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# Abby McDonald

Finding the Hope of Christ in a Messy Life

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## Posts

- [Trusting God Beyond What Feels Safe](https://abbymcdonald.org/2026/08/trusting-god-beyond-what-feels-safe/) - A couple of weeks ago, I read that when infants are born, they have an innate need to store memories where they feel safe and loved. Their first experience on this earth is one of trauma because they’re removed from the warm, dark place they knew for nine months. After being placed in a bright,
- [When You're Waiting for God to Make it Obvious](https://abbymcdonald.org/2026/07/when-youre-waiting-for-god-to-make-it-obvious/) - I have always wanted God to make things obvious. As long as I can remember, this longing for God to give me the black-and-white sign telling me which way to go has been constant. And if it had bells and whistles on it, all the better. When my husband and I first got married, we
- [When You're Afraid You'll Make the Wrong Decision](https://abbymcdonald.org/2026/06/when-youre-afraid-youll-make-the-wrong-decision-2/) - We weren’t on the trail for long before we had to make a decision. A fork in the path presented two different options: If we turned to the right, a steep incline of steps and uneven rocks greeted us. But if we stayed left, the incline was more gradual and smooth. Since my husband and
- [4 Reasons We Can Be Confident God Is Pleased](https://abbymcdonald.org/2026/05/4-reasons-we-can-be-confident-god-is-pleased/) - The statement still echoed in my head years later. “You can’t please God,” the pastor had told me. This was during a conversation about the tenants of faith. I was being interviewed to make sure I understood the fundamentals of the church’s doctrine before my baptism the following week. But I was confused. Somehow, the
- [Is the Silence a Closed Door or an Opportunity?](https://abbymcdonald.org/2026/04/is-the-silence-a-closed-door-or-an-opportunity/) - I combed through my emails, looking for a response to a question I’d been asking for weeks: Did I get the job? For the first time in 14 years, I was entering a season where all my kids were in school. As I sought opportunities to enter the workforce again, this job seemed like the
- [The Wordsmiths' Cafe: Edition 3](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/08/the-wordsmiths-cafe-edition-3/) - Welcome to edition 3 of the Wordsmiths' Cafe! Each quarter on the 15th of the month, I will be offering writing tips, resources and links I hope will help you in your writing journey. This newsletter is part of the Ladder to Rooftop Blogging academy started by my dear friend, Jami Amerine. You can find
- [How God Reveals the Path We Can't See](https://abbymcdonald.org/2026/03/how-god-reveals-the-path-we-cant-see/) - I was lost again, driving in circles in our new town for the hundredth time. My phone’s GPS was just as confused as I was. When I consulted it for directions, my location didn’t even appear on the map. After trying to reroute, I called my husband to ask for help. He had worked in
- [Hope for When Your Spiritual Life Feels Dry](https://abbymcdonald.org/2026/03/hope-for-when-your-spiritual-life-feels-dry/) - “I’m hugging God,” my daughter said with a smile. “He’s hugging me, too, I think.” My daughter was five at the time, and she wrapped her arms around her tiny frame as she snuggled in her bed. Her face was the perfect picture of contentment. I knelt beside her and said a bedtime prayer, amazed
- [How Can I Know if This is from God?](https://abbymcdonald.org/2026/01/how-can-i-know-if-this-is-from-god/) - “How do you know God is speaking to you? Is there a way to know for certain?” I could hear the apprehension in my friend's voice. These were questions I'd wrestled with many times, and there weren't always easy answers. But didn't want to leave her hanging, so I said a quick prayer and reframed
- [Why the Hard and the Beautiful Collide During This Season](https://abbymcdonald.org/2025/12/why-the-hard-and-the-beautiful-collide-during-this-season/) - There’s something about the holidays that magnifies our deepest emotions. Our joy and our pain collide, dizzying us at times. Our comfort and our grief come together, often leaving us searching for answers. In the midst of the carols, the lights, and hunts for the perfect gifts, we sometimes flounder on a roller coaster of
- [3 Ways God is Moving through Your Unanswered Prayers](https://abbymcdonald.org/2025/11/3-ways-god-is-moving-through-your-unanswered-prayers/) - I read the text over and over again, hoping the words would somehow change. But they didn’t. It was the third time my husband and I had heard this dreaded word during the past year. This word we wanted to wish away: cancer. This time it was my father-in-law, and while we didn’t know the
- [Why Shame Is a Poor Motivator Toward Change](https://abbymcdonald.org/2025/11/why-shame-is-a-poor-motivator-toward-change/) - “Your name is what? Donald?” “McDonald.” “Well, that’s stupid!” I stood at the front of the classroom, trying to keep my calm. Unsure what to say to this kid, I decided to ignore him. Instead, I turned and addressed the rest of the class. It was career day, and I wanted to focus on those
- [4 Ways We Can Fall for the Enemy's Deception](https://abbymcdonald.org/2025/10/4-ways-we-can-fall-for-the-enemys-deception/) - Several weeks ago, I had a conversation with a friend who was going through an extremely difficult season. On top of a crisis in her family life, she also faced stress in her ministry. The timing of it could not have been worse. Each area of her life that mattered to her was filled with
- [When You Wonder Where Jesus Is in the Storm](https://abbymcdonald.org/2025/09/when-you-wonder-where-jesus-is-in-the-storm/) - Her little voice came to me from the top of the stairs. “Mom, I keep hearing a voice telling me to go to Egypt. But I’m not sure if it’s God or just my imagination.” I stood in the kitchen for a moment, my mind processing her words. For a lot of reasons, it was
- [One Certainty to Instill Peace When the Future Looks Scary](https://abbymcdonald.org/2025/08/one-certainty-to-instill-peace-when-the-future-looks-scary/) - “I just want to go home,” my son said. Then immediately, the tears came. I fought back my own tears as I grabbed him and rubbed his back.“We’ll be home soon, buddy. They’re just trying to make sure you’re safe, ok?” I looked into his eyes and he gave me a nod.We exited the bathroom
- [The Element We Overlook About Breakthrough](https://abbymcdonald.org/2025/08/the-element-we-overlook-about-breakthrough/) - The pastor’s question seemed rhetorical, but I almost screamed, “Yes!” after he asked it. “Are there certain areas of your life where you can’t seem to find breakthrough?” I looked around the sanctuary. From the looks on people’s faces, it seemed as though everyone’s answer was the same as mine. This message prefaced an invitation
- [Is There a Way to Know God is Speaking to You?](https://abbymcdonald.org/2023/02/is-there-a-way-to-know-god-is-speaking-to-you/) - Over the past six months, I’ve been thinking a lot about the ways God speaks to us. My own struggle to discern his voice and conversations with other women caused me to ask the questions, “How do you know God is speaking to you? Is there a way to know for certain?” As I continue
- [3 Things You Can Know When You Long to Belong](https://abbymcdonald.org/2025/07/3-things-you-can-know-when-you-long-to-belong/) - When we moved to this area fourteen years ago, I was sure we’d be friends with this family down the street. Our boys were in the same class. We saw each other at school and stood at the bus stop together each morning when they started kindergarten. But somehow, it never happened. My family’s attempts
- [Truth to Direct You When You're Unsure It's God's Voice](https://abbymcdonald.org/2025/07/truth-to-direct-you-when-youre-unsure-its-gods-voice/) - Whenever I face uncertainty, it happens. I look for clues of what God is trying to tell me. As if God is tossing me breadcrumbs, leading me down the path to some obscure puzzle. Maybe it’s because anxiety makes it hard for me to focus. Or perhaps it’s just human nature. In my longing for
- [3 Sure Ways to Care for a Heart That's Hurting](https://abbymcdonald.org/2025/06/3-sure-ways-to-care-for-a-heart-thats-hurting/) - It happened so fast that I wasn’t prepared for it. Instinct told me to guard my heart, but the damage was already done. A text conversation with a family member had opened an old wound. One I thought had healed, but the scar remained. I sat in the recliner for several minutes recounting the words,
- [Fear Vs. Discernment: How to Know the Difference](https://abbymcdonald.org/2025/06/fear-vs-discernment-how-to-know-the-difference/) - As soon as the pastor made the altar call, I knew I needed to go forward. But I sat in my seat for several minutes with my mind racing. Until this point in my life, I was usually a watcher during these moments. I stood back, sang worship songs, and observed. Other people up there
- [Why Isn't God's Love Casting Out My Fear?](https://abbymcdonald.org/2025/04/why-isnt-gods-love-casting-out-my-fear/) - “I am going to die.” That’s what I kept telling myself on repeat as I talked to the OBGYN nurse over the phone. I tried to catch my breath, but the tightness in my chest made it difficult to breathe. “Don’t try to come here,” the she said. “Just go straight to the E.R. Tell
- [3 Truths to Empower You When the Enemy Threatens](https://abbymcdonald.org/2025/05/3-truths-to-empower-you-when-the-enemy-threatens/) - Sometimes I forget that it’s God who defends us when the enemy attacks, and that we’re not alone on some island trying to fend for ourselves. You too? I used to think that once I reached a certain point in my walk with Jesus, all my insecurities would melt away. In my mind, I would
- [3 Stepping Stones to Trade Worry for His Peace](https://abbymcdonald.org/2025/05/3-stepping-stones-to-trade-worry-for-his-peace/) - Most of us are living in a gap. Whether we realize it or not, we’re in-between mountaintops and answers. And often, the wait makes us worry. Whether we’re waiting for a response to prayer, a breakthrough, or a victory, we struggle to keep our peace of mind during the in-between. Sometimes we wait in silence,
- [Direction for Your Heart When You Experience Decision Fatigue](https://abbymcdonald.org/2025/04/direction-for-your-heart-when-you-experience-decision-fatigue/) - A few years ago, I experienced decision fatigue unlike any other time of my life. In a season filled with highs and joyful moments, there were also days when I felt paralyzed. Fear of making the wrong choice darkened my thoughts like a constant bully, and I didn’t know which way to turn. Those high
- [What Happens When We Release Our Need for Certainty](https://abbymcdonald.org/2025/04/what-happens-when-we-release-our-need-for-certainty/) - I am a chronic overthinker. In numerous conversations with myself, I’ve talked myself out of pursuing the good things God has for me before I even begin. These conversations often go something like this: Do you really have what it takes to do that? That seems way beyond your abilities. Don’t you need more experience?
- [I Wanted to Trust God, But I Ran](https://abbymcdonald.org/2025/03/i-wanted-to-trust-god-but-i-ran/) - If only trusting God were as simple as a childhood trust fall. When our daughter was a year old, she used to throw herself off the bed into our arms. Fear wasn’t a part of her mind’s vocabulary, and she knew without a doubt that we’d catch her each and every time. Without fail. As
- [When You're Afraid You'll Make the Wrong Decision](https://abbymcdonald.org/2025/03/when-youre-afraid-youll-make-the-wrong-decision/) - It started with a little insomnia. More than once during the week, I awoke from heavy dreams feeling threatened. Sometimes after hours of tossing and turning, sleep would come again, but I’d wake up in the morning with a nagging sense of worry. During this time, several life decisions loomed, but I kept putting them
- [How Do I Know It's God? 3 Truths I'm Learning](https://abbymcdonald.org/2025/02/how-do-i-know-its-god-3-truths-im-learning/) - I longed for a clear writing on the wall telling us which way to go. My husband and I faced a major life decision about our family's future, but each prayer brought us more questions than answers. One choice would mean a move to a town several hours away and promised opportunities. And although this
- [What Happens When We Give Our Doubts to God](https://abbymcdonald.org/2025/01/what-happens-when-we-give-our-doubts-to-god/) - I came face to face with uncertainty when my new acquaintance asked me a blunt question. My husband and I were at a birthday party for one of his work colleagues, and I was trying to meet some people in our new town. “So what are you going to do?” It was an honest question, but
- [Why Does God Speak to Others But Not Me?](https://abbymcdonald.org/2024/11/why-does-god-speak-to-others-but-not-me/) - I longed for the confidence my friend had. God spoke to her and her husband, and her family took a huge leap of faith. They knew God was leading them in a specific direction, and it was beautiful to watch. While I was happy for them, I also wondered why it seemed like I’d hit Sometimes we miss how God speaks to us because we compare our spiritual journey to someone else's.
- [Remembering this Truth About Jesus Delivered Me from Panic to Peace](https://abbymcdonald.org/2024/09/remembering-this-truth-about-jesus-delivered-me-from-panic-to-peace/) - The technician’s words sent me into a panic.“We don’t do open MRIs for breasts,” she said. “Only closed because we have to use contrast.”Why hadn’t the person on the phone told me this? And more importantly, how long was this going to take? Memories of the last MRI that took over thirty minutes flooded my
- [3 Unexpected Stumbling Blocks to a Greater Faith](https://abbymcdonald.org/2024/08/3-unexpected-stumbling-blocks-to-a-greater-faith/) - About a year and a half ago, I hit a wall in my faith. Although I still prayed, read my Bible on a regular basis, and was active in the church, I didn’t feel connected to God the way I used to be. I faced constant frustration and discouragement over my lack of growth, but About a year and a half ago, I hit a wall in my faith. Although my spiritual habits hadn't changed, I didn’t feel connected to God the way I used to be.
- [3 Perspective Shifts to Make in Seasons of Waiting](https://abbymcdonald.org/2024/06/3-perspective-shifts-to-make-in-seasons-of-waiting/) - I wish I was a morning person. In hundreds of little ways, it would make life easier. But until I’ve had my first or sometimes third cup of coffee, my words during those early hours are few. There is one thing other than school schedules and kids’ activities that will get me out of bed
- [3 Reasons Why God's Promises Surpass Our Dreams](https://abbymcdonald.org/2024/04/3-reasons-why-gods-promises-surpass-our-dreams/) - The comment popped into my inbox, and it was as though the reader saw directly into my heart. Tears formed and I knew God was speaking. “Go to the conference with a song in your heart, holding lightly to your hopes and dreams and tightly to God’s promises. Sounds like the two work against each Sometimes God allows the death of a dream to bring surrender to the One who can make it fly. Here are three reasons why God's promises go further than our dreams.
- [That Longing for Something We Can't Quite Grasp](https://abbymcdonald.org/2019/01/longing-we-cant-grasp/) - I'll never forget the first time I made it down the mountain without falling. For a solid hour prior to my victory run, I slid on my behind. Something about having large pieces of fiberglass on my feet kept me glued to the ground. Then, once I learned to get up, I fell every five
- [How to Not Feel Alone During Seasons of Depression](https://abbymcdonald.org/2024/03/how-to-not-feel-alone-during-seasons-of-depression/) - Depression thrives on two things: isolation and silence. During one of my darkest seasons, I convinced myself that if I didn’t tell anyone about my depression, it would go away. I feared the verbalization of how I felt, thinking it would somehow become more real. Some days, I rationalized the constant sluggishness, numbness and fog Depression thrives on two things: isolation and silence. During one of my darkest seasons, I convinced myself that if I didn’t tell anyone about my depression, it would go away.
- [How Can We Fine-tune Our Hearts to Hear God?](https://abbymcdonald.org/2024/01/how-can-we-fine-tune-our-hearts-to-hear-god/) - Abby McDonald I wanted to hear God, but my efforts to discern his voice seemed like they were in vain. The truth was, I was desperate for his direction, but felt like I was fumbling through the dark alone. How can we fine-tune our hearts to hear God when it seems as though his voice has gotten We want to hear from God, but our lives are filled with distractions. How can we fine-tune our hearts to hear God above the noise?
