The word itself makes me cringe. They’re ugly. Even the word sounds ugly. No doubt most of us have dealt with them at some point in our life. I didn’t expect them to pop up on my itty…
Overwhelmed to Paralysis
Photo by Jukan Tateisi Life and decision making can be overwhelming. It can overwhelm to the point of paralysis. A tsunami of information, emotions, or tasks can be debilitating. This week I’ve experienced this paralysis and spent time with…
The Nativity’s Present Tense Reality
Merry Christmas! What is one of your favorite celebrations or activities of Christmas? I’d love for you to share. There are many precious and meaningful experiences during the Christmas season. My favorite celebration is the candle lighting while singing…
A Newborn Look on Humility
I longed to see my youngest son’s eyes for days after he was born. If I would hold him, he’d go right to sleep. Every. Single. Time. He’d stay awake for my husband, but not for me. I would…
Celebrating Thankfulness
It is the week of Thanksgiving—a week of gathering, feasting, celebrating, and giving thanks together. This year I’ve been struck by a hidden aspect of giving thanks. It’s a requirement, actually. In reading verse after verse of biblical thanks,…
The Peach Tree
Over the last year I have been through a significant season of involuntary pruning. I have never experienced anything like it, nor did I realize what was going on until I was coming out of it. In fact, I’m…
3 Years, 100 Posts
Three years ago this week, I published my very first post. Now The Cookie Exchange Blog has a library of over 100 posts. What a ride it's been! It has been exciting and challenging (many times both at the same…
Carried or Carried Away
Our preschool neighbor boy approached my teenage son and asked him, “Hey, which muscle is bigger?” The boy then flexed both of his arms, showing off his preschool muscle. My son carefully inspected both biceps, giving them a good…
Not Safe
Keeping up with my kids’ homework is challenging! Smart phones are such a blessing when it comes to homework issues. If my son doesn’t have his spelling list, I can send out a group text to a few…
Sealed
I searched through the school’s mound of lost-and-found items, looking for anything that looked familiar. Wow! How many kids have the same lunchbox? I almost grabbed one, but realized it was not marked with “KIFFE” in black permanent marker. …
Asking the Wrong Questions
This week I have found it very difficult to write. The events over the last two weeks has left me drained and unsettled. Sure, it’s been busy with preparations for school, but that has been the easy part. …
Changed
Isn’t it wonderful to spend time with a close friend you haven’t seen in years? That joy was mine for a few hours last month. My now long-distance friend and I were able to see each other face to…
Stealing Prayer’s Thunder
The other morning, I had taken my prayer journal out to the back porch for some quiet time in prayer. The porch is one of my favorite places to go for some peace and quiet. As I began…
First Step of Perseverance
Life is meant to be lived in community. Together we strengthen and support one another. We share joys and we share sorrows. Life comes with difficult experiences and pain. Becoming a Christian doesn’t bless us out of hardship. Instead,…
The Scent of Water
Its roots may grow old in the ground and its stump die in the soil, yet at the scent of water it will bud and put forth shoots like a plant. Job 14:8-9 Photo by Qinghill A friend recently…
Attitudes
Wouldn’t it be great if all Christians believed the same? We wouldn’t have all kinds of quarrels over differences of opinion and doctrine. Unfortunately, we don’t agree. In fact, I’d say it’s near impossible to find even one person…
Identity Balance
A few months ago, my cousin graduated from army basic training. He graduated at an army base that was only 2 hours from my house. This provided a great opportunity to get together with out-of-state family. There were six…
Shaken!
Shaken. Life, health, loss, doubts—any of these can shake us to the core. Being shaken is unsettling, disorienting, and does not come to resolution quickly. For a season of undetermined length, one struggles with upheaval. I have been in…
Truth Strengthens
When in difficult times, lies seem to pop up like dandelions. It’s like Satan knows we’re down and he launches a few well-placed blows to polish us off. His desire is to destroy us, or at least steal or…
The Relentless Nudge
Have you ever experienced “the relentless nudge”? It is a nagging feeling or thought that you should do a certain something. It’s usually something that doesn’t make sense or something that is out of your comfort zone. The relentless…
Seeking the Hand or the Face
I’m back again! It grieved me to miss a week with you. I simply could not write or even get on the website. I’ve been suffering from some pain that has made it very difficult to think clearly. I…
Why Imitate?
