faith Archives | The Sparrow's Home

Daily Bible reading can be hard to be consistent in. Find a Bible reading plan that works for you.

January 14, 2019 by Susan 17 Comments

Reading the Bible daily is a habit we know is important, so why is consistency so difficult? Find a Bible reading plan to help you get in God’s word regularly.

We’re focusing this month on making small changes to one habit at a time that add up to lasting change. And why not start with the most important habit of all…being in God’s word regularly. In reality, it’s no exaggeration to say that no other habit matters more than this one.

My husband and I are teaching the youth at our church this Sunday. Our lesson is going to be on how to make God-pleasing decisions. What we’re finding as we prepare our lesson is that we keep coming back to this truth: Knowing what God’s word says on a topic is key to being able to know His best for us. Even more than being key, it’s essential. (Seeking Godly counsel is up there, too, but that’s a topic for another day).

The secret to knowing how to change is in forming new habits

January 7, 2019 by Susan 1 Comment

Does anyone not have something in their life they’d like to change? If there is such a person, I suspect they are disillusioned. Because the truth is, we are all a mess somewhere.

What are you wanting to change?

If you’re like me, you look around and see others who don’t seem to struggle with the things you struggle with…and that can be either motivating or depressing. What we often fail to realize is that they struggle with something that comes easy to us.

Plan ahead to encourage others. Make this inspiring DIY kit.

November 26, 2018 by Susan 18 Comments

Do you want to be an encourager? It’s something we all want to do, but knowing how to encourage others can be tough. And if you’re anything like me, sometimes I simply forget. Having a ready-to-go kit like this can help you to brighten someones day, lift their spirits, and remind them of God’s truth in their life.

It would be great if intention was all that mattered. We’d come out smelling like a peach most of the time, wouldn’t we. I mean, we all want to do better…to be better.

Unfortunately, our intentions don’t matter much if actions don’t follow.

Think about it. Does it matter if I…

… intend to clean my house, but never get around to it?

… intend to be on time but never check the clock?

I think we all intend to be encouraging people. But the real question is…do our actions prove that?

So you made a decision to change your life at summer church camp…what next?

August 13, 2018 by Susan 5 Comments

photo credit: Kathryn Fletcher

You went to the classes. Listened to the messages. Sang the songs. And somewhere in the midst of it all, God reached in and tweaked something inside you. You heard Him.

Maybe it was like a lightning bolt to your heart. Maybe it was a tiny seed that He planted and is barely beginning to sprout. It could be a cloudy something that has been in your mind for months, only now it is crystal clear.

Conviction of sin. A call to ministry. Light for the next step. Purpose.

Whatever it is, He spoke and you listened.

Parents, we may miss the mark sometimes, but we should at least know where the target is.

July 9, 2018 by Susan 2 Comments

Are you worried that you’ll do everything you can raising your kids in the faith and yet when they’re an adult they’ll walk away from it?

There’s no more important mission field we face than raising our children to adore God. You could be a hero of the faith, but that’s meaningless if you neglect to parent well. No pressure, right.

Winning in marriage starts with knowing it’s a team event

April 2, 2018 by Susan 5 Comments

Once every four years, we find ourselves using phrases like “Lutz” and “triple Salchow” …during the Winter Olympics when we all become experts in sports we watch exactly once every four years.

Imagine if figure skating pairs got on the ice and each did their own routine. It would never work. Not only would they never medal, but they’d be laughed off the ice. Everyone knows, that’s not how paired figure skating works.

It’s not how marriage works either, friends.

And yet day after day we pursue our own agendas and wonder why our marriages are not all that we’d hoped they would be.

Marriage is Hard

Marriage can be difficult. No doubt. But ask someone who’s been married into the decades (plural) and they will overwhelmingly tell you that it’s worth it.

The other side of difficult is worth it.