Deepest Longings of Your Heart is a portion of a quote I read in “Make Sense of Your Story,” and I’m pondering it with you today.

For Lent 2025, I’ll be writing new blog posts every day. I’m writing for only five unedited minutes on a quote of the day to deepen our faith in this Lenten season.

Day 21 of Lent 2025 – March 25

I just downloaded this new book on my Kindle last night, and it is blowing me away. Within the first three chapters, I was sobbing because it cut me to the core. Like Adam, I have invested tens of thousands of hours in my healing journey over the past few decades. Also, like him, I read hundreds of books, spent thousands of hours in therapy, and attended many seminars to heal and grow. However, I hadn’t considered his strategy for healing until I started reading this book.

I’ve listened to Adam’s podcast, The Place We Find Ourselves, for years. I even featured parts of it on my podcast episode HERE. My friend recommended the podcast to me, and it permanently changed my perspective on healing from a lifetime of abuse.

Last night, when I read this quote, I pondered it deeply. The premise of his book is wrapped up in this quote. He’s saying it’s not enough to simply state the facts of your trauma, for example, that you are a child of an alcoholic. Adam posits that we must go deeply into individual moments of our trauma to be healed from those painful moments. We must revisit them in detail, trusting that God can redeem them as we do the work.

The Deepest Longings of Your Heart and the Most Devastating Disappointments

I have experienced much growth and healing in the past three years, but this book shows me there is more work to do. There are more disappointments to explore and more longings of my heart to name. Some have even occurred in just the past six months. Adam states that we must reconcile ourselves with ourselves, God, others, and the earth, and I’m looking forward to learning more as I keep reading.

Why invest in this work after I’ve already done so much to heal? Because I want to be ready for the next chapter of my life without the baggage of unresolved hurt. I want my wounds to turn into sacred scars. If this is what it takes, I’ll do it, even though the work will certainly be painful.

If you’re ready for a deep dive into the healing journey, I couldn’t recommend a better book for you. It’s not a quick or easy read, but it’s a massively helpful and insightful one. I learned about it by following Adam on Instagram, and I’m glad I invested in my healing again by purchasing the book HERE.

Join me again tomorrow for another reflection on a different quote. I encourage you to share your thoughts about today’s quote in the comments below.

Find all my additional resources for Lent on this page.

Are You Looking for a Book Launch Manager or Virtual Assistant?

If you’re launching a book in 2025 or beyond, be sure to book a call with me HERE to discuss your book launch. I’ve had over 50 clients since 2022, and I’d love to speak with you soon. I’m also taking on new VA clients. You can learn more and book a call with me on THIS PAGE.

If you liked this post, I would appreciate your shares on social media!

Also, if you make a purchase from any of the links on this post, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!

I send my weekly newsletter Tea on Tuesdays at 3:00 p.m. Central time every Tuesday.  I write an exclusive devotion for you each week that I share with you first.

To receive the newsletter, please subscribe below. I can’t wait to share personally with you each week!

Embrace Silence is a portion of a quote I read in “Present in Prayer,” and I’m pondering it with you today.

For Lent 2025, I’ll be writing new blog posts every day. I’m writing for only five unedited minutes on a quote of the day to deepen our faith in this Lenten season.

Day 20 of Lent 2025 – March 24

This is a lovely book on the benefits of biblical meditation. Since I have written two books on the topic of meditation, I couldn’t resist buying it, and I’m glad I did. You can get your own copy HERE.

The book is especially beautiful because it’s full of illustrations. Here are a few photos of the interior:

Aren’t these so pretty? They make me want to sit down with this book and enjoy some silent moments with it. Order your copy HERE.

Embrace Silence

I agree with the author that our culture does not embrace silence. We are paying for that with high anxiety rates, shorter attention spans, and lower listening skills. Those choices affect our relationship with God and others, because our patience quickly wears thin.

Silence is necessary for meditation. It stills and quiets our minds as we focus on a verse in God’s Word. That’s how it can transform our hearts and minds, according to this verse:

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:2 NIV

I took a deep dive into the spiritual discipline of silence through the Emotionally Healthy Spirituality course and companion book at my church. During the course, we were encouraged to spend two minutes per day in silence before the Lord. It was difficult to silence everything in my mind and heart at first, but with practice it became easier.  Those two minutes started to increase my peace despite the daily stress I faced.

Present in Prayer is a lovely invitation to embrace silence and grow in faith. It’s a good morning companion at my breakfast table, when I sip my tea and study God’s Word. This book is great for meditation beginners, and also seasoned meditators like myself. It’s a long guide through Philippians 4:8, and it shows us how to apply it to our daily lives:

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Philippians 4:8 NIV

I encourage you to use the books I mentioned today to help you embrace silence. Over time, this spiritual discipline will settle your mind, still your heart, give you greater peace, and increase intimacy in your relationship with God.