- [Why Didn't God Answer My Prayers?](https://abbymcdonald.org/2023/12/why-didnt-god-answer-my-prayers/) - I read the text over and over again, hoping the words would somehow change. But they didn’t. It was the third time my husband and I had heard this dreaded word during the past year. This word we wanted to wish away: cancer. This time it was my father-in-law, and while we didn’t know the
- [How We Spend Our Waiting Season Matters](https://abbymcdonald.org/2023/10/how-we-spend-our-waiting-season-matters/) - Abby McDonald When my kids were younger, I never told them we were visiting their grandparents until the day we were leaving. Or perhaps the night before. Telling them sooner meant hearing them ask me about it every hour. Even when I tried to explain weeks to them, they couldn’t understand it. Although my kids have a When my kids were younger, I never told them we were visiting their grandparents until the day we were leaving. Or perhaps the night before. Telling them sooner meant hearing them ask me about it every hour. Even when I tried to explain weeks to them, they couldn’t understand it. Although my kids have a
- [3 Truths to Remember in Seasons of Waiting](https://abbymcdonald.org/2023/09/3-truths-to-remember-in-seasons-of-waiting/) - In seasons of waiting, our thought life tends to go between two extremes. We either feel helpless or empowered. Frustrated or purposeful. I don’t believe I’m alone when I say I often camp in the former mindset. I wonder where God is. Often, I come to him with an anxious heart, waiting to hear from him It's easy to view seasons of waiting as times when we're stuck, but God has a different plan for these seasons. Here are three truths to cling to and shift your perspective during seasons of waiting.
- [If You're Questioning Whether It's God's Voice](https://abbymcdonald.org/2023/07/if-youre-questioning-whether-its-gods-voice/) - Whenever I face uncertainty, it happens. I look for clues of what God is trying to tell me. As if God is tossing me breadcrumbs, leading me down the path to some obscure puzzle. Maybe it’s because anxiety makes it hard for me to focus. Or perhaps it’s just human nature. In my longing for
- [4 Ways We're Often Wrong About How the Enemy Works](https://abbymcdonald.org/2023/06/4-ways-were-often-wrong-about-how-the-enemy-works/) - Several weeks ago, I had a conversation with a friend who was going through an extremely difficult season. On top a crisis in her family life, she also faced stresses in her ministry. The timing of it could not have been worse. Each area of her life that mattered to her was filled with chaos
- [The Truth About Belonging that Opened My Calloused Heart](https://abbymcdonald.org/2023/05/the-truth-about-belonging-that-opened-my-calloused-heart/) - “You’ve changed in the short time I’ve known you.” My friend made the observation as we drove up the windy road through the mountains, chatting on our way home from a moms’ night out. I smiled because knew she meant statement in a positive way. After over a year living in northern Utah, my walls
- [Is It a Closed Door or a Distraction?](https://abbymcdonald.org/2023/04/is-it-a-closed-door-or-a-distraction/) - Last week I received an unexpected email. It was a follow-up to a job application I completed two months ago, and the hiring manager informed me that I’d made it to the second round in the process. I was elated, but also confused. I had never expected the process to take so long, and assumed
- [When Fear Masks Itself as Discernment](https://abbymcdonald.org/2023/03/when-fear-masks-itself-as-discernment/) - The meme popped up in my social media feed and I paused, considering it. It claimed a worship band I sometimes enjoy was part of Satan’s scheme to deceive the church. I thought about the lyrics of some of the popular songs they played on the radio. Most of them contained references to scripture or
- [If You Feel Like You're Drowning in Expectations This Christmas Season](https://abbymcdonald.org/2022/12/if-you-feel-like-youre-drowning-in-expectations-this-christmas-season/) - I looked up at night sky and saw the stars dancing among the trees. I blinked once, thinking my eyes were playing tricks on me, but the view was the same. “Look!” I said to my husband. “The stars, they’re moving.” “Yep. Those are winter fireflies,” he said. Even in the darkness, I could see
- [How Fear Often Masks Itself as Discernment](https://abbymcdonald.org/2021/09/how-fear-often-masks-itself-as-discernment/) - I’ve felt troubled for some time now over something I see running rampant in our church. It’s a spirit of fear, but it masks itself as a spirit of discernment. I see it when people point fingers at those behind the pulpit and leading worship, saying they’re led not by God, but the devil. I
- [What God Cares About More Than Our Safety and Comfort](https://abbymcdonald.org/2022/10/what-god-cares-about-more-than-our-safety-and-comfort/) - A couple of weeks ago, I read that when infants are born, they have an innate need to store memories where they feel safe and loved. Their first experience on this earth is one of trauma because they’re removed from the warm, dark place they knew for nine months. After being placed in a bright,
- [How to Find Perseverance to Keep Going When Distractions Are Endless](https://abbymcdonald.org/2022/09/how-to-find-perseverance-to-keep-going-when-distractions-are-endless/) - There’s nothing like the thrill of beginnings. Whether it’s a move, a new home, project or goal, the exhilaration of a fresh start fills us with exciting momentum. Often, God gives us a vision that keeps us moving forward, even when others don’t understand our objective. We can see how we want things to turn
- [When Your Spiritual Life Feels Dry: A Promise of Hope](https://abbymcdonald.org/2022/09/when-your-spiritual-life-feels-dry-a-promise-of-hope/) - I can plan an entire trip around a place to eat. This may sound crazy to you, but to me it’s completely normal. As a kid, I remember my grandparents eating lunch while discussing where they were going to go for dinner. Food was as important to them as the sights we saw along the
- [3 Things We Can Do for Our Heart When It Feels Broken](https://abbymcdonald.org/2022/08/3-things-we-can-do-for-our-heart-when-it-feels-broken/) - It happened so fast that I wasn’t prepared for it. Instinct told me to guard my heart, but the damage was already done. A text conversation with a family member had opened an old wound. One I thought had healed, but the scar remained. I sat in the recliner for several minutes recounting the words,
- [3 Truths to Remember When the Wait Makes You Worry](https://abbymcdonald.org/2022/07/when-the-wait-makes-you-worry/) - Most of us are living in a gap. Whether we realize it or not, we’re in-between mountaintops and answers. And often, the wait makes us worry. Whether we’re waiting for a response to prayer, a breakthrough, or a victory, we struggle to keep our peace of mind during the in-between. Sometimes we wait in silence,
- [How to Thwart the Subtle Attacks of the Enemy](https://abbymcdonald.org/2022/06/how-to-thwart-the-subtle-attacks-of-the-enemy/) - Recently, I shared my heart with a small group of trusted friends. I told them how I felt discouraged in several different areas of my life, and was in a slump I couldn’t seem to shake. My family life, writing, and friendships were all under attack, and I needed affirmation that I wasn’t alone. Each
- [The One Reason Fear Often Leads Us](https://abbymcdonald.org/2022/05/the-one-reason-fear-often-leads-us/) - “Don’t let fear be the deciding factor in your decision,” the author said on a popular podcast. The advice seemed so simple and in my heart I knew it was true, and yet it was difficult to follow. I asked myself how many decisions over the past few months had been made in fear instead
- [What Happens When We're Honest About Our Doubt](https://abbymcdonald.org/2022/05/what-happens-when-were-honest-about-our-doubt/) - I came face to face with uncertainty when my new acquaintance asked me a blunt question. My husband and I were at a birthday party for one of his work colleagues, and I was trying to meet some people in our new town. “So what are you going to do?” It was an honest question, but
- [We Can See God During Periods of Waiting](https://abbymcdonald.org/2022/04/we-can-see-god-during-periods-of-waiting/) - I took the note out of the envelope and immediately smiled. Even though the strokes looked slightly more labored than usual, I recognized the handwriting without hesitation. It was my Mom’s. The cursive moved over the page with a familiarity I’d missed for months and spoke a visible reminder that God still answers prayers. Following
- [If You're Questioning Whether or Not You Heard God](https://abbymcdonald.org/2022/04/if-youre-questioning-whether-or-not-you-heard-god/) - I didn’t want the open the email. The subject line said it all. “Thank you…” After a few years pursuing this writing stuff, I knew what those two words meant. “Thank you but no thank you.” “Thank you but this doesn’t meet our needs at this time.” “Thank you, and please try again.” My finger
- [Finding God in the Wilderness](https://abbymcdonald.org/2022/03/finding-god-in-the-wilderness/) - The open package sat on our kitchen windowsill, and I couldn’t resist looking through it. Yes, it was addressed to my husband. But I knew what was in it- camping equipment for our upcoming trip. After a disastrous camping season last year that included a biking accident and a COVID cancellation, I was ready. Sandy
- [Why We're Often Wrong About How the Enemy Works](https://abbymcdonald.org/2022/03/why-were-often-wrong-about-how-the-enemy-works/) - A few weeks ago, I had a conversation with a friend who was going through an extremely difficult season. On top a crisis in her family life, she also faced stresses in her ministry. The timing of it could not have been worse. Each area of her life that mattered to her was filled with
- [The Breakthrough You Haven't Seen Yet](https://abbymcdonald.org/2022/02/the-breakthrough-you-havent-seen-yet/) - The pastor’s question seemed rhetorical, but I almost screamed, “Yes!” after he asked it. “Are there certain areas of your life where you can’t seem to find breakthrough?” I looked around the sanctuary. From the looks on people’s faces, it seemed as though everyone’s answer was the same as mine. This message prefaced an invitation
- [6 Ways the Enemy Deceives Us (and how to fight back)](https://abbymcdonald.org/2020/05/ways-the-enemy-deceives-us/) - Sometimes I wish the enemy would announce himself with a blaring trumpet. Wouldn’t it be easier to avoid his traps if this type of announcement were his style? However, this isn’t how Scripture depicts him. He prowls. He deceives. He waits and he watches for an opportune time. It doesn’t seem like he’s in a
- [If You've Ever Thought God Speaks to Others But Not to You](https://abbymcdonald.org/2022/02/if-youve-ever-thought-god-speaks-to-others-but-not-to-you/) - I longed for the confidence my friend had. God spoke to her and her husband, and her family took a huge leap of faith. They knew God was leading them in a specific direction, and it was beautiful to watch. While I was happy for them, I also wondered why it seemed like I’d hit
- [Hope for When Your Prayers for Protection Aren't Answered](https://abbymcdonald.org/2022/01/when-your-prayers-for-protection-arent-answered/) - I read the text over and over again, hoping the words would somehow change. But they didn’t. It was the third time my husband and I had heard this dreaded word during the past year. This word we wanted to wish away: cancer. This time it was my father-in-law, and while we didn’t know the
- [You Don't Have to Drown in Expectations This Christmas](https://abbymcdonald.org/2021/12/you-dont-have-to-drown-in-expectations-this-christmas/) - I looked up at night sky and saw the stars dancing among the trees. I blinked once, thinking my eyes were playing tricks on me, but the view was the same. “Look!” I said to my husband. “The stars, they’re moving.” “Yep. Those are winter fireflies,” he said. Even in the darkness, I could see
- [If You're Worried that Your Anchor Will Fail](https://abbymcdonald.org/2022/01/if-youre-worried-that-your-anchor-will-fail/) - It started with a little insomnia. More than once during the week, I awoke from heavy dreams feeling threatened. Sometimes after hours of tossing and turning, sleep would come again, but I’d wake up in the morning with a nagging sense of worry. Then, I picked up an old habit of replaying conversations and analyzing
- [For the One Who's Afraid to Trust God](https://abbymcdonald.org/2021/12/for-the-one-whos-afraid-to-trust-god/) - If only trusting God were as simple as a childhood trust fall. When our daughter was a year old, she used to throw herself off the bed into our arms. Fear wasn’t a part of her mind’s vocabulary, and she knew without a doubt that we’d catch her each and every time. Without fail. As
- [When Comparison Tries to Steal My Courage](https://abbymcdonald.org/2021/11/when-comparison-tries-to-steal-my-courage/) - Comparison is one of the biggest thieves of courage. And in today’s culture, it is easier than ever for us to compare our lives, gifts and spiritual walk to someone else’s. When I sense God calling me to take a step of faith, I often get derailed when I look at another sister and think,
- [Fine-Tuning Our Hearts to Hear God](https://abbymcdonald.org/2021/10/fine-tuning-our-hearts-to-hear-god/) - I wanted to hear God, but my efforts to discern his voice seemed like they were in vain. The truth was, I was desperate for his direction, but felt like I was fumbling through the dark alone. I thought I was a good listener. I’m not a loud person, and when others talk, I try
- [When a Door that Looked Open Is Slammed Shut](https://abbymcdonald.org/2021/09/when-a-door-that-looked-open-is-slammed-shut/) - Flashing lights showed in our rear-view mirror and my husband pulled right, allowing the ambulance to pass. It turned on the street leading up to our house. “Oh, Don. What did you do now?” my husband said in an exasperated tone. He seemed certain the ambulance was headed toward our neighbor’s house. The middle-aged man’s
- [When all you want is to go home](https://abbymcdonald.org/2021/08/when-you-just-want-to-go-home/) - “I just want to go home,” my son said. Then immediately, the tears came. I fought back my own tears as I grabbed him and rubbed his back.“We’ll be home soon, buddy. They’re just trying to make sure you’re safe, ok?” I looked into his eyes and he gave me a nod.We exited the bathroom
- [A Promise for When You Think You Missed the Boat](https://abbymcdonald.org/2021/07/a-promise-for-when-you-think-you-missed-the-boat/) - Last night I talked to a friend who told me she turned off Messenger notifications on her phone. She realized she never received a message I sent because it was buried under piles of others. I completely understood. If she’s anything like me, she’s familiar with the epidemic of “now.” I have severe anxiety over
- [When You're Too Battle Weary to Pray](https://abbymcdonald.org/2021/07/when-youre-too-battle-weary-to-pray/) - There is a fine line between being vulnerable and over-sharing. While I strive to always be authentic with you in my writing, there are certain details I don’t share. To protect my family, friends, and loved ones, some stories are more general in nature. But today, I want to get more personal with you than
- [The Unseen Work You Do Matters](https://abbymcdonald.org/2021/07/the-unseen-work-you-do-matters/) - I’m pretty sure summer brings out a whole other brand of crazy in me. Something about not having a schedule or routine with these long days of no quiet makes me feel like I’m losing my compass. A few years back, Western Maryland had what felt like a monsoon season in June. My respite spots
- [The Day I Realized Closed Doors Are a Gift](https://abbymcdonald.org/2021/06/the-day-i-realized-closed-doors-are-a-gift/) - For months, I held the weight of expectancy in my heart. It filled my prayers, woke me in the middle of the night, and entered my dreams. I didn’t know what the answer would be, but I carried a childlike confidence. Almost certain a “yes” was eminent, I prayed with more boldness, sure that this
- [What Happens to Our Souls When We Compare](https://abbymcdonald.org/2021/06/what-happens-to-our-souls-when-we-compare/) - The shouts echo from the family room and as much as I try to avoid them, I know I’ll have to referee. I can’t see what’s taking place, but I know. My rising blood pressure is a sure sign. As I stand in the doorway, my suspicions are confirmed. There are hundreds of toys strewn
- [How God Answers When His People Want to Die](https://abbymcdonald.org/2021/05/how-god-answers-when-his-people-want-to-die/) - Sometimes it’s easier to be a spectator. When someone dies or there’s a tragedy making headlines in the media, that’s often what I am. I sit back and read other writers’ words. I nod and silently say, “Amen.” But weeks following the suicide of two well-known celebrities, I knew I needed to contribute more than
- [3 Truths to Help Us Find Solid Ground When Our Anchor is Flailing](https://abbymcdonald.org/2021/05/3-truths-to-help-us-find-solid-ground-when-our-anchor-is-flailing/) - Not checking the weather was my first mistake. The sun was hot, the sky was bright, and by all appearances, it was a perfect beach day. We trekked toward the water with our towels, sunscreen, and a stroller full of gear. The stroller was my second mistake. We made it up the boardwalk to find
