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My Grandma was wonderful at gathering people together. As a child, I greatly reaped the benefits of her gifting, although I did not realize she was displaying a biblical characteristic.  I see now that her hospitality was one of the greatest things about her. I want to live in that legacy and pass it onto the next generation. Growing up, I got to see my out-of-state grandparents about 3 times per year.  In the spring, we visited their Arizona house for the whole week of spring break.  Grandma always had clean beds for us, a meal cooking after we arrived from our day of travel, new toiletries for us to use, and a pantry stocked full of fun things for her grandchildren.  In the summertime, they provided a two-week long vacation on Lake Huron for all of their children and ...

When will it begin, the ability to staypresent without wistfulness or striving?For this rhythm of searching for more exhausts me.Beautiful expectation this earth yet to breakopen with wonder too great to comprehend.Like he is and she is and like this lighthitting in a triangle on this jute flooras bells sing out at dusk across the plaza in June. -jennifer j. camp This post appeared originally at jenniferjcamp.com

I confess I struggle, impatient for changebut hesitant to do the work required for it.I want the benefits, the reward without the hardwork and the fear that effort will produce failure.Failure isn’t worth avoiding at all costs,for the cost of not trying to changeis worse than failing.Please forgive me and help me.I want to be willing to try and to sacrificeand to love—always to love. -jennifer j. camp This post appeared originally at jenniferjcamp.com

It is the surface that can’t betrusted, a crust frail and tenuous. It won’t hold me; I fall right throughthough want it to be strong. Yet deeper, deeper still is where the real lives,the holding of love that holds me too. And falling through, though fraught withfear, is the only sure ground that saves. -jennifer j. camp This post appeared originally at jenniferjcamp.com

I feel like I’m failing at all the things my hands have touched or my feet have walked into. Being stretched thin, working dawn to dusk on two businesses, raising and homeschooling four young children, managing my home, and the feeling the weight of strained or broken relationships: it all has just left me physically worn-out with an emotionally tattered heart. I decided I just needed to get my feet outdoors, into the spring air and sunshine, and work in the yard.  I need to listen to my children squeal and laugh with delight as they run around playing with friends, while my hands work the earth and labor under the sun.  It feels incredibly good to get my hands dirty, to prune my yard and remove all the dead things that have been hanging around. As I did this, the verses in James...

There is not a parent alive who does not agree that parenting takes hard work, dedication, and a long-term stamina never heard of, before you became one! You can read every parenting book on the market, attend every parenting seminar or workshop available, and talk to the best parents you know…and still there will be unanswered questions, worries, or concerns.  Parenthood is not for the faint of heart. It is not for the weak.  That’s for sure! All that said, parenthood is truly a gift – a divine blessing. But no matter how big the blessing, the challenge is a big one, too. We are to raise children up in the way they should go, according to Proverbs 22:6. But what does that mean? What way should they go? We, us, numero uno, is now responsible for another human being. It’s pretty s...

www.insideoutwithcourtnaye.org I’m going to kick this post off by asking, do you journal? The phrase journal writing is described as the process of recording personal insights, reflections and questions or personal topics. As Christian women, I would add that it’s a great way to write out your thoughts, ideas, pour out your heart to God, what’s going on in your personal life, and prayers. It’s a just another way to express your thoughts privately between you and Him. Personally, I LOVE journaling! I make it a point after I brush my teeth in the morning and pour a fresh hot cup of hazelnut Folgers coffee with French vanilla creamer (yum!), to then whip out my journal, pen, Bible, as well as my yellow highlighter and just reflect on the day before, pray, and simply write down Scrip...

Father of creation, Son born into time, Spirit within me today, I turn my complaint into confession: What feels like not enough Is really me trying to have more— I’m not recognizing you give me what I need. Temper my greed, So that I can live well Within the margins of today. May I not use the minutes As if they are currency Spent on my must-haves. Rather, may I receive each hour As the gift it is— A place to live with you. Give me eyes to see: When quick is good And hurry is unholy. Give me ears to hear: When lingering is love And loitering is lazy. Give me hands to touch: When action is healing And refrain when not. Give me humility to ask: When help is needed And pride is isolating. Settle me into this day, Aware and thankful Of being with You. Amen Having been a burnt-out leader in the...

We never thought we would return to Kenya. Back to the school of Achungo, where six hundred orphans in two schools are nurtured by teachers and administrators who love them and worship God. But we had seen Jesus there, felt Him walking with us on our trip there two years ago. And when Oliver and Abby, the two youngest of our family, said that their impossible prayers were to go back to Rodi Kopany and spend another week at the school with children living halfway around the world–children who are loved and known and point us to the face of God–Justin and I sought God’s wisdom and felt His whisper: Yes, I have more for your children, more for you, here. It is time to go. And His words felt both crazy and good at the same time. We would go. The first two days of the trip, we, a...

A couple weeks ago, I reviewed over 130 blog posts that I wrote for this website and deleted any that lined up with false doctrine that I used to adhere to for many years. As a Christian writer, I never want to cause anyone to stumble on their journey of gaining understanding of the truth of God’s Word. In America (and perhaps even around the world, thanks to television and social media), the gospel of Jesus Christ has become extremely muddied by false teaching full of false gospels, New Age/occult/pagan practices, lying signs and wonders, and distractions from worldly desires that are all leading many to false Christs. My husband and I were among those believers who were believing lies from the result of the twisting of scripture and emotional, mental, and spiritual manipulation from lead...

        www.insideoutwithcourtnaye.org I don’t know where you are on this topic, but if you clicked onto it, it’s either because you need someone to tell you to believe what God says or maybe it’s because you want to encourage someone else with this message. In either case, it’s okay. I just felt led by the Holy Spirit to tell you to believe what God says about you and about what He’s called you to do. Sometimes you just need the reminder or to be uplifted by these words. Maybe it’s because someone told you something mean, discouraging, or against what God’s word says. Maybe it was your mother, father, sister, brother, child, friend, co-worker, church member, boss, leader, boyfriend, or even your husband who told you something that made you question your identity i...