Check out my popular books on meditation as well:

Join me again tomorrow for another reflection on a different quote. I encourage you to share your thoughts about today’s quote in the comments below.

Find all my additional resources for Lent on this page.

Are You Looking for a Book Launch Manager or Virtual Assistant?

If you’re launching a book in 2025 or beyond, be sure to book a call with me HERE to discuss your book launch. I’ve had over 50 clients since 2022, and I’d love to speak with you soon. I’m also taking on new VA clients. You can learn more and book a call with me on THIS PAGE.

If you liked this post, I would appreciate your shares on social media!

Also, if you make a purchase from any of the links on this post, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!

I send my weekly newsletter Tea on Tuesdays at 3:00 p.m. Central time every Tuesday.  I write an exclusive devotion for you each week that I share with you first.

To receive the newsletter, please subscribe below. I can’t wait to share personally with you each week!

The Inner Circle is a portion of a quote I read in “The Characters of Easter,” and I’m pondering it with you today.

For Lent 2025, I’ll be writing new blog posts every day. I’m writing for only five unedited minutes on a quote of the day to deepen our faith in this Lenten season.

Day 19 of Lent 2025 – March 23

I am revisiting this book in Lent 2025 since I first read it in 2021 and reviewed it on THIS POST. Purchase your copy on Kindle for $2.99, paperback, or audio HERE.

The Inner Circle

Peter was in Jesus’ inner circle. He was one of the disciples closest to Jesus, present at his transfiguration with James and John (Matt. 17:1-8). Though the Gospels show him with his foot in his mouth, Jesus still kept him in the inner circle.

I had never considered the point in this quote until I read it in The Characters of Easter. Through watching The Chosen series, particularly this episode, and reading books like this one, I’m learning how Peter was Jesus’ chosen leader for his church, and how much Jesus loved him for who he was.

Isn’t it encouraging to consider that though Peter kept messing up, Jesus kept drawing him closer? Peter rebuked Jesus (Mark 8:31-34) and denied him (Mark 14:66-72). But even in these major faith blunders, Jesus kept reaching out to Peter, encouraging him about his destiny and purpose (Matt. 16:18) (John 21:15-25).

Drawn Into the Inner Circle

This is encouraging because God keeps drawing us closer as we wrestle with him. Peter had to lay down his pride, temper, and agenda to become the rock upon which Jesus built his church. He had to become a living sacrifice fully surrendered to God’s will, just as we do as true believers.

Because I’m coming out of a season of wrestling with God, I relate to Peter’s struggle. I see Peter’s passion and boldness. I appreciate that the scriptures don’t hide Peter’s imperfections, so we can relate to them. I’m encouraged to consider that while Peter struggled big time with God, he was also being shaped into a future leader of the church (Acts 2). Peter couldn’t have imagined the plans God had for him, even when he was seeing Jesus face to face. This truly encourages me as a believer 2,000 years later, who is trusting God to reveal better plans for me after my season of suffering.

I encourage you to read this book to gain a greater perspective on the characters of Easter, particularly Peter. I also encourage you to watch the full episode of The Chosen season 3, episode 8 for the full context of Peter’s struggle. These stories breathe life into our imaginations about who Peter was, and how he was so much like many of us.

Join me again tomorrow for another reflection on a different quote. I encourage you to share your thoughts about today’s quote in the comments below.

Find all my additional resources for Lent on this page.

Are You Looking for a Book Launch Manager or Virtual Assistant?

If you’re launching a book in 2025 or beyond, be sure to book a call with me HERE to discuss your book launch. I’ve had over 50 clients since 2022, and I’d love to speak with you soon. I’m also taking on new VA clients. You can learn more and book a call with me on THIS PAGE.

If you liked this post, I would appreciate your shares on social media!

Also, if you make a purchase from any of the links on this post, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!

I send my weekly newsletter Tea on Tuesdays at 3:00 p.m. Central time every Tuesday.  I write an exclusive devotion for you each week that I share with you first.

To receive the newsletter, please subscribe below. I can’t wait to share personally with you each week!

Instead of being afraid of the Lord is a portion of a quote I read in Susan Chamberlain Shipe’s book “40 Days of Lent,” and I’m pondering it with you today.

For Lent 2025, I’ll be writing new blog posts every day. I’m writing for only five unedited minutes on a quote of the day to deepen our faith in this Lenten season.

Day 18 of Lent 2025 – March 22

Susan Chamberlain Shipe is a dear friend of mine. Though we’ve never met in person, or even chatted on Zoom, I affectionately call her my “Auntie” because we’ve been in the blogging space together for 15+ years. She’s a prolific blogger and author of several self-published books, including one on gardening that I featured on THIS POST. Today, I’m focusing on a quote from Susan’s Lenten book.