- [Promises to Shift Your Focus During Seasons of Waiting](https://abbymcdonald.org/2021/05/promises-to-shift-your-focus-during-seasons-of-waiting/) - I wish I was a morning person. In hundreds of little ways, it would make life easier. But until I’ve had my first or sometimes third cup of coffee, my words during those early hours are few. There is one thing other than school schedules and kids’ activities that will get me out of bed
- [How to Stop Worrying and Find Peace](https://abbymcdonald.org/2021/04/how-to-stop-worrying-and-find-peace/) - Few things send me into high stress mode faster than a dilemma I have no ability to resolve or fix. But if the problem involves my children, the anxiety level kicks up several notches. When you watch your child struggle through something, knowing you can’t release the burden from them, it hits you in a
- [3 Ways God Fights for Our Faith](https://abbymcdonald.org/2021/04/3-ways-god-fights-for-our-faith/) - God won’t let our faith fail. I know. The statement sounds almost counterintuitive, right? Our Creator made us with free will and the ability to make our own decisions, so we have a choice whether or not to exercise our faith. We see this premise in the garden, when the serpent deceives Eve and she
- [How to Find God's Light in the Darkness](https://abbymcdonald.org/2021/04/how-to-find-gods-light-in-the-darkness/) - I can’t sleep without white noise. Whether it’s a fan, air purifier or an app on my phone, I need that gentle hum to lull me into oblivion. My husband travels several times a year for work, and when he’s gone I turn the noise up a notch. Every sound in the house except for
- [Direction for Your Heart When You Face Decision Fatigue](https://abbymcdonald.org/2021/04/direction-for-your-heart-when-you-face-decision-fatigue/) - decision fatigue
- [When No is God's Greatest Grace](https://abbymcdonald.org/2018/03/no-is-his-grace/) - I knew the answer, but I didn’t want to hear it. “No. Not this season. Not yet.” So I tried to twist God’s arm a little. Present him with a list of reasons why my plan was better. Manipulate. Did he see the stress and worry our family experienced? Did he care? When that approach
- [Hope to Anchor Your Soul in the Midst of Rejection](https://abbymcdonald.org/2021/04/hope-to-anchor-your-soul-in-the-midst-of-rejection/) - When we moved to this area ten years ago, I was sure we'd be friends with this family down the street. Our boys were in the same class. We saw each other at school and stood at the bus stop together each morning when they started kindergarten. But somehow, it never happened. My family’s attempts
- [The Danger in Letting Others Define Who We Are](https://abbymcdonald.org/2021/03/the-danger-in-letting-others-define-who-we-are/) - “Don’t ever say you’re just a mom.” I spun around, startled at the realization that my conversation wasn’t private. I was talking to the cashier at a local toy store about school and pursuing a career in writing. Both my boys were tiny at the time, and before I knew it the statement that I
- [A Truth Bomb for When You Think God is Disappointed in You](https://abbymcdonald.org/2021/03/you-think-god-is-disappointed-in-you/) - I replayed the conversation in my head, wishing I’d responded differently. Why did I get so defensive when others didn’t see things my way? Instead of trying to see the other person’s point of view and finding a common ground, I’d put up a wall between us. Sure, we remained polite to each other, but
- [3 Truths to Cling to in the Valleys of Waiting](https://abbymcdonald.org/2021/03/3-truths-to-cling-to-in-the-valleys-of-waiting/) - Sometimes the valleys of waiting seem as though they will never end. We lift up our voices in prayer, but they seem to go nowhere. This is where I was six years ago. I wanted to believe God would work our situation for good. I wanted my faith to surpass my worry over the stack
- [3 Things God Cares About More than Our Safety and Comfort](https://abbymcdonald.org/2021/02/3-things-god-cares-about-more-than-our-safety-and-comfort/) - Recently, I read that when infants are born, they have an innate need to store memories where they feel safe. Their first experience on this earth is one of trauma because they’re removed from the warm, dark place they knew for nine months. After being placed in a bright, cold and unfamiliar environment, they need
- [5 Ways to Promote Unity in the Church](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/02/5-ways-to-promote-unity-in-the-church/) - One word can change everything. Our interpretation can be altered with just a few letters and the way we string those letters together can make an undeniable difference in the impact they have. For years, I thought I knew a popular verse in scripture. When I came to it, I quickly skimmed over it
- [The Freedom We Find When We Surrender Our Whys to God](https://abbymcdonald.org/2021/02/the-freedom-we-find-when-we-surrender-our-whys-to-god/) - “Wow. Nothingness. That is a major card.” I looked at the owner of the tarot cards with interest, wondering what he meant. He went on to explain how the card represented a shift in a person’s season of life, a time to be open to anything. The old passed away, and a new slate was
- [3 Perspective Shifts that Changed My Life](https://abbymcdonald.org/2021/02/3-perspective-shifts-that-changed-my-life/) - “Mama, what about the snow?” my daughter asked. I knelt by her bed, confused for a moment. Then, I understood what she was asking. We forgot to thank God for the gifts of the day. The snow was a gift she realized was from God, and in my tiredness, I had recited a bedtime prayer
- [Why God's Promises Go Further Than Our Dreams](https://abbymcdonald.org/2021/01/why-gods-promises-go-further-than-our-dreams/) - The comment popped into my inbox, and it was as though the reader saw directly into my heart. Tears formed and I knew God was speaking. “Go to the conference with a song in your heart, holding lightly to your hopes and dreams and tightly to God’s promises. Sounds like the two work against each
- [If You're Unsure Whether it's God's Voice](https://abbymcdonald.org/2021/01/the-the-person-whos-unsure-whether-its-gods-voice/) - I longed for a clear sign. My husband and I were about to make a life-altering decision, but all I felt was uncertainty and confusion. Should we stay or should we go? And if we stayed, what would that mean for our family? In scripture, we’re told that the God we serve is not one
- [God's Love Wasn't Casting Out My Fear](https://abbymcdonald.org/2021/01/love-wasnt-casting-out-fear/) - “I am going to die.” That’s what I kept telling myself on repeat as I talked to the OBGYN nurse over the phone. I tried to catch my breath but the tightness in my chest made it difficult to breathe. “Don’t try to come here,” the she said. “Just go straight to the E.R. Tell
- [If You Think You Didn't Make a Difference in 2020, You're Wrong](https://abbymcdonald.org/2020/12/you-made-a-difference/) - If you’re reading these words, you made it. You may be crawling across the finish line, banged up and battle weary, but you did it. Somehow, we survived one of the craziest years ever, and for that alone I want to give you a high five across the computer screen. Well done, friend. Whether you
- [When You Stop Praying for the Miracle](https://abbymcdonald.org/2020/12/when-you-stop-praying/) - I once heard a famous pastor say the last five minutes before the miracle are when we’re tempted the most to give up. When we don’t see the answer we crave and our loved one keeps making poor decision after poor decision, we stop. What’s the use, right? Our hurt and weariness take over and
- [A Remedy for the Heart that's More Weary Than Expectant This Christmas](https://abbymcdonald.org/2020/12/remedy-for-weary-heart/) - “What I’d really love for Christmas is to not have to make one more decision.” I wasn’t talking to a friend, my husband or family. It was December three years ago, and I was talking to God. My brain felt like the emoji with the nuclear head exploding and a nap sounded like the perfect
- [Maintaining Steady Hope in an Unstable World](https://abbymcdonald.org/2020/11/steady-hope-in-an-unstable-world/) - When we hear perpetual bad news, changing protocols, and internet shaming, it's difficult to maintain a steady hope. Hope in the future. Hope in our world's ability to rise from all of this to be better and stronger. Last night, after the kids were in bed and we both watched TV, my husband asked how
- [When God Gives Us More Than We Can Handle](https://abbymcdonald.org/2020/11/god-gives-more-than-we-can-handle/) - If you’ve spent any time in Christian circles, you’ve heard the saying: God never gives you more than you can handle. But is this really true or biblical? I’m certain whoever invented this statement didn’t have kids. My drama queen toddler princess is more than I can handle. My tendency to over-analyze every situation is
- [How God Responds When His Own Want to Die](https://abbymcdonald.org/2018/07/when-gods-people-want-to-die/) - Sometimes it’s easier to be a spectator. When someone dies or there’s a tragedy making headlines in the media, that’s often what I am. I sit back and read other writers’ words. I nod and silently say, “Amen.” But over the last weeks following the suicide of two well-known celebrities, I knew I needed to
- [How Unhealthy Expectations Can Crush Us During this Crazy Season](https://abbymcdonald.org/2020/10/unhealthy-expectations-crush/) - My turn to share was coming, and I wasn’t ready. While the other women on our Google chat discussed their writing goals, my mind spun on repeat. With a new school year looking nothing like anything I'd known, this word "goals" had a whole new meaning. I was still processing it. Ah yes, goals. What
- [The Day I Realized Why I Wasn't Hearing God Speak](https://abbymcdonald.org/2018/12/hearing-god-speak/) - I poked at the fire, frustrated that it wouldn’t stay aflame. This girl was no scout. The temperatures outside had reached single digits, and our furnace was having a hard time keeping up. After spending an hour trying different techniques, adding wood, scraps of paper, and using more fire starters than any person should, the
- [Why I Finally Realized Closed Doors Are a Gift](https://abbymcdonald.org/2019/04/gift-of-closed-doors/) - For months I held the weight of expectancy in my heart. It filled my prayers, woke me in the middle of the night, and entered my dreams. I didn’t know what the answer would be, but I carried a childlike confidence. Almost certain a “yes” was eminent, I prayed with more boldness, sure that this step in writing would further the message God called me to. Then, the email arrived in my inbox. I read it several times, trying to process each syllable and search for a reason to the unknown. The answer was no. And in the space of a few seconds, a door I’d waited for months to open wide was shut with finality.
- [God Doesn't Speak to Us in Puzzles](https://abbymcdonald.org/2020/10/god-doesnt-speak-to-us-in-puzzles/) - For weeks, I thought God was giving me signs. Hints of something to come. What I didn't realize at the time is God doesn't speak to us in puzzles. I faced a health scare, and twenty-one days stood between the initial phone call and a diagnosis. So I prayed and kept my eyes open. An
- [3 Ways God Defends When the Enemy Accuses Us](https://abbymcdonald.org/2020/10/3-ways-god-defends/) - Sometimes I forget that it's God who defends us when the enemy attacks, and that we're not alone on some island trying to fend for ourselves. You too? I used to think once I reached a certain point in my walk with Jesus, all my insecurities would melt away. In my mind, I would become
- [This is Why We Can Ask for Help](https://abbymcdonald.org/2020/07/this-is-why-we-can-ask-for-help/) - I didn’t want to ask for help. As I hung there, suspended over 100 feet in the air, I twisted my body upward. The wooden plank of the bridge was several feet above my legs, and seemed to mock me. I didn’t have the strength to reach it. Sweat drenched my clothes as the sun
- [The Question Every Parent Is Asking Right Now](https://abbymcdonald.org/2020/08/the-question-every-parent-is-asking-right-now/) - It’s the question every parent with school-aged children is asking right now: What do I do, God? This pandemic continues to strip away choices about our kids’ education, causing us to look at the options we do have with disbelief and anxiety. Some of us have more freedom and options than others, but we are
- [When Your Spiritual Muscles Feel Weak and Weary](https://abbymcdonald.org/2020/08/when-your-spiritual-muscles-feel-weak-and-weary/) - After a series of disappointments several years ago, my spiritual muscles felt weary and weak. It was like the muscle memory of getting alone with God faded, and all I was left with was frustration. Have you ever been there? It’s like trying to play an instrument after a decade of not touching it. Take
- [How a Simple Shift in Focus Can Allow Us to See God](https://abbymcdonald.org/2020/09/how-a-simple-shift-in-focus-can-allow-us-to-see-god/) - Can a simple shift in focus allow us to see God? I believe it can. And if there's anything 2020 has taught me, it's that I have to be intentional about realigning my focus. My middle child is a perfect example of this. Let me explain by going back to several years ago, when we
- [How to Reclaim Joy in the Hardest Year Ever](https://abbymcdonald.org/2020/08/how-to-reclaim-joy-in-the-hardest-year-ever/) - The countdown has started. I hear it in conversations around me, on social media and even in books I'm reading. We are halfway into the year 2020, but we're done with it already. We want to reclaim our joy, but aren't sure how. I feel it too. Not only am I navigating a school year
- [5 Unexpected Ways God is Moving in the Pandemic](https://abbymcdonald.org/2020/09/unexpected-ways-god-is-moving/) - Last week, I read a few reviews of Shift on Amazon, and one in particular sparked something in me. “Abby has a gift for finding the fingerprints of God in the happenings of life. And not only does she find them, but Abby helps you start to see them in your own. It was a blessing for
- [Signs that Loneliness Has Turned to Despair](https://abbymcdonald.org/2020/09/loneliness-becomes-something-deeper/) - While we continue to navigate life in the middle of a pandemic, it's important for us to distinguish between loneliness and despair or loss of hope. Because while one has a solution that is usually quick and simple, the other can be more dangerous. Friends, loneliness and depression are becoming a pandemic of their own.
- [If You're Afraid of Falling](https://abbymcdonald.org/2020/09/if-youre-afraid-of-falling/) - If you were completely confident in God’s unchanging, irrevocable love for you, would it change how you walked? If you knew that no matter how many times you fell, he would be right there to catch you, would it change the way you lived your life? I believe it would. Several years ago, God showed
- [To the One Who Loves a Wayward Soul](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/05/loving-a-wayward-soul/) - My first baby is a runner. She doesn’t wear human skin or have opposing thumbs, but she’s a member of our family all the same. She’s a four-legged ball of mischief who looks like a cross between a Rottweiler and a Beagle. Her name is Zoe. There are a hundreds of things which can beckon
- [4 Truths to Help You Find Rest in God's Grace](https://abbymcdonald.org/2019/04/find-rest-in-gods-grace/) - We have a tendency to run from what we don’t understand, don’t we? Since can’t comprehend how God could love us despite all of the mistakes we’ve made and the times we’ve messed it all up, we fight it. We struggle against his grace when all He wants to do is wrap us in it. I tend to fight Him most when I feel as though I’ve let someone down. My people pleasing tendencies lead me to believe I have to be everything to everyone, and when I can’t, I assume God must be unhappy too.
- [Hope for When Life Feels Like Shifting Sand](https://abbymcdonald.org/2020/07/hope-for-when-life-feels-like-shifting-sand/) - A few years ago, I faced my fear of heights and traversed a four-story-high ropes course with my son. I felt like I was trying to walk on shifting sand. Everything went fine until we reached a planked bridge that wobbled back and forth, and I made a critical mistake: I looked down. At this
- [How to Find Your Way Back to Solid Ground](https://abbymcdonald.org/2019/07/back-to-solid-ground/) - Not checking the weather was my first mistake. The sun was hot, the sky was bright, and by all appearances, it was a perfect beach day. We trekked toward the water with our towels, sunscreen, and a stroller full of gear. The stroller was my second mistake. We made it up the boardwalk to find
- [A Promise for the One Who Feels Abandoned](https://abbymcdonald.org/2020/07/a-promise-for-the-one-who-feels-abandoned/) - I’ll never forget that night. I stood there on the front porch, waiting for what seemed like forever. Dressed in my new clothes, with my hair and make-up done. My date never showed. To say I was humiliated was an understatement. But more than that, I felt stupid. Naïve. As it turned out, my ex
- [When You Need a Reminder that God Is for You](https://abbymcdonald.org/2020/06/when-you-need-a-reminder-that-god-is-for-you/) - It’s a constant refrain in recent conversations with friends, family and acquaintances. People are weary. Many are running on fumes. But the weariness goes beyond physical tiredness and down deeper, to a soul level. For some, the weariness began as discouragement. This is how it started for me. Several weeks ago, it hit me again.
