Guest Post by Mary Harp Self-care is a buzzword and sensationalized trend in today’s culture. It’s common to see photos on social media of facials, yoga poses, new outfits, and fancy coffees with the hashtag #selfcare or #selflove. Sadly, these phrases often have a “me” mentality attached to them. The sentiment, “I’m gonna take care of myself first, before anyone else” comes through loud and clear. For example: the Instagram hashtag #loveyourself has been used over 27 million times, while the hashtag #loveothers has less than half a million uses. (Source) That’s a pretty massive difference.   With all the twisted messages of self love in our culture, how should Christians respond? Since society has taken this concept too far, some Christians go to the opposite learn more...

A few weeks ago, my son mentioned to me that a few boys were picking on him at recess. Apparently they were calling him names, and it made him sad. As his momma, I hate that he has to go through that. But I also realize that it's a part of growing up, and that it's my job as his momma -- not to take all the bullies away -- but to teach him how to deal with them appropriately.   So I asked him a question: "So, if these kids said the sky was purple, would it automatically make it purple? Just because they said so?" "No..." "No! Of course not. Just because they say something doesn't mean it's true. It just means that they're mean, and they're wrong, and they're being bullies. And I don't know about you, but I really don't care what mean, wrong, bullies have to say, do learn more...

Guest Post by Gina of GinaMPoirier.com “I just feel like I’ve lost my joy,” she told me one day over coffee and a few tears. “And as a Christian, I feel horrible about that.” My friend was in the situation many of us find ourselves in: taking care of kids (or something else) and trying to keep our acts together while we’re exhausted, overwhelmed and downright cranky about all. And to top it all off, we feel guilty for not being more joyful. I wish I could have told her the magic formula, something like prayer + Bible study = joy. And there have certainly been times when I have naively thought it should be that simple. But in response I simply gave her a hug and maybe cried a little myself. Because in truth, life is hard. Joy isn’t always an automatic response just because learn more...

I spent the majority of high school and half of college hopelessly depressed. Seriously. It wasn't pretty. I cried my way through classes... I cried at work. I got sent to counselors, who didn't know what to do with me so they sent me to more counselors... Nothing really helped. I developed an eating disorder. I prayed that God would just kill me, because I was just done. (Obviously, He didn't) I knew I was depressed, but I didn't know what to do about it. I didn't know where to turn or how to get better. So I was just kind of "stuck"... for a long time.   Now, before we go any further, let me just state that I am NOT a mental health professional--I'm a Christian blogger. And if you feel now the way that I did then, please talk to someone way more qualified than me. learn more...

Guest Post by Gina of GinaMPoirier.com In an ideal world, I wake up after 8 ½ hours of sleep each morning before anyone else is stirring, stroll out to my kitchen and patiently brew a pot of coffee. I sit out on my back deck with my Bible in my lap or go for a walk, enjoying the picture-perfect day. I praise God for the wonders of creation, feel joyful in his presence and faithfully present my requests to him in prayer. Then I welcome the rest of my family to the day, lead my kids through a peaceful morning routine and pretty much knock the socks off the rest of my day, like any Christian supermom should. It’s a nice picture, isn’t it? Take a moment and indulge in this fantasy with me.   Now let’s get real. Does the following sound familiar? I roll out of bed learn more...

Do you ever look around, see other women being awesome, and feel like you're not good enough or that you don't measure up?  Maybe it's the fit mom -- the one constantly posting her work-out videos and hot gym selfies on Instagram. She has kids climbing all over her, but that doesn't stop her! She's a beast in the best way, while your body's basically a lumpy, dumpy mess. Maybe it's the class mom at your kids' school. She volunteers for everything, her cupcakes are always Pinterest-perfect works of art, and she always looks like the cover of a magazine. Meanwhile, your shirt passed the sniff test this morning. Barely. Or maybe it's the friend who constantly posts pictures of her nice house and fancy vacations all over Facebook. You know you shouldn't be jealous, but it's hard not learn more...