CANDACE COFER

I sure am glad God doesn't play games with us with the longings and questions of our hearts. Today, we're connecting Dr. Seuss' Please Try to Remember the First of Octember! to Jesus' final words to highlight the certain hope we have and to help our kids anticipate God's promise of heaven confidently. Let's get to it!

It's not a question of whether our kids are loved, but do they feel our love? In the same way we have a love language, our kids do too. As we are intentional to speak their love language, we can ensure their "love tank" is full and they grow emotionally healthy. Before you choose a word or make a resolution start with another rhythm of reflection: a new year's prayer. I'll walk you through one. You can do this individually or with your fam

Whether you're looking for a Bible as a gift or for your own family's collection, there are a lot of options for young readers. I thought I'd offer some thoughts from the ones we have on our shelf to help you know which may be a great fit for the little(s) in your circle.

What if 7 words could change your day? We're talking about practicing the presence of God in what we hear on the podcast right now, and I'm honored to share with you a reflection from 1 Samuel from a pastor of mine, Daniel Rankin. I hope you join us in practicing these seven words and resist the urge to rush or hurry through, but intentionally pause and open your heart and your mind, indeed your whole being, to really listen.

New Year resolutions are the most common and widely practiced rhythm of reflection in our culture, and these can be helpful and good. Same with choosing one word to be mindful of in the year. I, myself, have found this practice very meaningful. Do those things, but may I suggest a pre-requisite? Start with prayer. Before you choose a word or make a resolution start with another rhythm of reflection: a new year's prayer. I'll walk you through one. You can do this individua

In the rush of our days and amidst all the sound pollution we experience, we become numb to sound, especially sounds which come from an invisible source. When we do not see the bird before us, we may not give much attention to its song and may move on without even hearing it. But there is another sound which comes from an invisible source we are prone to miss. It, too, is very real, a constant in our presence but we often miss it because we are not tuned in to listen. It's th

Seeing these lies are impacting girls as young as first grade, I believe we must start this conversation and teach them early and often. One way to reinforce this message for those in early childhood is through the beloved children's author, Dr. Seuss. His book, The Shape of Me and Other Stuff, can be a great launchpad for a more intentional conversation about how we are all fearfully and wonderfully made. Let's dive in.

Beauty. I've been thinking about this a lot lately. How it touches each of us deeply. Moves us toward something, moves us even toward sacrifice and to let go of the grip that self has on us. I've heard it said, "Beauty will save us."

Time to share the stories we've read and wisdom we've gained in the last year.

Sharing the stories we've read and wisdom we've gained in the last year. I continued my commitment to read at least one book a month, and now I want to share my favorites with you.

Sickness has a way of taking even the most devoted out. Like the one from the unforgettable Thanksgiving, some sickness comes to us, not because we haven't been fed but because we're feasting on the wrong thing. Friend, it greatly matters on what we choose to feast. We can feast on knowledge, but without humility and wisdom, it will only leave us puffed up and sick. Or, we can feast on awe and wonder.

Why did God reveal Jesus' birth the way He did? God, beaming as the proud Father He is, He didn't write it in the skies though He could have. He didn't release all of creation to clap their hands and sing for their Creator though He could have. He didn't tell the ones who society held as most important - the kings and political figures, not even the religious leaders as we'll soon uncover.

Unlike the wise men, James didn't have to pack up his belongings for a month-long trip. He didn't have to go out of country or even out of town. In fact, he didn't have to leave his house! He grew up as a sibling of Jesus. He had the unique perspective of a front-row seat to Jesus, celebrated so many of Jesus' birthdays with him, yet each of those Christmases he missed because he did not believe.

The innkeeper and Mary both accepted inconvenience but one mustered up the strength to tolerate it while the other sought strength to welcome inconvenience.

This year, it's a song and a photo because when I look at this photo, or really any photo of our family, this song is the one which is sung in the recesses of my mind. It's truth ushers me into a place of deep gratitude. This gratitude helps me keep the Giver at the forefront. For, it can be so easy to hold the gift in an exalted position, but giving thanks allows me to remember the One who gave this beautiful gift of family to me. The One who went to immeasurable lengths to

This is the story of a feud between my maternal grandmother and my husband's maternal grandmother. The two women never met. In fact, my grandmother passed away before I even met my husband. The "feud" exists only in my head and involves dirty dishes.

It can be surprising to see how many of our favorite Christmas plants, which we bring into our homes to decorate, are not kid or pet friendly. Then even more Spring and Summer blooms we should admire from a distance. Here are 10 plants to be mindful of if you have young child(ren) or pets.

Did you know the Bible talks about mummies? Well, a mummy of sorts! I want to offer one way you can help your child or a child in your circle understand the light of God's love in a tangible way this Halloween season.

Connecting "Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes" to the four men in the furnace and the promise of God's presence always with us.

As we continue to walk through these Psalms together, we see God is not afraid of our questions or our emotions. Yet, what is so beautiful a