- [Dear Church, We Need a New Narrative](https://abbymcdonald.org/2020/06/dear-church-we-need-a-new-narrative/) - God took me to church in the middle of the allergist’s office. And I realized we need a new narrative. As a body and as brothers and sisters who are called to be united, we need a new normal. It started with a misunderstanding with the nurse about my son’s health. After waiting two and
- [The Danger of Letting Others' Opinions Distract Us](https://abbymcdonald.org/2019/10/opinions-distract-us/) - “God did a good work, Abby.” Tears formed when I heard my friend’s words on the voice message. After a year and a half of working on a book that would be birthed in three months, I was second-guessing everything. Questions about my intentions sent me reeling, and wondering, “Is this what I can expect?”
- [The Truth About Belonging that Opened a Loner's Heart](https://abbymcdonald.org/2020/05/the-truth-about-belonging-that-opened-a-loners-heart/) - “You’ve changed in the short time I’ve known you.” My friend made the observation as we drove up the windy road through the mountains, chatting on our way home from a moms’ night out. I smiled because I knew she meant the statement in a positive way. After over a year living in northern Utah,
- [The Hard Truth About Trusting God](https://abbymcdonald.org/2020/05/the-hard-truth-about-trusting-god/) - If only trusting God were as simple as a childhood trust fall. When our daughter was a year old, she used to throw herself off the bed into our arms. Fear wasn’t a part of her mind’s vocabulary, and she knew without a doubt that we’d catch her each and every time. Without fail. As
- [The Story Where I Wrote A Book God Knew I Would Need](https://abbymcdonald.org/2020/04/the-book-god-knew-id-need/) - If you’re visiting from Encouragement for Today, welcome! When I wrote the piece shared today, it was months before the current pandemic changed many aspects of our lives. Church doors were still open, our family still saw friends on a regular basis, and my children attended public school. Today, our circumstances are completely different, and I
- [The Lie We Believe About Hiding Our Depression](https://abbymcdonald.org/2020/04/the-lie-we-believe-about-hiding-our-depression/) - “Mama, the monsters are coming at me,” my son said. He stood by the bed with his face inches from mine, hands animated. My mid-REM cycle brain lingered between sleep and reality. “What?” I asked. I saw that my son was disturbed by something. After realizing I was going to have to get out of
- [The One Thing We Can Control this Easter](https://abbymcdonald.org/2020/04/the-one-thing-we-can-control-this-easter/) - The storm woke her. Somewhere between the first inklings of sleep and consciousness, I heard the bedroom door swing open. Within a second, her face was right next to mine. I heard her whimper something unintelligible in my ear, and I knew. She was scared. She needed her mama to wrap her up in firm
- [Easter in Light of a Pandemic](https://abbymcdonald.org/2020/04/easter-in-light-of-a-pandemic/) - Easter is going to look a lot different for many of us this year. If you live in the U.S. or any one of the hundreds of countries now affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, current life stands in stark contrast to what it did weeks or months ago. Each of us is living day by
- [What Happens When We Bring Our Doubts to God](https://abbymcdonald.org/2020/03/what-happens-when-we-bring-our-doubts-to-god/) - I came face to face with uncertainty when my new acquaintance asked me a blunt question. My husband and I were at a birthday party for one of his work colleagues, and I was trying to meet some people in our new town. “So what are you going to do?” It was an honest question,
- [Where Do We Find Peace in the Midst of Crisis?](https://abbymcdonald.org/2020/03/where-do-we-find-peace-in-the-midst-of-crisis/) - A couple of months ago, my three-year-old started asking my husband and me to describe our emotions using basic words like happy, sad, or mad. If we showed the slightest change in attitude, we heard the questions, “Are you happy? Are you sad?” It’s a simple way for her to gauge the atmosphere around her,
- [Why We Can Give an Unknown Future to God](https://abbymcdonald.org/2020/01/give-the-unknown-to-god/) - It was as though the doctor knew me and my tendency to try to find answers. To try to see into an unknown future. “I don’t think your daughter had a stroke. She is healthy, and she shows no signs of one.” I looked at the doctor in wide-eyed disbelief because this thought never entered
- [3 Ways We Can Know We Heard from God](https://abbymcdonald.org/2020/03/3-ways-we-can-know-we-heard-from-god/) - I could hear the apprehension in my friend’s voice. How could she know she heard from God? She wanted confirmation that the nudge was from him, but she wasn’t sure. Was the prompting something she produced in her own mind, or from her Creator? This uncertainty is all too familiar to me, because I still
- [How I Know God Hears](https://abbymcdonald.org/2020/03/how-i-know-god-hears/) - Every now and then, he gives me an undeniable glimpse of his love for me. A moment where I know without a doubt that God hears me. That he hears each and every one of us. My friend calls them God winks. But this. This was more like a God hug. It was as though
- [What if "No" is God's Saving Grace?](https://abbymcdonald.org/2020/02/no-is-gods-saving-grace/) - I knew the answer, but I didn’t want to hear it. “No. Not this season. Not yet.” So I tried to twist God’s arm a little. Present him with a list of reasons why my plan was better. Manipulate. Did he see the stress and worry our family experienced? Did he care? When that approach
- [The Most Important Element of Pursuing Our God-Sized Dream](https://abbymcdonald.org/2020/02/pursuing-our-god-sized-dream/) - “If we get a book deal, what should we do first?” I sat in a room full of other women with passion to share stories. Stories about a big God who breathed dreams into being. Stories about a Creator who stirred the creative spirit in each of us. We were in a Q & A
- [Finding Perseverance to Keep Going When We Reach the Messy Middle](https://abbymcdonald.org/2020/02/perseverance-in-the-messy-middle/) - There’s nothing like the thrill of beginnings. Whether it’s a move, a new home, project or goal, the exhilaration of a fresh start fills us with exciting momentum. Often, God gives us a vision that keeps us moving forward, even when others don’t understand our objective. We can see how we want things to turn
- [For the One Who Grieves Someone Who is Still Living](https://abbymcdonald.org/2020/02/grieve-someone-who-is-still-living/) - I was fresh out of words. With arms folded across my chest, I looked out the bay window as if I might find fresh fire for my prayers. It seemed as though each one fell flat or hit some invisible wall, not reaching the place I needed it to. For years, I didn’t realize you
- [When You Don't Know What to Pray](https://abbymcdonald.org/2020/01/when-you-dont-know-what-to-pray/) - I was eight seconds into my response to a friend’s question when I realized she was no longer listening to me. Her eyes were on everything but me, and then she walked away while I was still speaking. As much as I tried not to let it bother me, I was a little hurt by
- [The Treasure We Give Away Without Knowing It](https://abbymcdonald.org/2020/01/the-treasure-we-give-away-2/) - Do you know what TV show fascinates me? It isn’t the Real Housewives or one of those Survivor spin-offs. It’s The Antiques Roadshow. I know, I know. There’s no drama on this little hour of British television. But I’m amazed at these treasures passed down from generations past, with owners who aren’t even aware of
- [Why Comparison is the Thief of Bravery](https://abbymcdonald.org/2020/01/why-comparison-is-the-thief-of-bravery/) - Comparison is one of the biggest thieves of bravery. And in today’s culture, it has never been easier for us to compare our lives, gifts and spiritual walk to someone else’s. When I sense God calling me to take a step of faith, I often get derailed when I look at another sister and think,
- [A Prayer for a New Decade](https://abbymcdonald.org/2020/01/a-prayer-for-a-new-decade/) - Father in Heaven, Thank you for a new decade. Thank you for a new opportunity to take brave steps of love in your name and spread your Word to those who need it. We know it is easy for us to get distracted. We forget each day is a gift, and that the next isn’t
- [Why the Best Is Yet to Come](https://abbymcdonald.org/2019/12/why-the-best-is-yet-to-come/) - I admit, I don't always live like the best is yet to come. Take the other day, for example. I almost missed it. It was the third day in a row of grey, overcast whether, and a mixture of ice and snow covered the ground. My three-year-old played inside while I did some last minute
- [When the Holidays Cause Joy and Pain to Collide](https://abbymcdonald.org/2019/12/joy-and-pain-collide/) - There’s something about the holidays that magnifies our deepest emotions. Our joy and our pain collide, dizzying us at times. Our comfort and our grief come together, often leaving us searching for answers. In the midst of the carols, the lights and hunts for the perfect gifts, we sometimes flounder on a roller coaster of
- [The Silent Joy Killer We Don't See Coming](https://abbymcdonald.org/2019/12/joy-killer-we-dont-see/) - My control freak tendency can be the biggest joy killer known to mankind. Ask me how I know. Let’s go back thirteen years to one of the few occasions I actually released control. My husband and I stood on top of an inactive volcano in Maui, waiting for the sunrise. I planned this highlight of our honeymoon
- [How to Not Feel So Alone During Seasons of Depression](https://abbymcdonald.org/2019/11/how-to-not-feel-so-alone-during-seasons-of-depression/) - Depression thrives on two things: isolation and silence. During one of my darkest seasons, I convinced myself that if I didn’t tell anyone about my depression, it would go away. I feared the verbalization of how I felt, thinking it would somehow become more real. Some days, I rationalized the constant sluggishness, numbness and fog
- [Manna for the Heart That's Afraid to Hope Again](https://abbymcdonald.org/2019/11/afraid-to-hope-again/) - As I read my loved one’s email, my eyes filled with tears. His words were the culmination of years of prayer and intercession, and my heart was hopeful about his future for the first time in years. Things were going to change. I could see it. A few weeks later, a text message showed up
- [Why Wisdom Won't Come from Being Right](https://abbymcdonald.org/2019/11/why-wisdom-wont-come-from-being-right/) - I turned around and saw him standing there, fresh cut flowers in hand and a smile on his face. “I’m sorry. I woke up on the wrong side of the bed.” I embedded my face in his chest and wrapped my arms around him. An apology and flowers weren’t what I was expecting, but I
- [Good News for When You're Worried Whether God Will Provide](https://abbymcdonald.org/2019/10/worried-whether-god-will-provide/) - As soon as I pulled up in front of the rental house, my heart sank. The paint on the exterior was peeling and chipping. A sagging porch with loose boards extended across the front, and the yard was overgrown with weeds. This would be our home for God only knew how long. Due to a
- [For the One Who Doesn't Know What Her Life is Worth](https://abbymcdonald.org/2019/10/what-her-life-is-worth/) - When the doctor told me my son’s life might be in danger, I didn’t have to think about my next step. A nurse came in and put an oxygen mask over my face to keep me from hyperventilating and I motioned for my husband to sign the consent form. Natural childbirth wasn’t an option. Even
- [When You Hit a Wall in Your Faith](https://abbymcdonald.org/2019/10/when-you-hit-a-wall-in-your-faith/) - About a year and a half ago, I hit a wall in my faith. Although I still prayed, read my Bible on a regular basis, and was active in the church, I didn’t feel connected to God the way I used to be. I faced constant frustration and discouragement over my lack of growth, but I wasn’t
- [If You Feel Like There Aren't Enough Hours in the Day {plus a giveaway}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2019/10/arent-enough-hours/) - A few weeks ago, I told my husband I felt pulled in a hundred different directions. Not just during certain hours of the day, but all the time. I knew something needed to change, but wasn’t sure how to proceed. In August, I counted the weeks until school began, thinking I would have more time
- [How to Create Healthy Boundaries With Toxic, Negative People](https://abbymcdonald.org/2019/09/boundaries-with-toxic-people/) - As a mom, I am wary of any toxic, negative influences in my children's lives. I want to surround them with people who speak life, and who push them to become the best version of themselves. But the truth is, I'm not always good at enforcing this boundary in my own life. A few years
- [Hope for the One Who Feels Misunderstood](https://abbymcdonald.org/2019/09/when-you-feel-misunderstood/) - It was the first day of the writer’s conference, and after my second cup of coffee, I finally felt somewhat awake. I went to the second floor of the hotel where they were filming a video and recognized a writer’s face from a popular website. Everyone in the room was exchanging hugs. I introduced myself,
- [Stop the Cycle of Mom Guilt: What Our Kids Crave the Most](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/10/cycle-of-mom-guilt/) - When I was pregnant with my third child, the mom guilt hit me full force. I'm not sure if it was the raging hormones, lack of sleep, or hundreds of transitions we faced, but somehow I developed irrational expectations about what our kids' lives needed to look like. In the midst of insomnia and preparations
- [When Your Efforts Feel Small: The Power of Showing Up](https://abbymcdonald.org/2019/09/the-power-of-showing-up/) - A few years ago, a car almost hit my husband and firstborn son. They walked toward our vehicle after a baseball game, and a woman backing up didn’t see them. My husband picked up our son, moving him out of the car’s path, and braced himself for impact. Thankfully, the woman saw them at the
- [This is How to Speak to Your Storm](https://abbymcdonald.org/2019/08/how-to-speak-to-your-storm/) - Did you know when you speak to your storm the way Jesus did, you can command the waves? Just ask Natalie Grant and Charlotte Gambill, who are professing this truth across the country at the Dare to Be conference. In a night of worship and time in the Word, they are reminding women of God
- [3 Promises for When You Don't Know What to Pray](https://abbymcdonald.org/2019/08/dont-know-what-to-pray/) - The news took my breath away. With one quick phone call, our lives changed. A family member was in trouble, and it was the kind where no one could help. As I looked out the window and listened to my Dad on the other end of the phone with tears streaming down my face, I
- [When We Question Whether We Heard God: One Truth](https://abbymcdonald.org/2019/08/question-we-heard-god/) - I didn’t want the open the email. The subject line said it all. “Thank you…” After a few years pursuing this writing stuff, I knew what those two words meant. “Thank you but no thank you.” “Thank you but this doesn’t meet our needs at this time.” “Thank you, and please try again.” My finger
- [How to Take a Fighting Stance Against Codependent, Self-Destructive Behavior](https://abbymcdonald.org/2019/08/fight-self-destructive-behavior/) - It was a hot, sultry day in July when the realization hit me. At first, I tried to deny it. The truth was painful. But I couldn’t escape its certainty. My family member was better off in my absence than he was in my presence. And as much as I wanted to fix the situation,
- [If You're Afraid to Take the Next Step](https://abbymcdonald.org/2019/08/if-youre-afraid-to-take-the-next-step/) - “Don’t look down, Mom!” Immediately, I wish my son hadn’t said that. I can’t help myself. My eyes drift to the expanse below and my feet wobble. What was I thinking when I agreed to do this? I try to regain my composure and remember my harness. The 4-story high ropes course stretches out before
- [When My Invisible Checklist Became an Idol](https://abbymcdonald.org/2019/07/checklist-became-an-idol/) - “What degree are you going after, your MRS degree?” I gave the elderly man a disgusted look and told him no. Part of me wanted to smack him for making such a chauvinistic remark, but another part knew something I wasn’t willing to admit: I wasn’t happy unless I had a man in the picture.