Instead of Being Afraid of the Lord

Susan’s book talks about the people, places, and events of the Passion in a down-to-earth way. She starts the book with a common feeling many of us have toward God:

“How many of us were taught if you do such and such, God will punish you in a terrible way? We’ve learned to be terrified of God. That my friends, is the last thing God wants us to be. Here’s a fabulous exchange – from fear to faith. Instead of being afraid of the Lord, receive the measure of faith he gives and live in it.”

Her quote makes me think of 1 John 4:18 NIV:

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

Lent is a time for personal reflection. It’s a time to examine the reasons why Jesus came to die for us, individually. Lent is when I look at sinful patterns in my life, confess them, and repent of them. If you are doing this during Lent, perhaps you are also afraid of God’s judgment.

Meditating on 1 John 4:18 helps overcome my fear of punishment from God. In the past three years, during the hardest times of suffering, I have asked that all-too-human question when trying to make sense of my pain: Is this punishment for something I did wrong? I questioned whether the worst decision of my life, living together before I was married, was coming back to haunt me 20+ years later.

When I brought this up with my counselor, he took me back to the broken, unhealed person I was when I got married out of desperation, guilt, and shame. He said, “Surely you can see how far you’ve come since that time. You’re not the same person.” My counselor reassured me of God’s forgiveness for my costly choices, and we talked about how God has a purpose for my pain now, though I still can’t discern it.

In this in-between time when my suffering still doesn’t make sense, I can meditate on God’s Word to hide his love in my heart. His perfect love will cast out any remaining fear I have, and give me hope that he will use my suffering for his glory someday.

Join me again tomorrow for another reflection on a different quote. I encourage you to share your thoughts about today’s quote in the comments below.

Find all my additional resources for Lent on this page.

Are You Looking for a Book Launch Manager or Virtual Assistant?

If you’re launching a book in 2025 or beyond, be sure to book a call with me HERE to discuss your book launch. I’ve had over 50 clients since 2022, and I’d love to speak with you soon. I’m also taking on new VA clients. You can learn more and book a call with me on THIS PAGE.

If you liked this post, I would appreciate your shares on social media!

Also, if you make a purchase from any of the links on this post, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!

I send my weekly newsletter Tea on Tuesdays at 3:00 p.m. Central time every Tuesday.  I write an exclusive devotion for you each week that I share with you first.

To receive the newsletter, please subscribe below. I can’t wait to share personally with you each week!

When Stress Dominates is a portion of a quote I read in Holly M. Andrews’ book “Heal Your Stress from the Inside Out,” and I’m pondering it with you today.

For Lent 2025, I’ll be writing new blog posts every day. I’m writing for only five unedited minutes on a quote of the day to deepen our faith in this Lenten season.

Day 17 of Lent 2025 – March 21

I’m thrilled to be the editor, cover designer, interior designer, and book launch manager for Heal Your Stress from the Inside Out, the first book from my friend Holly M. Andrews. We met when we were fellow students at Covenant College, and now God has brought us back together in this creative collaboration.

When Stress Dominates

Is stress dominating your life? It has certainly dominated mine many times, especially during times of crisis and trauma. Holly has dealt with major stress in a high-ranking position as a government official, and she knows exactly what the struggles feel like as a wife, mother, and friend. Stress impacted every portion of her life, and she finally learned to break free from it by developing healthier habits.

Holly’s book is highly informative with lots of research. However, she presents the detailed information in an easy-to-understand way. She gives insight into how our bodies and brains suffer from the effects of stress, and how healthy habits can reverse the damaging effects of stress.

Though I’ve been committed to a healthy lifestyle for years, I learned many new and helpful facts from Holly’s book. Her encouraging wisdom is helping me sleep better, order my day with greater intention, and make better eating choices. I’m thankful Holly writes from a faith-based perspective so I can trust her advice even more.

I’ve been privileged to read the whole book as an editor, and I can’t wait for you to read it too. It will be releasing into the world soon, and I hope you will consider joining us for the launch in April and May. Learn more about the book launch HERE.

Join me again tomorrow for another reflection on a different quote. I encourage you to share your thoughts about today’s quote in the comments below.

Find all my additional resources for Lent on this page.

Are You Looking for a Book Launch Manager or Virtual Assistant?

If you’re launching a book in 2025 or beyond, be sure to book a call with me HERE to discuss your book launch. I’ve had over 50 clients since 2022, and I’d love to speak with you soon. I’m also taking on new VA clients. You can learn more and book a call with me on THIS PAGE.

If you liked this post, I would appreciate your shares on social media!

Also, if you make a purchase from any of the links on this post, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!

I send my weekly newsletter Tea on Tuesdays at 3:00 p.m. Central time every Tuesday.  I write an exclusive devotion for you each week that I share with you first.

To receive the newsletter, please subscribe below. I can’t wait to share personally with you each week!