As a Christian, why do you follow God’s ways? What is the underlying reason for choosing God’s methods instead of your own? These questions challenge us to deeply evaluate our actions and motives. Take a moment before reading…
Love That Grows in Abundance
When I started dating my husband, I thought I knew him relatively well. But, as I got to know him more, I realized some of the preconceived notions I had about him were untrue. In fact, I’m still learning…
Learning From Loss
Photo by Karim Manjra One evening this week, I was recounting my day with my husband. It seemed like event after event left me with a sad, heavy feeling. I couldn’t put a finger on why I was feeling…
Stay with Me
This post was originally published on December 3, 2018. I've been thinking about and discussing this concept quite a bit recently and thought this post was a great way to start out a new year. Instead of conjuring up…
Advent of Grace
Grace is coming. God’s grace is upon you! That’s the message of Christmas, and no where is it more clearly seen than in the Gospel of Luke. Christians use the term grace so much, but do we really understand…
More Than a Savior
Who really needs another thing to do? There are those who love to-do lists and those that avoid them at all costs. Whether they are written down or mental lists, we each have an awareness of those tasks that…
Bewildered: Then and Now
Recently, I’ve been reading through the book of Esther and a verse stuck in my mind. It’s after Haman issues the decree that all Jews are to be completely destroyed on a single day. The wording of the decree…
Looking into Worship
A week or so ago, a friend of mine asked me to look into the idea of worship from an Old Testament perspective. She knows I’ve been studying biblical Hebrew for a couple years and was curious if the…
Your Work and Cain and Abel
What do you do during the day? What is your job? Are there jobs that are more important or holier than others? For example, do you view a position in full-time ministry as a higher calling than working in…
A Revolution of Faith
Faith. It’s an abstract concept. Recently, I’ve been connecting some dots regarding faith and I’d like to share them with you. Come, connect these dots with me and we’ll find that it reveals a map outlining a path forward…
A God Who Celebrates
I remember a season of discipline my oldest son went through when he was near preschool age. He was a repeat offender. We tried all sorts of approaches to help him learn and continue in the right way, but…
To Stand
Time and time again, God’s gifts and provision never cease to amaze me. He calls us into a relationship with Him and yet He does all the heavy work. Let’s look at a few examples. James 4:7-8a (NIV) commands,…
Summer Break
My welcome page stated, “There’s a new post every Monday.” Every Monday except last Monday! I’ve been posting weekly devotional thoughts for over a year and a half now. Now, it is time for a break. I have decided to…
Learning to Eat
This week I was surprised. I had just finished mowing the yard and slapped the dust off my clothing. I didn’t have time to take a shower. It was already lunchtime and I had nothing started. I finished putting…
A Shift in Focus
I have greatly missed meeting together as a church body to worship each Sunday morning. Churches around the world are making adjustments and doing what they can. I feel myself relating in some small way with the lament psalmists…
The Eagerly Anticipated
Recently I ordered a writing desk. I spent hours combing the internet for that special desk that would work best in my space. We don't have an extra room for an office or guest room, so the corner of…
He Came to Destroy
There are times when I don’t want to hear any more about the coronavirus. I get overloaded, but it’s all anyone talks about. It has pervaded every aspect of our lives. This pandemic has the devil’s fingerprints all over…
Feeling Lost
Has anyone else felt not quite like themself recently? This past week I attempted to sort out these feelings for myself. This quarantine experience has made me more aware of our design to be in community. Each of us…
Christ Breaks Through
This past week I focused my quiet time on John’s resurrection account in Chapter 20. (And just to be clear, I use the terms focus and quiet very loosely. After all, my boys are home from school.) As I…
Meeting Us in Our Need
The other day I was talking to a friend of mine on the phone. We’ve been friends for decades and have managed to keep in touch. Every few weeks or so we catch up over the phone. We never…
The Jesus Candle: A Home Celebration of Easter
Many are wondering how to celebrate Easter this year, as most of us are confined to our homes. Here’s a way to observe Christ’s death and resurrection in a simple, yet meaningful celebration. It’s enjoyed by adults and children…
Holding Your Hand
I was in trouble, and I knew it. I was too exhausted to do anything about it, even though there was nothing I could do. I was limited to listening as my doctor conversed with my husband in our…
Choose Transformation
Just over a week ago, I was scheduled to teach on John Chapter 19. It was at that point, on that morning, that everything normal and routine began to change. Change: sometimes we welcome it and other times we…
A Time to Rest in Hope
I was talking to a friend this week as events were shutting down and our weekend became increasingly more open. She stated it was as if the country was being forced into a mass “time out.” All of our…
Loving God with Every Emotion