- [What a Bicycle Accident Taught Me About God's Great Love](https://abbymcdonald.org/2019/06/accident-taught-about-gods-love/) - Friends, it is a joy to welcome my friend Misty Phillip to the blog today. She has an amazing story of difficulty and hope to share with you, and I know you will be encouraged by it. ______________________________________________________________________________ A few years ago, my eldest son Jacob worked part-time while he attended college. His co-workers were
- [Was Jesus Ever Afraid?](https://abbymcdonald.org/2019/06/was-jesus-ever-afraid/) - Before God even created us, he knew our weaknesses. He knew fear was one of the biggest ways the enemy would attack our minds and attempt to derail the plans he had for us. It’s no wonder that scripture tells us to “fear not” or “do not be afraid” over one hundred times. But what
- [God Hasn't Left: A Promise for When Life Falls Apart](https://abbymcdonald.org/2019/06/god-hasnt-left/) - "Well, this isn’t how you prayed this moment would turn out.” The thought passed through my filter of truth and circled my mind on repeat. I knew it was a lie, but I listened to it. I stood there with my four-year-old, who was starting a new school, and tried to hold back tears. His
- [3 Ways God is Fighting for Your Faith](https://abbymcdonald.org/2019/05/god-is-fighting-for-your-faith/) - God won’t let our faith fail. I know. That statement sounds almost counterintuitive, right? Our Creator made us with free will and the ability to make our own decisions, so we have a choice whether or not to exercise our faith. We see this premise in the garden, when the serpent deceives Eve and she
- [The Moments We Miss God](https://abbymcdonald.org/2019/05/the-moments-we-miss-god/) - I missed God. I was sleep deprived, trying to get the kids to practices and remember to sign the millions of papers they brought home each day. Fear of failure consumed me, and I felt disconnected. In the big, life altering moments of the past few months, it was easy for me to see him.
- [Tired, Worn Out Mom: There is More Available for You](https://abbymcdonald.org/2019/05/more-for-tired-moms/) - Before becoming a mom, I never considered how my introverted personality would affect the way I parent my kids. Even during the first few years of my son’s life, when the house was still quiet and my firstborn, calm little guy was my companion, it didn’t occur to me that this trait would play into
- [When Expectations Cloud Our View of God](https://abbymcdonald.org/2019/05/expectations-cloud-our-view/) - I used to approach friendship with a long list of expectations. Things I thought a friend should do. A space I thought my friend should fill. Instead of extending grace, I was disappointed when friends didn’t follow through with what they said they’d do. I didn’t care whether they had kids and or whether the
- [What Casting Our Anxiety Looks Like in Real Life](https://abbymcdonald.org/2019/05/casting-our-anxiety/) - Kids hear everything. A few years ago, I received a reminder of this. Even when we think they’re not listening or won’t be interested in the conversation, they hear. They pay attention. And yes, they take interest. In the process of running my mouth to my husband on a phone call I thought was private,
- [Dear Dream Chaser: Guard Your Heart](https://abbymcdonald.org/2019/04/chaser-guard-your-heart/) - To my fellow dream chasers and go-getters: Sometimes our offerings to God can get entangled with distractions. What started as an honest response to his call can become counterbalanced by all the shiny things this world has to offer. Several months ago as I pursued this journey of traditional publishing, two wise friends offered the
- [The Damage We Do When We Withhold Grace](https://abbymcdonald.org/2019/04/the-damage-we-do-when-we-withhold-grace/) - If I take an honest look at my life, the times when I’ve withheld grace are too numerous for me to count. I see friends and family members forgive and reconcile with someone who hurt them, and I wonder how they could be so naive. Speculation over how long it will be until further damage is done is my companion. When I see God extend grace upon grace to those I love, but often I would rather see him deliver judgment. After all, doesn’t judgment bring repentance? As I open the pages of my Bible, I’m struck with the truth of his word...
- [Connecting with God in the Middle of Endless Distractions](https://abbymcdonald.org/2019/03/connecting-with-god/) - As soon as I sit down, I hear the pitter-patter of feet. Within seconds, my daughter is pulling herself up onto the couch, squeezing in next to me as I try to keep reading the open Bible on my lap. I last a few seconds longer before she throws herself across my lap, giggling. Knowing any meaningful time with God is useless at this point, I toss the Bible on the coffee table and come at her from both sides with the tickle monster.
- [Why Sometimes It Takes More Faith to Stay](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/06/it-takes-faith-to-stay/) - Moving cross-country is not something I recommend to most newlyweds. The culture shock, relationship strains, and adapting to a new community can take a toll on any couple. But that’s exactly what my husband and I did eleven months after we got married. Four years later, we did it again. I’m sure some people thought
- [A Promise for When You Wonder if Anyone Sees You](https://abbymcdonald.org/2019/03/a-promise-for-when-you-wonder-if-anyone-sees-you/) - Questions circling my head turned to doubts about my mothering abilities. I was tired and drained from the stress of the last few months, and was sure my son was tired too. Did these people see how hard I was trying? Did God? After what seemed like an eternity, we arrived and I had one agenda: to get off the plane immediately. With our belongings thrown into the diaper bag, I swung my son onto my hip, ready to beeline it. Then, I heard a voice behind me.
- [Some Truths to Hold onto When You Face Decision Fatigue](https://abbymcdonald.org/2019/03/when-you-face-decision-fatigue/) - Eight months ago, I experienced decision fatigue unlike any other time of my life. In a season filled with highs and joyful moments, there were also days when I felt paralyzed. Fear of making the wrong choice darkened my thoughts like a constant bully, and I didn’t know which way to turn. Those high moments?
- [If You're Struggling through Your Days and God Seems Far Away](https://abbymcdonald.org/2019/02/if-god-seems-far-away/) - When I was five, my best friend locked the two of us in the trunk of his dad’s car. Now, I know what you’re thinking. Why the heck would he do that, right? Good question. I still wonder about it, myself. If memory serves me correctly, we were pretending as kids often do. Our story
- [When the Wait Makes Us Worry: How to Claim Truth](https://abbymcdonald.org/2019/01/when-the-wait-makes-us-worry-how-to-claim-truth/) - Most of us are living in a gap. Whether we realize it or not, we’re in-between mountaintops and answers. And often, the wait makes us worry. Whether we're waiting for a response to prayer, a breakthrough, or a victory, we struggle to keep our peace of mind during the in-between. Sometimes we wait in silence,
- [When the Sting of Rejection is Fresh and Friendship Feels Too Risky](https://abbymcdonald.org/2019/02/friendship-feels-risky/) - Sometimes the hardest thing we can do is be vulnerable. Whether it’s being real with someone about how we’re feeling, reaching out a hand in friendship, or making that call, it feels risky. We remember the raised eyebrows, the blank stares or the sting of rejection. We remember being ignored or uninvited. Often, it feels
- [To the Frustrated Person Trying to Hear God's Voice](https://abbymcdonald.org/2019/02/hear-gods-voice/) - I longed for a clear sign. My husband and I were about to make a life-altering decision, but all I felt was uncertainty and confusion. Should we stay or should we go? And if we stayed, what would that mean for our family? In scripture, we’re told that the God we serve is not one
- [What Our Past Can Teach Us About God's Grace](https://abbymcdonald.org/2019/01/what-our-past-can-teach/) - "Are you a pagan?” I sat in a body-piercing studio with the owner gazing at a tattoo displayed on the nave of my back. It was a gnome, sitting on a mushroom and playing a fife. Everything about it screamed pot-smoker, hippy and apparently, pagan. And to think I got it because I thought it
- [What I Want to Teach My Daughter About Her Right to Choose](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/02/my-daughters-right-to-choose/) - I teared up when the sonogram tech said the words. "It's a girl." What I'd dared to name in my prayers was now real. She had a name: Elise. I looked over at my husband and saw tears in his eyes too. Our two boys sat on the floor, staring at the screen a couple
- [The Day God Asked Me to Lay Down My Dream](https://abbymcdonald.org/2018/04/lay-our-dream-down/) - The comment popped into my inbox, and it was as though the reader saw directly into my heart. Tears formed and I knew God was speaking. “Go to the conference with a song in your heart, holding lightly to your hopes and dreams and tightly to God's promises. Sounds like the two work against each
- [If You Doubt Whether the World Needs Your Voice](https://abbymcdonald.org/2019/01/world-needs-your-voice/) - My son’s face spelled frustration. He tried to get his classmate’s attention as we left the birthday party, but skating rink noise drowned his voice. After he called her name several times with no response, he gave up. “It’s loud in here, buddy,” I said, trying to reassure him. And it was. I practically ran to
- [The Battle We Ignore: Loved Ones, Addiction, and Lost New Years Resolutions](https://abbymcdonald.org/2019/01/the-battle-we-ignore/) - I didn’t plan to write this post for you today. I had an outline for New Year’s possibilities and dreams, goal-setting and fresh starts. But the truth is, that isn’t what was on my heart. Traveling over five hundred miles to my South Carolina home for the holidays brought plenty of opportunity to reflect and
- [When the Accuser Won't Leave You Alone](https://abbymcdonald.org/2018/12/accuser-wont-leave/) - I used to think once I reached a certain point in my walk with Jesus, all my insecurities would melt away. In my mind, I would become sort of like non-stick cookware. Each lie and accusation the enemy tried to throw at me would slide off, and I’d never give them a second thought. Unfortunately,
- [For the Days When You Feel Like a Fraud](https://abbymcdonald.org/2018/12/feel-like-a-fraud/) - “Sometimes I feel like we’re just the wannabes. Like there’s this higher level of writers and we're the outsiders.” I nod my head in agreement as I listen to my friend on the other end of the line. My eyes are wet with understanding. Every day I put the pen to paper or hands to keyboard
- [Winter Depression, I'm Not Letting You Win](https://abbymcdonald.org/2018/11/winter-depression/) - There’s something about dreary winter weather that makes me want to curl up and hibernate until spring. The grey skies. The frigid air. Before I know it, full on winter depression has set in, and according to the calendar it’s still fall. Winter decided to make its appearance in November this year, at least in
- [When You Can't Find Jesus in the Storm](https://abbymcdonald.org/2018/11/when-you-cant-find-jesus-in-the-storm/) - A few weeks ago we had one of those rains where it seems like the whole sky opens up. Trees bent under the weight of it. Birds scurried to find shelter. Every living creature seemed to realize the need to stay dry except my dog, who I inadvertently left out while running errands. She just
- [When You Doubt the Steps You Took in Faith](https://abbymcdonald.org/2018/11/when-you-doubt/) - “They didn’t go down on their price,” my husband said with a tone of defeat. I looked down at my pregnant belly and tried to fight tears. This was the second offer we’d made on a house we hoped to make our home, but things weren’t going as planned. We would have to walk away.
- [What Happens When We Surrender Our Prayers](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/06/when-we-surrender-our-prayers/) - “But I don’t want Jesus to die,” my son pleaded from the back seat. We were taking our annual trip through The Experience, a live narrative highlighting all the major events of Jesus’ life. It was held every Easter weekend at a local church. When we pulled our car up to the scene where Jesus
- [God Never Gives Us More Than We Can Handle? Baloney.](https://abbymcdonald.org/2018/10/more-than-we-can-handle/) - If you've spent any time in Christian circles, you've heard the platitude: God never gives you more than you can handle. Baloney. I'm certain whoever invented this statement didn't have kids. My drama queen toddler princess is more than I can handle. My tendency to over-analyze every situation is more than I can handle. But
- [Where Does All the Grace Go?](https://abbymcdonald.org/2018/10/where-does-all-the-grace-go/) - Friends, it is a treat to welcome my new friend, Rebekah Joy, to the blog today. Her post beautifully describes one of the attributes of God we often try to put into a box, only to find it can't be contained: his grace. I hope you'll give her a warm welcome and know you'll be
- [You Are Not Forgotten](https://abbymcdonald.org/2018/10/you-are-not-forgotten/) - As soon as we walked in the home, a musty, mothball smell hit me. I looked around at sawdust and unfinished projects. The place reeked of forgotten potential. It was like Fixer Upper gone bad. While the bathrooms were redone, the floors desperately needed refinishing. The roof and deck were new, but holes gaped in
- [How You Can Know You Made a Difference Today](https://abbymcdonald.org/2018/10/make-a-difference/) - Mowing the yard is my absolute favorite household chore. Call me crazy, but give me a mower and an hour without kids asking for snacks every five minutes, and I'm in heaven. My husband has allergies, so I often jump at the opportunity to make those pristine lines across our lawn. When the job is
- [The One Sure Remedy for an Identity Crisis](https://abbymcdonald.org/2018/09/identity-crisis-remedy/) - “For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!”” Romans 8:15 NIV Our five-year-old is going through an identity crisis. He feels the need to remind us who he is by telling us his name. A
- [When You're Afraid You've Missed the Boat](https://abbymcdonald.org/2018/09/missed-the-boat/) - Last night I talked to a friend who told me she turned off Messenger notifications on her phone. She realized she never received a message I sent because it was buried under piles of others. I completely understood. If she’s anything like me, she’s familiar with the epidemic of “now.” I have severe anxiety over
- [The Day God's Love Became Real](https://abbymcdonald.org/2018/09/when-gods-love-is-real/) - There is a vast difference between hearing words and actually believing them. For most of my life, I did the former. To say I took things with a grain of salt was an understatement. I used the entire shaker. My grandmother never missed an opportunity to tell me I was beautiful. I would give her an
- [Why God's Love Wasn't Casting Out My Fear](https://abbymcdonald.org/2018/09/casting-out-fear/) - “I am going to die.”That’s what I kept telling myself on repeat as I talked to the OBGYN nurse over the phone. I tried to catch my breath but the tightness in my chest made it difficult to breathe. Sometimes God allows us to face our greatest fear. Not to break us, but so that
- [When You Question Whether Your Story Matters](https://abbymcdonald.org/2018/08/your-story-matters/) - It was just three simple words on a piece of paper. Three simple words with a couple of exclamation points and a smiley face added for emphasis. And it changed the course of my entire day. “You are beautiful.” My husband knew I was feeling down. Following the previous night’s rejection email, I explained to
- [What Years of Waiting for a Hope Deferred Taught Me](https://abbymcdonald.org/2018/08/what-waiting-taught-me/) - “Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” Luke 1:45 NIV Little did I know how much I would need to hold onto those words in the months to come. I walked away from the famous author with my Christian Writers Market Guide under my arm, unsure of
- [When Grief is Great and Words Are Weak](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/08/when-words-are-weak/) - Today we’re saying goodbye to one of the oldest members of our family. She doesn’t wear human skin or express herself in many syllables, but she’s loved just the same. She’s the four-legged kind. A blondie. A dear friend named Coco. She and our other mutt brought my husband and I together thirteen years ago
- [When You Fear You're Missing Out](https://abbymcdonald.org/2018/08/when-you-fear-youre-missing-out/) - I could not stop looking at the other table. I tried to focus on my eating my meal and made eye contact with the women around me. We talked about our writing experience, what drew us to the conference and our hometowns. But every few minutes, my eyes would drift back to the table parked
- [This is How We Stop Worrying (even if just for a moment)](https://abbymcdonald.org/2018/08/this-is-how-we-stop-worrying/) - When I began my morning praying God’s Word, I didn’t foresee the news that would come later. I didn’t realize how much I would need to hold on to the promise woven into Philippians 4:6-7. But God knew. As the verse came to me, the words didn’t seem to resonate within my peace-filled heart. I
- [Those Beautiful Friends Who Pursue Us](https://abbymcdonald.org/2018/08/friends-who-pursue/) - “Yep, I could hang out with you.” I chuckled at my new friend’s words. We’d just met a few weeks ago and our families were having lunch for the first time. She seemed so confident in our budding relationship. When my husband and I had moved cross-country nearly a year ago, I was pregnant with our
- [An Invitation for the Woman Who Never Feels Like She's Enough](https://abbymcdonald.org/2018/07/never-feel-enough/) - I’m not sure when I started down the lonely slope of striving to be enough. But once I was on it, it was almost impossible to get off. It became an addiction. Although I didn’t see it at the time, I was constantly trying to do more or work more to be seen and loved.
