I became a first-time mom this past May after welcoming my son, Riley, into the world. Besides my salvation, Riley is the greatest gift I have ever received. I look at my son in pure awe when I remember that the Lord gave him to me. I am so undeserving of the Lord’s goodness in my life. Right around the time I gave birth, my husband, Aaron, accepted his first pilot job, another very generous gift from the Lord. This job required my husband to be gone a week at a time. It wasn

Like many young moms, I entered motherhood with the desire to do everything “right." I wanted to raise my children to love the Lord and grow into emotionally healthy adults. I claimed Proverbs 22:6 and Deuteronomy 6:7 as verses to live by, committing to raise my children with faith at the center of our lives. Godly parenting is a huge job, and it is more than just a good idea or lofty goal. Godly parenting is a calling, a divine command. Godly parenting is also a guiding prin

Mary’s story is truly one of my favorites in the Bible. We can all learn something from her faithfulness and willingness to serve God no matter what. She trusted His plan even when it seemed impossible to walk through. In Luke 1, we see this beautiful song from Mary. After Gabriel has visited her, and she has seen her relative, Elizabeth, she sings; Luke 1:46–47 “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” When Mary speaks these words in Luke 1, sh