Every year the debate continues should Christmas celebrations start before or after Thanksgiving? Here in the audacious year of 2017, the pivotal day in question has been moved to Halloween. I am definitely not a Christmas-before-Thanksgiving hater. However, I am the kind of person that worries about someone or something feeling left out. For crying…
A Dying Woman’s Request: A Fresh Perspective on Prayer
Ghoulish figures line the aisles of the department store. One cannot ring in autumn without a solute to Halloween. Pointing to a skeleton with glowing red eyes, my 3-year-old son asks, “what is that man?” I explain the skeletal system and how God made our bodies strong and sturdy with bones to hold us…
5 Gospel Sharing Hacks That Will Change the World
Are you tired of anxiety hijacking your chance to share your faith with a co-worker? Does the idea of evangelism incite an eye-roll reflex? Have awkward experiences tarnished the idea of gospel-sharing for you or your family? I get it. I have been there before. Talking about church, God, faith, sin, and the afterlife can…
A Rosty Family Update: Looking back at 2016 (AKA The Christmas Card Letter That Never Got Mailed)
We have experienced heaps of Gods grace this past year. We are learning the art of intentionality: to stay present with one another, and more importantly, to connect deeply with God and the world He created and loves. Here are a few highlights of His goodness to us in 2016: Shine On… Titus and Evi…
White-Knuckle Motherhood (And How To Trade It For Something Beautiful)
“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.”* At what point did I stop seeking? Asking? Knocking? At what point did I decide I needed to ride out the storm instead of cry out…
6 Ways To Make Reading The Bible In A Year Work For You
Our church has decided to read the Bible in a year. I’ll be honest, even as a pastors wife, this seems daunting to me. I would probably not do it on my own. But the prospect of reading it as a church family—in communion with God and His people for one full year—definitely motivates me. …
Jesus: The Rainbow Baby For All Creation
My sister is now 2 days past her due date for her first baby. I cannot WAIT for my niece to arrive. However, I believe my anticipation is far less emphatic than my dear sister and her husband who have waited over a year for this baby’s birth. No, she has not been pregnant that…
5 Ways to Practice Distraction-Free Worship (For The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly Seasons of Life)
We need worship. I am convinced that worship is a gift. God does not rely on our worship to prop up his identity or stroke his ego. His glory is all-sufficient (which is why God is so worthy of our praise)! In moments of rejoicing or times of anxiety, worship is Gods provisional avenue for…
A Faith-Leap for Team Rosty
Today, I am enjoying the view for a quiet moment while the kids sleep. I’ll admit, this view can’t be beat. From my front porch or living room window, I get to drink this in every day. Sometimes the fog rolls in over the mountains, tucking the hills in for a slumberous morning. Sometimes the…
Pumpkin-Spice Quiet Time
There is nothing like spending time with God in autumn. O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! Psalm 34:8 All around us, the world is preparing for cooler weather. However, as followers of Jesus, we must not let the migration indoors catalyze a hibernation of our hearts. My suggestion:…