- [The Blessing of Being Battle Ready](https://abbymcdonald.org/2018/07/being-battle-ready/) - Friends, it is a joy to welcome my dear friend Kelly Balarie back to the blog today! Her new book, Battle Ready, released on July 5th and it is already changing lives. Kelly equips her readers to transform their thinking from lie-filled, doubt-filled and stuck to empowered by the life-giving truth of the Spirit. I
- [The One Sure Way They'll See Jesus](https://abbymcdonald.org/2018/07/way-to-see-jesus/) - "No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." 1 John 4:12 There's something disconcerting about sitting half-naked in a sterile room while someone prepares to stick a huge needle in your back. I was about to have my third
- [Crushed By the Weight of My Expectations](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/08/crushed-by-expectations/) - My turn to share was coming, and I wasn’t ready. While the other women on our Google chat discussed their writing goals, my mind spun on repeat. Summer gave this word a whole new meaning, and I was still processing it. Ah yes, goals. What were those again? My goal yesterday was to keep the
- [When You Have Trouble Believing Your Unseen Work Matters](https://abbymcdonald.org/2018/06/unseen-work-matters/) - I’m pretty sure summer brings out a whole other brand of crazy in me. Something about not having a schedule or routine with these long days of no quiet makes me feel like I’m losing my compass. Not to mention that we’ve decided to have a monsoon season in June here in western Maryland. Neighborhood
- [Choosing Courage Over Fear of Criticism](https://abbymcdonald.org/2018/06/choosing-courage/) - “Courageous” is not a word I use to describe myself. Unsure and timid are more fitting to how I often feel inside. But I try to appear calm. I try to look like I know what I’m doing, even when a thousand questions turn through my mind. In the first months of this year, I
- [Why I Stopped Letting the Name "Mom" Define Me](https://abbymcdonald.org/2018/06/titles-define-me/) - I remember the first time our eight-year-old realized I had a name other than “Mama.” And his dad had a name other than “Dadda.” We were sitting at the dinner table and my parents were visiting. Of course, they do not call us “Mama” and “Dadda.” It was as though a light bulb went off in
- [When You Become Disillusioned in Your Faith](https://abbymcdonald.org/2018/05/disillusionment-in-faith/) - Have you ever thought if you could just have a little more faith, things would be better? Have you fought to hold onto hope that your unspoken struggle wouldn't last forever? My husband and I have carried two mortgages for the past seven years. Have I ever told you that? Our other house sits on
- [Hope for When We Second-Guess Ourselves as Moms](https://abbymcdonald.org/2018/05/second-guess-yourself/) - My mastery of second-guessing myself didn’t end when I became a mom. If anything, it became worse. I second-guess what the kids ate for lunch. I wonder if blonde, hazel-eyed charmer should be further along in his reading ability. When the endless sibling rivalry turns physical I think, “Didn’t I teach them better than this? Will
- [The Truth That Builds Life-Giving Confidence](https://abbymcdonald.org/2018/05/truth-that-builds-confidence/) - If you were completely confident in God’s unchanging, irrevocable love for you, would it change how you walked? If you knew that no matter how many times you fell, he would be right there to catch you, would it change the way you lived your life? I believe it would. Several years ago, God showed
- [10 Ways the Enemy Lies to Our Souls (and how to fight back)](https://abbymcdonald.org/2018/05/lies-of-the-enemy/) - Sometimes I wish the enemy would announce himself with a blaring trumpet. Wouldn’t it be easier to avoid his traps if this type of announcement were his style? However, this isn’t how Scripture depicts him. He prowls. He deceives. He waits and he watches for an opportune time. It doesn’t seem like he’s in a
- [Dear Mom, You Don't Have to Second Guess Yourself](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/09/second-guess/) - My mastery of second-guessing myself didn’t end when I became a mom. If anything, it became worse. I second-guess what the kids ate for lunch. I wonder if my three-year-old should be writing his name by now, like some other children his age. When the endless sibling rivalry turns physical I think, “Didn’t I teach
- [When You're Not Sure Your Prayers Are Making a Difference](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/11/prayers-making-difference/) - The alarm goes off way too early after another rough night of baby not sleeping well. As my eyes adjust to the light, a blurry alert shows on my phone’s screen. A voice message from my friend on the other side of the world. All morning while I get the kids ready for school, I wonder
- [Humility Does Not Mean Conformity. Here's Why...](https://abbymcdonald.org/2018/05/humility-vs-conformity/) - “Why are you trying to mimic his sound? Your tone is so much better than his.” My band director’s words surprised me. For one, I wasn’t aware I was copying my fellow band member’s sound. And second, I was amazed our leader could hear me above the other trumpets in our section. Even though I
- [A Last Resort Prayer Changed My Life](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/12/last-resort-prayer/) - I remember the phone call like it was yesterday. My husband was driving down a highway in northern Utah and I was on the other end of the line, sitting behind a desk in Columbia, South Carolina. Panicked. As much as I love vacations and travel, I am a woman who thrives on routine. Take
- [How Do We Survive Grief for Someone Who is Still Living?](https://abbymcdonald.org/2018/04/when-we-grieve-the-living/) - My friend’s words left me nearly speechless. I’d never been able to articulate exactly how I felt, but she just had. “It’s like you’re mourning a person who’s still alive,” she said, lying on the bed with her face propped up against her hand. Yes, that’s exactly what it was. What it still is. Even
- [To the Weary Soul Who Longs to See Fruit from Her Work](https://abbymcdonald.org/2018/04/not-seeing-fruit/) - My friend’s comment took me by complete surprise. I sat at my computer, reading her words and couldn’t stop smiling. I never saw myself as “tenacious.” But I liked it. As I read her e-card, a fire lit inside and I realized others often see something in us that we don't see in ourselves. In
- [When You Feel Like an Outsider](https://abbymcdonald.org/2018/04/when-you-feel-like-an-outsider/) - Outsider.This is a term I let define me for far too long. As a teenager, I always felt on the outside of the popular crowd at school. When I became a young adult, shyness and nerves often prevented me from venturing out and making new friends. When we wear a label long enough, it becomes
- [Good News for When You Think God is Disappointed in You](https://abbymcdonald.org/2018/03/is-god-disappointed/) - I replay the conversation in my head, wishing I’d responded differently. Why did I get so defensive when others didn’t see things my way? Instead of trying to see the other person’s point of view and finding a common ground, I’d put up a wall between us. Sure, we remained polite to each other, but
- [Raise My Child Up to Be a Diva? No Thanks...](https://abbymcdonald.org/2018/03/raising-a-diva/) - My intentions were simple enough. I wanted to get my daughter a new pair of shoes. We were visiting my parents in South Carolina and her Ugg-like boots were not appropriate for the 80-degree temps. Plus, I love dressing her tiny, dainty feet. Can you fault me for it? But if you mother a baby
- [When Taking That Step of Faith Terrifies You](https://abbymcdonald.org/2018/03/taking-that-step-of-faith/) - “Don’t look down, Mom!” Immediately, I wish my son hadn’t said that. I can’t help myself. My eyes drift to the expanse below and my feet wobble. What was I thinking when I agreed to do this? I try to regain my composure and remember my harness. The 4-story high ropes course stretches out before
- [When You're Losing Hope in Your Season of Waiting](https://abbymcdonald.org/2018/03/season-of-waiting/) - I wish I was a morning person. In hundreds of little ways, it would make life easier. But until I’ve had my first or sometimes third cup of coffee, my words during those early hours are few. There is one thing other than school schedules and kids’ activities that will get me out of bed
- [The Promise on the Other Side of Loneliness](https://abbymcdonald.org/2018/02/promise-side-loneliness/) - We drove across the overpass and I looked down at our future home, thinking, “Oh God, what have I done?” My husband and I were moving to this small mountain town in a few months, but this was my first time seeing it. It was a cold, rainy day and heavy fog hung over us
- [When You're Not Sure Your Work is Making a Difference](https://abbymcdonald.org/2018/02/not-sure-your-work-matters/) - I love tasks where I can see immediate results. This does not include laundry. Because it’s never done. My husband has allergies, and I often jump at the opportunity to mow our lawn. When the job is finished, I walk up the street from our driveway to the mailbox and admire my work. Seeing an
- [What it Truly Means to Be Seen](https://abbymcdonald.org/2018/02/what-it-means-to-be-seen/) - My love for an audience began with unexpected heartbreak at nine years old. I sat on a piano bench in auditorium filled with people who watched with anticipation. Although nerves were palpable, I played the beginning of the piece with confidence. The practiced rhythm in my fingers was instinctual. Until it wasn’t. In a moment
- [What Happens When We Chase Someone Else's Gifts](https://abbymcdonald.org/2018/02/someone-elses-gifts/) - A few nights ago, my oldest son turned our kitchen into a dance floor. With moves I never knew he had, he glided around our little rancher with joy. It turns out, he spent weeks learning dances like the Sid Shuffle and the Cha Cha at school during “brain breaks.” He had a gift I
- [Simple Ways to Find God When Life is Crazy](https://abbymcdonald.org/2018/01/finding-god-in-the-crazy/) - All I wanted was five minutes. Five minutes of peace and quiet. Five minutes without poop jokes, Mario World strategies, or another request for a snack. I thrive on moments of quiet. My fuel comes from little pockets of time nestled throughout the day. A few minutes to process my thoughts, pray, and seek God.
- [How to Pursue Joy When the Whole World Seems Angry](https://abbymcdonald.org/2018/01/pursue-joy-world-seems-angry/) - The countdown started weeks before New Year’s Eve. I heard it in conversations around me, on social media and even in books I was reading. Christmas was in the air, but for many a new year was even more promising than Emmanuel, God with us. A chance at a new beginning beckoned. The chance to
- [This One Trait Can Be the Biggest Catalyst for Our Faith {and is my one word}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2018/01/catalyst-for-faith/) - My baby girl doesn’t realize there is no invisible safety net surrounding our bed. Before bedtime, we play on the queen-sized mattress and she tests how far she can drop her head off the edge before I grab one of her tiny cankles. And the trust fall? She's the master. She’ll throw her body back
- [The Danger in Letting Others Define Us](https://abbymcdonald.org/2018/01/others-define-us/) - “Don’t ever say you’re just a mom.” I spun around, startled at the realization that my conversation wasn’t private. I was talking to the cashier at a local toy store about school and pursuing a career in writing. Both my boys were tiny at the time, and before I knew it the statement that I
- [If Your Heart Is More Weary Than Expectant This Christmas {Plus an awesome giveaway}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/12/weary-at-christmas/) - "What I'd really love for Christmas is to not have to make one more decision." I wasn't talking to a friend, my husband or family. I was talking to God. My brain felt like the emoji with the nuclear head exploding and a nap sounded like the perfect holiday gift. For weeks leading up to
- [Are You in a Season Where You're Worried if God Will Provide?](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/12/worried-if-god-will-provide/) - As soon as I pulled up in front of the rental house, my heart sank. The paint on the exterior was peeling and chipping. A sagging porch with loose boards extended across the front, and the yard was overgrown with weeds. This would be our home for God only knew how long. Due to a
- [3 Life Lessons of 2017 That I Don't Want to Forget](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/12/life-lessons-of-2017/) - I am still gawking at the subject of this post. My six-year-old counts down the days to Christmas on his Mickey Mouse calendar and declares it will take “for-e-ver. I’m wondering what happened to this year. While the snow falls softly outside my window and creates a soft reflection for the white and red lights,
- [I Don't Want to Miss this Gift During the Holidays...](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/12/gifts-we-overlook/) - I scroll through my phone and stare at another Christmas party post. Smiling faces beam back at me as I rock my sleeping babe and wish mine was wedged between them. Praying she won’t wake, I dance to my daughter’s crib and put her down as softly as possible. Immediately, she cries. Breathing deep, I
- [The Door Looked Wide Open, But Then...](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/11/the-door-looked-wide-open-but-then/) - Flashing lights showed in our rear-view mirror and my husband pulled right, allowing the ambulance to pass.It turned on the street leading up to our house. “Oh, Don. What did you do now?” my husband said in an exasperated tone. He seemed certain the ambulance was headed toward our neighbor’s house. The middle-aged man’s health
- [When the Holidays Renew Grief for Someone You Love](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/11/when-holidays-renew-grief/) - “How is your family doing?” I ponder the question and wonder which version to give her. Does she really want to know? With a half-smile, I tell her they are fine. We talk about my parents’ physical health and leave the conversation short, not going into any detail. It's difficult to tell which is more
- [What This Is Us Teaches Us About Self-Medicating Our Pain](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/11/self-medicating-our-pain/) - “You buy stuff to make yourself feel better.” My friend’s words both startled and angered me. Who did he think he was, a shrink? We had just left the shoe store and I was sporting my new pair of sandals. They were doing a pretty good job of diverting my attention from the emotional turmoil
- [The Question Every Dreamer Asks: God, Should I Continue?](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/09/the-question-every-dreamer-asks/) - I didn’t want the open the email. The subject line said it all. “Thank you…” After a few years pursuing this writing stuff, I knew what those two words meant. “Thank you but no thank you.” “Thank you but this doesn’t meet our needs at this time.” “Thank you, and please try again.” My finger
- [The Purpose We Find in the Darkness](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/11/purpose-in-darkness/) - I can’t sleep without white noise. Whether it’s a fan, air purifier or an app on my phone, I need that gentle hum to lull me into oblivion. My husband travels several times a year for work, and when he’s gone I turn the noise up a notch. Every sound in the house except for
- [Are We Letting Lies and Labels Hold Us Back?](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/10/lies-and-labels/) - I went to the N.A. meeting with one goal. To get in and get out. The last thing I expected was for someone to give me a new label. I had too many of those already. Sure, I wanted to support my loved one. I wanted him to get healthy, find release and healing. But
- [The Miracles in the Middle of the Mess {Plus a giveaway}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/10/miracles-in-the-mess/) - When I think of a dad, I think of you.” I smiled at this new perspective of the handsome man next to me. Our friends were becoming new parents, and the soon-to-be dad was describing my husband. To me, this was one of the best compliments, and I could tell this person wasn’t just blowing
- [A Me Too Story: What I Wish Someone Had Told Me](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/10/me-too-what-i-wish-i-knew-then/) - As I sat cradled in the branches of the oak tree late one summer afternoon over twenty years ago, forgiveness was the last thing on my mind. Confusion, shame, fear…all of these emotions stirred within, creating a strange combination that made me want to vomit. A piece of my innocence was stolen. What happened affected
- [When You Can't Catch Your Breath](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/10/when-you-cant-catch-your-breath/) - All I wanted was sleep. I willed myself to let go of the rising tension and fix my thoughts on peaceful things. A beach. My kids’ laughter. A mountain stream. But my mind kept going back to the list of tasks I had to complete the next day. My husband was out of town and
- [To My Younger Self: The Jesus I Wish You Knew {Book Review & Giveaway}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/10/the-jesus-i-wish-i-knew/) - I was kicked out of a private Christian school during my senior year. While I tried my best to remain invisible those last few weeks before graduation and keep my head down, someone saw me smoking a cigarette. Off campus. In my car, driving down the interstate. Needless to say, this wasn’t allowed. It was
- [The Wordsmiths' Cafe: Edition 5](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/10/the-wordsmiths-cafe-edition-5/) - Hello, friends! Welcome to the fifth edition of the Wordsmiths' Cafe. This is a segment of The Ladder to Rooftop Blogging Academy, where once a quarter we share knowledge and tips with our writing friends. Today we're going to talk about honing in on who your writing audience is, and about the one question you
- [HGTV, Pinterest, and the Things That Really Matter](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/05/hgtv-and-the-things-that-matter/) - I have a love-hate relationship with HGTV. And Pinterest. And all of those fixer-upper shows. My husband and I moved into a fixer-upper several years ago, and while we’ve done a lot of cosmetic upgrades, there are still things I’d like to change. But life doesn’t stop for remodels and the kids don’t stop needing
- [When Your Plea for Compassion is Met with Silence](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/07/when-your-plea-for-help-is-ignored/) - “I find that people often expect too much from people and too little from God. Only God can be God & people can only be people.” –Christine Caine I expected empathy. I expected nods of affirmation that I wasn’t alone in my struggle, a warm exchange of words after leaving my heart lying there on
- [When You're Struggling With Doubt, Remember These Things](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/09/youre-struggling-doubt-remember/) - “They didn’t go down on their price,” my husband said with a tone of defeat. I looked down at my pregnant belly and tried to fight tears. This was the second offer we’d made on a house we hoped to make our home, but things weren’t going as planned. We would have to walk away.
