The Gift of the Unexpected: Book Review
What do we do in those "bathroom floor moments" when life shatters and breaks us open? In the Gift of the Unexpected, Jillian Benfield shares how her son Down's Syndrome diagnosis transformed her thinking and faith. Her book helps others find hope in the unwanted...
Five Inspiring Truths I’ve Learned About Biblical Lament
Did you know one-third of the Psalms are laments, and they all end in praise? Until recently, I didn’t understand how lament impacted my faith. It surprised me that my perceived disrespectful outpouring of doubt and confusion toward God turned into praise. Not only...
Welcome to My Amazon Storefront!
Welcome to my Amazon storefront! I'm so excited to share with you that Amazon invited me to have a storefront. That means I’m now an Amazon influencer, and I can advertise my favorite Amazon items through affiliate links on my storefront and website. I even have the...
Girl to Girl: Book Review
Girl to Girl is a 60-day mother-daughter devotional to help draw your relationship closer and deepen your faith. My friend, Stacey Pardoe, wrote this book with her daughter Bekah. I was eager to get started, but honestly, I didn't think my daughters would be...
Free Prayer Journal!
What does faith mean to you? I used to think strong faith was optimistic, only believing in the most favorable outcomes. But over the years, I have learned that strong faith is growing faith. Strong faith seeks to believe the truth about God even when the outcome...
Great Amazon Gifts You’ll Want to Keep For Yourself
When the holidays come around, it's hard not to succumb to a "buy one free, get one for me mentality." Do you relate? I tend to see things I like the most whenever I'm shopping for somebody else. I've been finding a lot of great gifts on Amazon this year. I would like...
How Biblical Lament Leads to a Grateful Heart
I’m used to defining strong faith as anticipating positive outcomes and joyfully trusting the promises of God. Whenever my faith feels numb, it’s usually because I haven’t talked to the Lord about my struggles. I’m learning how biblical lament leads to a grateful...
The Loudest Roar: Book Review
The Loudest Roar by Judy Dunagan helps readers stand in the unshakeable victory God has already won for them. "Even though we know deep down that our God reigns and His victory is ours, we often live defeated–consumed with fear, temptation, doubt, resentment, or...
God Is Our Safe Place When Pain Is Overwhelming
Have you ever buried difficult emotions only to find them bubbling to the surface later? When life is overwhelming, sometimes I feel guilty for not responding to trials with faith that anticipates positive outcomes and trusts the promises of God. I tend to stuff...
Soul Care for the Battle: Journal Review
Soul Care for the Battle is a guided journal designed to help you care for your soul. It can be used alongside Strong in Battle by Susie Larson or by itself. I can't say enough positive things about this journal! After finishing the book, I discovered there was a...
How to Pray for an Undivided Heart
If you have been following my blog, you know I’m passionate about sharing how fearing the Lord helps us learn to trust in God when we are afraid. The theme of fearing the Lord is prevalent throughout the Bible. To learn how to fear the Lord, the Bible says our hearts...
Brain Washed: Book Review
Brain Washed by Pastor Manny Arango helps readers overcome toxic thoughts by learning to live with the Mind of Christ instead of the Mind of Adam. The Mind of Adam perpetuates toxic thoughts about God, ourselves, and others. The book's first part discusses the mental...
Love, Pray, Listen: Book Review
Love, Pray, Listen by Mary Demuth helps parents experience the joy of letting go, the power of encouraging our kids, and the peace found in trusting God for the next period in our lives. Using 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, DeMuth unpacks how to love, listen, and pray for our...
Strong in Battle: Book Review
What's keeping you from being a valiant warrior? Strong in Battle by Susie Larson gives practical strategies to help you gain victory in your hardships and overcome obstacles in your life. I read this book at a time when I needed some spiritual encouragement because...
What Does the Bible Say We Should Guard Our Hearts Against?
Have you wondered what the Bible means when it tells us to guard our hearts? What should we guard our hearts against? The greatest commandment is to love the Lord with all of our heart, soul, and mind (Mark 12:30). In order to love God with our entire self, we must...
On the Edge of Hope: Book Review
On the Edge of Hope by Mark Chironna integrates theology and Christ-centered psychology to offer hope for those struggling with anxiety, depression, and pain. Even though I'm unfamiliar with the author/pastor, the title of this book caught my attention and I knew I...
The Way Of A Christian: Book Review
The Way of a Christian highlights excerpts and lessons from John Bunyan's classic book, The Pilgrim's Progress. John Bunyan's writing influenced my research about fearing and trusting God. When I saw this 90-day devotional, I knew I wanted to read it alongside my own...
5 Insightful Reasons Why We Should Guard Our Hearts
Have you ever wondered what the Bible means when it tells us to guard our hearts? I wanted to know more about this topic so I researched why we should guard our hearts, what we should guard our hearts against, and how we should guard our hearts? Vines Expository...
5 Ways to Stop Believing Satan’s Lies
Satan tries to get our minds off of Christ by tempting us to believe lies. 1 Peter 5:8 says Satan prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against...
5 Powerful Reasons to Banish Anxiety
So then, banish anxiety from your heart And cast off the troubles of your body. Ecclesiastes 11:10 Is your first thought like mine when you read this verse, I wish it was that easy! While it may sound like we can banish anxiety like the flip of a switch, we...
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About Me
Hello! I’m Valerie, a busy mother
of four energetic children and
a wife to my husband of 26
years. I write to help others have courageous faith and discover how to trust in God when they are afraid. 
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