God created us as emotional, physical, spiritual, and logical beings. We are complex. Which of these four aspects do you find yourself discounting most often? Why is that? I’m curious how you answered. If you are able, write a…
Stepping into New Places
Sixteen years ago, my husband and I relocated from Austin, Texas, to mid-Missouri. Relocate: what a word! “Re” is a prefix which means “again”. Relocating is locating again, and that doesn’t just pertain to a house, but locating again…
The Danger of Isolation
My husband, Kevin, recently sat with a friend as he was taken off life support. Kevin was there as his friend made the transition from this life to the next. This man had been over to our house many…
Your Story as a “But God” Story
Each of us has a story to tell. Do you see your story as a God story? It’s probably not scripted or cast as you might desire, but God’s hand is in it. …but God. Two seemingly simple yet…
The Glory of Finding Value
Have you ever received something that was less than the quality you were expecting? Photo by Dennis Maliepaard Maybe it was a food item that looked absolutely delicious in an advertisement, but when you received your order, the actual…
Staying in Face
Welcome back to The Cookie Exchange, a space where fellow believers are encouraged to share experiences and insight with one another. We all have different gifts, insight, and experiences. Part of God’s plan is that we learn and grow…
Deceptive Obedience
How do you learn and retain information? Some people learn best by hearing (auditory), others by seeing (visual), and still others by doing (kinesthetic). I am primarily a visual learner and processor. I create charts, color code, and doodle…
Oaks in Shadows, Revisited
This post has been on my mind for the past several weeks. If you've been a part of The Cookie Exchange for a year, you may recognize it. I posted this right before the New Year last year. It's…
An Imperfect Christmas
Do you have favorite Christmas memories or a particular Christmas that stands out from the rest? My family certainly had one when I was growing up. I believe I was in the 5th grade. We had recently moved into…
Monsters of Darkness
When I was about four years old, I met a monster. It was terrifying, especially as it took place in the middle of the night when I was alone. I was sound asleep when the monster made a frightening…
Hands Give Thanks… by Throwing?
Mowing is quite the chore when you live on several acres. Most of our acreage is forest, but there are still several acres that need to be mowed. It requires a chunk of time to knock it all out.…
I Was Wrong: The Power of Humility
My husband and I had the opportunity to go out for dinner together the other night, just the two of us. It started out somewhat rocky as we couldn’t decide on a restaurant. We also had a time restraint,…
Roll It
Winter has come early! For my family that means firing up the wood stove. Oh, I do love warming up in front of the fire! Enjoying that toasty warmth requires some preparation. We have a good supply of wood…
Happy Birthday
Happy birthday, Cookie Exchange! Photo by Nick Fewings I can’t believe it’s been a year. In some ways it seems much longer and in others it seems much less. Birthdays are a great opportunity to look back, review memories,…
Where Are You Going?
It can be an adventure almost any time my husband drives. Our driving styles are very different, to say the least. This has provided a lot of fun as well as several arguments over the years. I have enjoyed…
Unstuck Prayers
Each night, our family joins together for family prayer before bed. Each of us has a turn to pray. It has been fun to watch the boys’ prayers evolve over the years. I remember one season of family…
Cooking it up in Community
Over the past year or two, I have been teaching my boys how to cook. It’s been an adventure and learning experience for myself as well. I learned that the difference between a teaspoon (t) and a tablespoon…
Inadequate
When I started writing, I was not a writer. In fact, I still don’t feel like a writer. I am self-conscious every time I write a letter to my kids’ English teachers. Nonetheless, here I am writing. It all…
Pause to Understand
When traveling, one will find that although people may speak the same language, there are many different accents and pronunciations. It’s true even here within the United States. Someone from northern Minnesota speaks differently than someone from Louisiana…
Be. Do. Have.
A few times a year I plan on hosting a guest writer here on The Cookie Exchange. Today, I’d like to introduce you to my dear friend and fellow teacher and writer, Amy Craighead. One year ago, she…
The Dance
Have you ever taken dancing lessons? Oh, if you have, I would love to be sitting across a table from you right now, listening to your stories! There are so many interesting stories about why people started dancing lessons…
Life Unboxed
Have you ever done one of those life-prioritization exercises? The activity where you list categories of your life in order of importance? The exercise can range from a simple ranking of just a few items to a complex matrix. …
What’s in a Name?
Baby names! Oh, what a process! The naming of children or pets can be a painful process. I remember the hours I spent pouring through baby name books, scanning for ideas. When I’d come across a name that…
When Satan Attacks
Earlier this year, a friend of mine and I were talking about some difficult aspects of life. My friend shared one story which stuck in my mind. Something disturbed me about my friend’s experience. I couldn’t put a finger…
Are You There?