- [The One Sure Way to Multiply Our Time](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/09/multiply-our-time/) - When the doctor told me they recommended an ultrasound at 32 weeks, my first thought was, “Do I have time for this?” My son’s preschool pick-up was soon, and the procedure wasn’t scheduled at my last appointment. I decided if they were quick, I could still make it in time. Less than fifteen minutes later,
- [The Problem With Hiding Our Struggles](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/09/hiding-our-struggles/) - “Mama, the monsters are coming out at me,” my son said. He stood by the bed with his face inches from mine, hands animated. My mid-REM cycle brain lingered between sleep and reality. “What?” I asked. I could see my son was disturbed by something. After realizing I was going to have to get out
- [When You're Tempted to Quit Your Calling](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/08/when-youre-tempted-to-quit/) - A few days ago, I took a trip back to middle school. Not in the literal sense, but in my head. I was surrounded by sticky floors, kids racing around on bright wheels, and 80’s music. We were at the neighborhood skating rink. It was my oldest son’s first time on skates and for thirty
- [When You Feel Too Small to Make a Difference](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/08/feel-small-make-difference/) - Several months ago, my husband and firstborn were almost hit by a car. They were walking to our vehicle after a baseball game, and the woman who was backing up didn’t see them. My husband picked up our son, moving him out of the car’s path, and braced himself for impact. Thankfully, the woman saw
- [Why Our Words Have More Power Than We Think](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/08/the-power-of-words/) - On my middle child's first day of preschool, he ran into the classroom without giving me a second glance. He was two at the time and I stood there watching, my emotions swinging between relief and sadness. He was going to be just fine. His teachers welcomed him with warm smiles and words of encouragement.
- [The Next Time We're Rejected, Let's Remember This](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/08/when-were-rejected/) - I remember watching my firstborn get his first taste of rejection. He was two at the time, and he leaned in to give his older female playmate a kiss. On the mouth. She looked at him, wide-eyed and a little mortified, and backed away. I couldn’t help but chuckle but my sweet toddler took it in
- [The One Thing to Remember When Our Dreams Take a Detour](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/07/when-dreams-take-a-detour/) - “If we get a book deal, what should we do first?” I sat in a room full of other women with passion to share stories. Stories about a big God who breathed dreams into being. Stories about a Creator who stirred the creative spirit in each of us. We were in a Q & A
- [When You Can't Escape Your Past](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/07/cant-escape-past/) - “Are you a pagan?” I sat in a body-piercing studio with one of the owners gazing at a tattoo displayed on the nave of my back. It was a gnome, sitting on a mushroom and playing a fife. Everything about it screamed pot-smoker, hippy and apparently, pagan. And to think I got it because I
- [The Danger of Diluting the Gospel of Grace](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/07/when-we-dilute-the-gospel/) - For a long time, I believed a lie that threatens the heartbeat of our church. It sneaks in like a slow poison and its symptoms are often loss of joy, endless busyness and little time for meaningful relationships.It doesn’t announce itself with brazen warning signs or even seem evident in the sanctuary on Sunday morning.
- [Depression Doesn't Have to Get the Final Say {Book Review & Giveaway}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/07/depression-doesnt-win/) - I remember the first time I realized I wasn’t alone in my struggle with depression. I was scrolling through Facebook, and a friend said she was praying for a new mom who was struggling through her first postpartum months. This person said how she, too, fought to survive during this season of life and vulnerably
- [To the Dreamer Who Feels Forgotten](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/06/dreamer-feels-forgotten/) - As soon as we walked in the home, a musty, mothball smell hit me. I looked around at sawdust and unfinished projects. The place reeked of forgotten potential. It was like Fixer Upper gone bad. While the bathrooms were redone, the floors desperately needed refinishing. The roof and deck were new, but holes gaped in
- [When You Want Your Piece of the Pie](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/06/a-piece-of-the-pie/) - “I went to the conference thinking there was a big pie and I had to get a piece." I was struck by the author's brutal honesty. I waited in anticipation for her to continue. "But God just makes a bigger pie.” Her conclusion startled me. I realized that I had the same misconception about an
- [When We Lose Our Faith in Humanity](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/05/faith-in-humanity/) - The words caught me off guard. I pondered them and wondered if he was right. Deep in my core, I didn't want him to be. I didn't want to go through life questioning the intentions of every person I met. I didn't want to always wonder if those close to me had ulterior motives. But
- [When People Disappoint You](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/10/lose-our-faith/) - The words caught me off guard. As I sat pondering them, I wondered if he was right. Deep in my core, I didn't want him to be. I didn't want to go through life questioning the intentions of every person I met. I didn't want to always wonder if those close to me had ulterior
- [The Only Distinction in the Church That Matters](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/02/the-only-distinction/) - I hear it in hushed tones in the foyer and at the potluck where I eat too much dessert. Sometimes the conversations seep into the supermarket check-out line and the school fundraiser. It’s talk about why this person or that person left the church. Other times it’s gossip about where this visitor came from, what
- [Lessons Learned in Mothering: Don't Hit the Orange Prius](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/05/lessons-learned-mothering/) - My husband hit a bright orange Prius the day before our daughter was due. We were flying down the interstate at 70 miles per hour and he attempted to change lanes. I felt a sharp thud on our left, like we’d run over something. And we had, sort of- a little hybrid that was no
- [I Tried to Create My Own Personal Jesus, and Failed...](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/05/own-personal-jesus/) - I used to approach friendship with a long list of expectations. Things I thought a friend should do. A space I thought my friend should fill. Instead of extending grace, I was disappointed when friends didn’t follow through with what they said they’d do. I didn’t care whether they had kids and or whether the
- [Launch Day, Giveaways and a Free Gift...Oh My!](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/05/launch-day-and-free-gift/) - Hello friends! Welcome to my new space! I worked with my friends at Mandy Robertson Media over the last month to create this beautiful site, so I hope you'll stick around a while and make yourself at home. As we designed this, I also thought about you- my reader. I want to gift you with
- [When You Withhold Grace](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/03/when-you-withhold-grace/) - They turn on each other in a New York minute. One second they’re playing nicely together, sharing toys, and laughing. The next I hear screams of “Mama!” as my six-year-old chases his younger sibling through the room. Part of me wants to just close the door and lock them in there. But I figure I
- [The Treasure We're Giving Away (without even knowing it)](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/05/the-treasure-we-give-away/) - Do you know what TV show fascinates me? It isn’t the Real Housewives or one of those Survivor spin-offs. It’s The Antiques Roadshow. I know, I know. There’s no drama on this little hour of British television. But I’m amazed at these treasures passed down from generations past, with owners who aren’t even aware of
- [What the Chaos Teaches Us About the Creator](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/04/what-the-chaos-teaches/) - A few weeks ago we had one of those rains where it seems like the whole sky opens up. Trees bent under the weight of it. Birds scurried to find shelter. Every living creature seemed to realize the need to stay dry except my dog, who I inadvertently left out while running errands. She just
- [When You're Critical of Your Reflection](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/04/critical-of-your-reflection/) - When I stand in front of the mirror with my daughter, I wonder what she sees. Does she recognize her reflection or see a playmate as she lunges toward the glass? I hold her snug in my arms and we twirl around the room. I tell her she’s beautiful. I tell her she’s loved. She
- [3 Reasons Why God's Promises Go Further Than Our Dreams](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/04/gods-promises-our-dreams/) - The comment popped into my inbox, and it was as though the reader saw directly into my heart. Tears formed and I knew God was speaking. “Go to the conference with a song in your heart, holding lightly to your hopes and dreams and tightly to God's promises. Sounds like the two work against each
- [You're a Daughter, Not a Slave to Fear](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/04/youre-a-daughter/) - I like to watch my kids when they don’t know I’m looking. I eavesdrop on interactions between firstborn and little brother. I overhear whispers of imagination, hide-and-seek and Legos. It’s not because I’m trying to catch them doing something wrong. On the contrary, I catch glimpses of their lives I might otherwise miss. When they
- [The Wordsmiths' Cafe- Edition 4: 3 Things to Do With a Rejection](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/04/wordsmiths-cafe-edition-4/) - "I could wallpaper an entire room with rejection letters," my writing instructor said. I wished he was kidding, but I knew it was true. There have been many times when I received an email I didn't want to open. The subject line said it all. "Thank you." In other words, thank you but no thank you.
- [Hope for the Days When You Feel Like You Got Nothing Done](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/03/when-nothing-gets-done/) - My eight-year-old always stops and says “hi” to his baby sister when we pick him up at the bus stop. He climbs straight over little brother, who blocks his way and clamors for his attention. But he lingers a while over Elise. He smiles and grabs her hand while she coos. Our four-month-old is teaching
- [A Love That Pursues](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/03/a-love-that-pursues/) - "My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins." James 5:19-20 NIV It was easier for me to say nothing.
- [When Your Dream Becomes Too Heavy](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/03/when-your-dream-becomes-heavy/) - If I'm honest, there are times when I wish this writing dream would die. When I began blogging several years ago, I dove in with both feet. I had no idea what I was doing or how many people would read what I wrote. All I knew was how good it felt to get the
- [When Rest Feels Like a Prison Sentence {Link-up}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/03/when-you-dont-want-to-rest/) - “Take the keys and go,” my husband said. It wasn’t a question. From the time he’d walked in the door my tone had been short and snippy. He knew I’d had a long day and needed time to myself, even though I was insisting on cleaning up the dishes. After stalling several times on my
- [A Promise for When God Seems Far Away](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/03/when-god-seems-far-away/) - When I was five, my best friend locked the two of us in the trunk of his dad’s car. Now, I know what you’re thinking. Why the heck would he do that, right? Good question. I still wonder about it, myself. If memory serves me correctly, we were pretending as kids often do. Our story
- [Why the World Needs Your Voice and No One Else's Will Do](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/03/why-the-world-needs-your-voice/) - I saw the look of frustration on my son’s face. We were leaving his classmate’s birthday party and he tried to get her attention, but his voice was drowned by the noise of the skating rink. After he called her name several times with no response, he gave up. “It’s loud in here, buddy,” I
- [Like Whispers Between Bunk Beds](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/02/like-whispers-between-bunk-beds/) - It's an hour past their bedtime and I hear giggling from outside the door. These two boys of mine are sharing a bedroom for the third night as we await the arrival of baby sister, and they are loving it. I marvel at how they can be yelling at each other one moment and hugging
- [One Truth to Hold Onto When You Crave Recognition](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/02/when-you-crave-recognition/) - Can I make a little confession? I'm a gold star craver. I love affirmation for a job well done, and when I became a parent this need multiplied. I constantly worry that I'm messing up my kids or they're going to need therapy when they grow up. You can relate, right? So this week we
- [When You Feel Criticized {A Guest Post}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/02/dont-tell-me-what-to-do/) - Dear friends, I hope you will give my friend Kelly Balarie a warm welcome back to the blog today. Kelly just released her first book, Fear Fighting: Awakening Courage to Overcome Your Fears, and today she is talking about a fear that hit me very close to home: fear of condemnation. The need to be right,
- [When You're Afraid You'll Never Reach Your Goals](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/01/afraid-youll-never-reach-goals/) - I listened to the interview with the popular Christian writer, my mind reeling with questions. But the one that kept repeating itself over and over was, "How?" This woman had a slew of kids running around, and she homeschooled all of them. Her writing was not shoddy. Each syllable sang with an effortless harmony as
- [Giving Your Kids the World When You're Running on Empty](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/01/give-your-kids-the-world/) - Sometimes the things we do to bless our kids end up blessing us even more. We serve a God who shows up in unexpected ways. A few months ago, my firstborn started taking piano lessons. He has an amazing musical instinct and was playing songs in no time, filling our house with Christmas carols in
- [The One Truth That Can Silence the Voice of Doubt](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/01/silence-doubt/) - “You're always my number one,” my hubby said. I put my head against his chest and let his affirmation sink in, resting in his strong embrace. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been so tired. Adjusting to life with three kids and finding balance was a struggle. I was flailing in a sea of
- [He Doesn't Have Second Thoughts About You](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/01/no-second-thoughts/) - I swear whoever coined the term "buyer's remorse" was thinking of me. I spend the next day second-guessing major purchases. I'm quite sure if you looked up the term on Wikipedia you would see a picture of me pacing over a recent appliance purchase. Even an expensive pair of boots can leave me wondering, "but
- [Are You a People Pleaser? {A Guest Post}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2017/01/are-you-a-people-pleaser/) - Today I am delighted to share the words of my dear friend Kelly Balarie with you. I can't tell you the number of times this woman has encouraged me to be brave in my walk with Christ. I've been blessed to be part of the Purposeful Faith family over at Kelly's website for the past
- [The Things God Teaches Us in the Dark](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/12/what-we-learn-in-the-dark/) - “I should’ve had all my babies in the summer,” I said jokingly to my friend. Only it wasn’t a joke. We were full into the flu season and I was trying to keep both boys healthy as we awaited the birth of our child- a girl. Trying and failing. All of us caught colds in
- [The Gifts We Miss in the Transition {Anchored Souls Series}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/12/the-gifts-we-miss/) - Thank you to all the beautiful souls who joined us over the past few weeks for our Anchored Souls series. I loved seeing God stir and connect hearts in ways only He can. As we count down the final days until Christmas, I want to share with you how God moved in my heart as we faced
- [The Worst Christmas Ever {Anchored Souls Series}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/12/the-worst-christmas-ever/) - As we continue our Anchored Souls series, I am glad to be welcoming my friend Christy Mobley back to the blog. Christy’s heart for hospitality and encouragement have blessed me more times than I can count, and her loving spirit shines through in her writing. What I love about her style is her ability to cut
- [Hope on the Horizon {Anchored Souls Series}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/12/hope-on-the-horizon/) - As we continue our Anchored Souls series, I am excited to welcome my friend Katie Reid back to the blog. One of the many things I love about Katie is how she moves past small talk and quickly dives into the deep, spiritual topics of life. It is refreshing and endearing, and when I met her
- [When We Run Ahead of God {Anchored Souls Series}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/12/when-we-run-ahead-of-god/) - Today my dear friend Tiffany Parry joins us on the blog as we continue our Anchored Souls series. Tiffany's heart for real conversations drew me into her writing instantly. She leaves pretense at the door, and isn't afraid to talk about the messy, often confusing parts of our walk with Christ. Her writing challenges me to
- [When I Look in the Mirror and Hate Myself {Anchored Souls Series}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/12/when-i-look-in-the-mirror/) - To continue our Anchored Souls series, I am honored to welcome my friend Kristi Woods back to the blog. I felt an immediate connection to Kristi’s writing when I discovered we shared the same struggles with the gypsy life. What I love about Kristi's writing voice is how she isn't afraid to approach topics that are
- [You Brought Me Here Why? {Anchored Souls Series}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/12/you-brought-me-here-why/) - Today we welcome my sweet friend Bethany McIlrath to the blog. Bethany's heart to seek the Lord in the midst of life's struggles shines through her writing. She encourages me to look for his hand at work even when his plans are different from mine, and to keep trusting in the middle of chaos and
- [Sit at the Feet of Jesus {Anchored Souls Series}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/11/sit-at-the-feet-of-jesus/) - If I used one word to describe my dear friend Leigh Ellen Eade's writing, it would be "authentic." She lays out her her soul for the world to see, and it is both beautiful and refreshing. I'm am thrilled that I get to introduce her to you on the blog today. Please give her a
- [When You Need to Give Thanks for God's Love {Anchored Souls Series}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/11/give-thanks-for-gods-love/) - Betsy de Cruz enjoys God, life with teenagers, and dark roast coffee. Betsy’s passion is to encourage women to get God’s Word in, so their faith can spill out, even during life’s bumpy moments. She and her family live in the Middle East. Most days she feels privileged to live overseas; other days she wants
- [Where Do We Find Our Anchor During Life's Changes? {Anchored Souls Series}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/11/where-do-we-find-our-anchor/) - I am a girl who thrives of consistency. When something happens to throw me out of my routine, I feel frazzled, like a dear in headlights. But life has a way of tossing chaos our way, doesn't it? Even when we're not prepared. Even when we would rather stay inside the safe, comfy borders we've
- [What Does Casting Our Cares Even Mean?](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/11/casting-our-cares/) - Kids hear everything. A few days ago I received a reminder of this. Even when we think they’re not listening or won’t be interested in the conversation, they hear. They pay attention. And yes, they take interest. In the process of running my mouth to my husband on a phone call I thought was private,
- [The Most Important Ministry of All](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/11/the-most-important-ministry-of-all/) - Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. James 4:14 (NIV) I knew what God was asking me to do, but I didn’t like it. Slow down. Take a breath. Focus on your family. For months,
- [Why the Broken Way is the Only Way to Redemption {Plus a Giveaway You Don't Want to Miss}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/11/the-only-way-to-redemption/) - Nothing makes you realize how broken you are like trying to care for another living, breathing soul. I remember the days after my first son was born. The sheer weight of knowing I was responsible for his life brought me to my knees. I tried to take care of myself too, but some days I
- [3 Truths to Remember When You Think God is Disappointed in You](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/10/when-you-think-god-is-disappointed/) - I replayed the conversation in my head, wishing I’d responded differently. Why did I get so defensive when others didn’t see things my way? Instead of trying to see the other person’s point of view and finding a common ground, I’d put up a wall between us. Sure, we remained polite to each other, but
- [When the Road Is Weary and You Want to Give up](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/10/when-the-road-is-weary/) - “I feel so much opposition lately,” I complained to my friends. A writing deadline was approaching, and several road bumps made me question whether or not I would get it done. Stressful life situations collided all at once and I felt overwhelmed by the weight of it all. At thirty-five weeks pregnant, my internal clock
- [An Open Letter to the Mom Who Feels Invisible](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/10/to-the-mom-who-feels-invisible/) - When I was growing up, I wanted to be one of two things- a writer or an interior designer. I love to string words together and tell stories, but I also love creating a warm, welcoming environment. I get a vision for how everything will look when a room is put together and hunt for
- [The Only Sure Way to Multiply Our Time](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/10/multiply-your-time/) - When the doctor told me they recommended an ultrasound at 32 weeks, my first thought was, “Do I have time for this?” I had to pick up my son from school, and they’d forgotten to schedule the procedure at my last appointment. I decided if they were quick, I would still make it in time.