I don’t multi-task exceptionally well, so I get a great deal of satisfaction when it’s possible. I love my Bluetooth earpiece. It allows me to catch up with friends and family over the phone while I do chores such…
Speak Up!
Growing up, there was a phrase I heard over and over again from my parents. Even though I heard it many times, I never found it annoying. It served more as a cue and encouragement. The phrase still echoes…
Steward With Involvement
My husband and I have two boys. Our oldest was a busy little guy. As an infant he HAD to be mobile. Let me tell you, it was such a blessing when that boy was mobile on his…
Long-Term Investment
In this season of life, I am in desperate need of balance. I feel like I am juggling with more than I should be. Perhaps it is due to the summer season, lack of routine, and two more…
“Very” Together
We’ve had our dog Ruffles for over two years now. She’s a sweetheart, smart, obedient, and loveable. Ruffles is a small, almost completely black poodle mix, but she started to resemble a short-legged stuffed sausage. She was rounding out! …
Great or Small
The other day I was talking to a friend of mine on the phone. We’ve been friends for decades and have managed to keep in touch. Every few weeks or so we catch up over the phone. We never…
Put a Fork in It
One day I was making some dough with my two boys. They loved poking holes in the rolled dough before it was to be baked. They both had forks and were stabbing the rolled dough at furious speeds. Those…
Did I Misunderstand?
Words, definitions, and connotations can be tricky things. Clear communication is difficult! A certain word may have a particular meaning to me and a different meaning to you. Many times this is due to our experience of the…
Taste and See…
This week we are doing something a little different. Roughly once a quarter I’d like to host a guest writer. It’s all a part of what I’d like The Cookie Exchange to become: an exchange of ideas and experiences.…
The Other Brother
Take a moment to seriously consider this question. What is of deepest importance to you; right and wrong or relationships? Do you find they are somewhat neck-and-neck in importance or does one greatly outweigh the other? We can see…
Honest Pain
God created us as emotional, physical, spiritual, and logical beings. We are complex. Which of these four aspects do you find yourself discounting most often? Why is that? I’m curious how you answered. If you are able, write a…
Praying in the Band
Several years ago, my mom traveled to speak at a conference. We spoke on the phone before she left. She was a bit anxious about the engagement and asked for my prayers. I thought it was unusual for her…
Leading the Way
For a short period of time, my husband and I had a couple sheep with our few goats. To say it was a learning experience would be an understatement. We got schooled! Goats and sheep are vastly different even…
…But God
Each of us has a story to tell. Do you see your story as a God story? It’s probably not scripted or cast as you might desire, but God’s hand is in it. …but God. Two seemingly simple yet…
My Cup?
This past week I had the opportunity to speak on psalm 16. I enjoy teaching because it challenges me to dive even deeper into God’s Word. I especially enjoy digging into concepts that are unfamiliar in order to…
True Reality
I was a thousand miles away from home and soon to be over 8,000 miles away. Home was now a two-person tent. There was no electricity or other modern conveniences. I had just turned 13. I was in the…
A Tapestry of Worship
One Sunday morning at church, I found myself positioned behind a giant of a man. He was over a foot taller than I and about twice as wide. Needless to say, his form took up most of my…
We Are a Family
Have you ever experienced a time when you realized that the words coming out of your mouth were the exact same words that your parents spoke to you as a youth? Do you remember exactly where you were…
What Is That to You?
It was Saturday morning. There was a lot to do around the house in a short amount of time. Company was coming. Could we make it all happen in time? I was counting on my two boys to make…
Oaks in Shadows
Winter came early in Missouri this year. For my family winter means firing up the wood stove to keep the house toasty warm. It also means getting out in the woods to harvest hardwood trees for next year’s winter. …
Dumb Sheep and Helpless Babe
My husband loves animals. If you’ve read the “About Me” page, you know that we have a few goats. If it were up to Kevin, we’d have many more animals than just goats. Every year he wants to add…
Put it on and Believe It!
I looked down to the filthy mass in my hands. Trying to maintain composure I asked, “You used the nice guest towels for what?!” My husband explained that he made a mess in the garage and needed to clean…
Strength in Life
Click here for audio. Listen to "Strength in Life" Photo by Daniil Silantev Is anyone truly happy where they are? You know the saying, the grass is always greener on the other side. All of us, at some point…
Beyond the Labels
Photo by Nico Bhlr Many years ago, a shepherd invited me to her farm to meet her small flock of sheep. We trudged down a hill by the way of a beaten earth path to a small weathered barn. …
Making Cookies
Click here for audio. Listen to "Making Cookies" I was going through a tough time and it didn’t help to think that God didn’t need me. I love serving Him. There is so much that is rewarding and good that…