- [The Good We Find in the Darkness {Linkup}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/10/the-good-we-find-in-the-dark/) - I can’t sleep without white noise. Whether it’s a fan, air purifier or an app on my phone, I need that gentle hum to lull me into oblivion. My husband travels several times a year for work, and when he’s gone I turn the noise up a notch. Every sound in the house except for
- [When "I'll Pray for You" Is An Insult](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/09/when-ill-pray-for-you-is-an-insult/) - Sometimes words said with good intention can be insulting. We live in a world where it's easier than ever to comment on a friend or family member's trials, triumphs, and everything in-between. But do we stop to think before we insert our like, love, or laughing face? I will be the first to say I
- [3 Truths About God to Remember When You Can't Stop Worrying](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/09/when-you-cant-stop-worrying/) - The news took my breath away. With one quick phone call, our lives changed. A family member was in trouble, and it was the kind where no one could help. As I looked out the window and listened to my Dad on the other end of the phone with tears streaming down my face, I
- [When You Feel Abandoned By God](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/09/when-you-feel-abandoned-by-god/) - “Well this isn’t how you prayed this moment would turn out.” The thought passed through my filter of truth and circled my mind on repeat. I knew it was a lie, but I listened to it. I stood there with my four-year-old, who was starting a new school, and tried to hold back tears. His
- [3 Questions to Ask Yourself When You're Tempted to Climb That Soapbox {Plus a Fun Giveaway}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/09/when-the-soapbox-tempts-you/) - I come from a long line of opinionated people. When you get my family together, there’s bound to be a clash of views, but most of the time we’re able to walk away with smiles and laughter. Usually, the subject is as miniscule as college football, but every now and then it’s more serious. I
- [A Promise for the Days When God Doesn't Seem Real](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/09/when-god-doesnt-seem-real/) - I waited weeks for the right moment to let the boys feel baby Elise move. But every time she was up, they weren’t. Or they were outside playing, at school or some other activity. Then on a Tuesday night, my oldest sat on the couch playing his video game and I laid beside him, propping
- [When You Don't Feel Qualified to Do What God Is Asking](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/08/when-you-dont-feel-qualified/) - People tell me I'm a slow talker. Whether it's because of my southern roots or because I'm constantly thinking about what I say before I say it, my words don't come spewing out at breakneck speed. Most days I'm okay with it. But every now and then, I wish I could turn off my brain
- [When Your Faith Is Attacked](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/08/when-your-faith-is-attacked/) - I looked at the words typed across my screen in disbelief, not knowing what to do. Should I ignore the person? Block them? My spirit stirred and I felt shaken, stumbling for my footing. Sure it was social media and I couldn’t see the other person’s face. But it felt very personal. This guy was
- [3 Truths to Remember When God Asks You to Wait](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/08/when-god-asks-you-to-wait/) - I wish I was a morning person. In hundreds of little ways, it would make life easier. But until I’ve had my first or sometimes third cup of coffee, my words during those early hours are few. There is one thing other than school schedules and kids’ activities that will get me out of bed
- [Why I Never Want to Let the Title of "Mom" Define Me](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/08/being-a-mom-doesnt-define-me/) - I remember the first time our eight-year-old realized I had a name other than “Mama.” And his dad had a name other than “Dadda.” We were sitting at the dinner table and my parents were visiting. Of course, they do not call us “Mama” and “Dadda.” It was as though a light bulb went off
- [An Open Letter to My Daughter (In Utero)](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/08/an-open-letter-to-my-daughter/) - Sweet baby Elise, I had your name picked when I was pregnant with your brother, Gabriel. And although I wouldn't trade him and his silly antics, endless energy and confidence for the world, my heart leapt when I heard God was giving us a girl. You were a hope deferred and nearly lost for a
- [Drawing a Line with People Who Suck the Oxygen Out of Your Tank](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/07/limiting-the-negativity-in-your-life/) - “Almost buddy! Try again. There you go!” I watched other parents coach my eight-year-old through his first time in a batting cage and a smile crept across my face. They saw the areas where he was struggling, and they each worked together to help him improve. “Put your right arm up a little bit. Spread
- [The Dream Killer Called Perfection (And What to Do About It)](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/07/the-dream-killer-called-perfection/) - There are words that will never make it to this blog. Often they get typed, retyped and then deleted. Sometimes they spin around my head for a while only to get lost in some black hole of writer's abyss. Others wind up in my journal, which is where they belong. The truth is, my writing
- [The One Thing to Remember in the Face of Rejection](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/06/when-youre-faced-with-rejection/) - I remember watching my firstborn get his first taste of rejection. He was about two at the time, and he leaned in to give his older female playmate a kiss. On the mouth. She looked at him, wide-eyed and a little mortified, and backed away. I couldn’t help but chuckle but my sweet toddler took
- [When You Feel Like You've Lost Your Anchor, Remember This](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/06/hope-during-the-chaos-of-change/) - The news that we would have to vacate our apartment came on a weekday while I was at work. At first, I was too shocked to even panic. I sat at my desk blinking in disbelief and then on the way home, it hit me. My husband and I had moved cross-country a month earlier
- [A Prayer for All You Moms When Your Nerves Are Shot this Summer](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/06/a-prayer-for-the-moms-this-summer/) - I know what you're thinking. Summer has just begun, right? There's no need for one of those types of posts. The kind that laments about the stresses of motherhood and all the weariness that goes along with it. And I agree. I'm looking forward to many more trips to the pool with the kids, long
- [How Legalism Clouds Our View of Jesus](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/06/how-legalism-clouds-our-view/) - It’s amazing what a simple tool can do to alter our vision and boost our confidence when learning a new skill. For as long as I can remember, my oldest son has feared getting water in his face. He loved playing in it and being around it, but as soon as water got near his
- [Do My Kids See Jesus in Me?](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/06/do-my-kids-see-jesus-in-me/) - Screams outside the bathroom door interrupted thoughts of our beach trip that was coming up in a few short weeks. At first, I thought the boys were just fighting again but then I heard the word “blood.” I didn’t hear the calm, take-charge voice of my oldest son who was comforting his brother. All I
- [The Wordsmiths' Cafe: Edition 2](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/06/the-wordsmiths-cafe-edition-2/) - When the Cursor Won't Stop Cursing You If we write, chances are we’ve been there. We sit down at our laptops to put that piece together, and stare at the blank screen. Then we stare some more. The cursor blinks at us mockingly and the more it blinks, the harder it becomes to put words
- [How Our Black and White View of the World is Ruining Our Witness](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/05/ruining-our-witness/) - My seven-year-old has asked questions for as long as he could string sentences together. He is a sponge learning about the world around him, and he loves figuring out how things work. Often, he asks me a question I don’t know the answer to. And parents are supposed to have all the answers, right? But
- [An Open Letter to the Woman Who Thinks She's Disappointed God](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/05/think-youve-disappointed-god/) - The Google search phrase makes me catch my breath: Is God disappointed in me? I feel a stabbing in my chest. I want to grab the person by the shoulders, look her in the eyes and say, "No. No, sweet sister. You can't disappoint God. You are his daughter. Once you are in Christ he clothes
- [His Grace Isn't Just for Yesterday](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/05/his-grace-isnt-just-for-yesterday/) - “I sorry, Jay! I sorry!” I heard my four-year-old’s shouts from outside the kitchen and stopped cutting the raw chicken in front of me. My oldest child was screaming and holding his forehead in pain, squeals high-pitched like nails on a chalkboard. After taking a deep breath and asking both boys what happened, I learned
- [His Invitation is as Unique as We Are {Book Review & Giveaway}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/05/his-invitation-is-as-unique-as-you/) - "Come with me," is one of my four-year-old's favorite requests. Actually, it's more like a command. You see, he has lots of things he wants to show everyone. His newest discoveries, creations and accomplishments. Every day, our Creator opens his eyes to new things, and it is beautiful to watch. I can kneel beside him
- [Why You Shouldn't Withhold Your Encouragement](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/05/dont-withhold-encouragement/) - I’m a sucker for a good Hallmark card. Don’t make fun. This Mother’s Day with the pregnancy hormones raging, I may have gotten a little teary-eyed as I was reading mine. It said exactly what I needed to hear. Greeting cards have a way of doing that, don’t they? You pour your heart and soul
- [When Your Grief is for Someone Still Living {Rays in the Storm Series}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/05/when-you-mourn-the-living/) - Hey friends. Today we conclude our Rays in the Storm series and I want to offer a heartfelt thanks to everyone who has contributed, commented, read, shared and truly made this a series a blessing. We couldn't have done this without you! I spent a lot of time thinking about what I wanted to write for this
- [The Wordsmiths' Cafe- Edition 1](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/05/blog-series-and-guest-posting/) - Welcome to edition 1 of the Wordsmiths' Cafe! This is a section of the Ladder to Rooftop Blogging Academy, started by my dear friend Jami Amerine. You can access this amazing resource filled with hundreds of tips from other bloggers here. On the first day of each month, I will be offering tips on blogging
- [The Goodness of God During Loss {Rays in the Storm Series}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/04/the-goodness-of-god/) - It is a pleasure to introduce you to my friend Karina Allen as we continue our Rays in the Storm series. Karina's writing exudes the love of her Savior as she proclaims the truth of the Gospel message. She conveys her message in an honest and easy-to-understand way, and I know you will be blessed by her
- [Are You Ready to Break the Measuring Stick? {A Book Review}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/04/break-the-measuring-stick/) - Sometimes the places where we find our emotional outlets can also become the places we fall into the trap of comparison. I know. Several years ago, I found myself in one of these places. MOPS had become a lifeline for me. I was in a new town where I didn’t know many moms, and I
- [How God Uses Our Story {Rays in the Storm Series}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/04/how-god-uses-our-story/) - As we close week two of our Rays in the Storm series, I am honored to introduce you to a dear friend, Lisa Appelo. I was introduced to Lisa through mutual blogging friends, and am always encouraged by her message of hope in a God who is unchanging. If there's anything I've learned from Lisa's words, it's
- [When Hope Makes Us Brave {Rays in the Storm Series}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/04/when-hope-makes-us-brave-rays-in-the-storm-series/) - As we continue our Rays in the Storm series, I am glad to be welcoming my friend Christy Mobley back to the blog. Christy's heart for hospitality and encouragement have blessed me more times than I can count, and her loving spirit shines through in her writing. What I love about her style is her ability to
- [Need a Survival Guide for Raising Big Kids? {A Book Review}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/04/a-survival-guide-for-the-teen-years/) - "As soon as you get them a car, everything goes downhill." My sister-in-law recounted my mother's words, chuckling. I was eighteen at the time, and between my attraction to troublesome boys, my aversion to a curfew, and my disrespect for the rules at the Christian school I attended, I was giving them more than their
- [Don't Settle for Safe](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/04/dont-settle-for-safe/) - “God, take the decision out of my hands.” I didn’t say the prayer out loud, but I may as well have. For months, I had gone back and forth over a life-altering choice that would change our family forever: whether or not to have another baby. And every time I thought I’d decided, the endless
- [Anticipating Grief: Embracing Grace in Oncoming Fear {Rays in the Storm Series}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/04/anticipating-grief-embracing-grace-in-oncoming-fear-rays-in-the-storm-series/) - To continue our Rays in the Storm series, I’m excited to introduce you to my friend Jami Amerine. If there’s one word I’d use to describe Jami’s writing, it’s “real.” She says the things most of us want to say but are usually afraid to put out there, and I respect and admire her for
- [Expect An Answer {Rays in the Storm Series}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/04/expect-an-answer/) - Sometimes when catastrophe hits, I freeze up. I can't think, I can barely breathe, and my prayers feel feeble and numb. Lifting up words to the Almighty takes every physical effort I have, and all I have the ability to mutter is, "Help." But you know what? It's enough. Even murmuring a verse God planted
- [When Loss Invades {Rays in the Storm Series}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/04/when-loss-invades/) - To kick off our Rays in the Storm series, I am thrilled to welcome my friend Christine Duncan to the blog. One of the things I love about Christine's writing is her bravery. She tackles tough topics and gives her readers the only hope that withstands the most turbulent storms of this life: Christ. She has
- [Finding Hope in the Ruins {Rays in the Storm Series}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/04/finding-hope-in-the-ruins/) - I'll never forget the sight of it. This church was in ruins, but you could still feel the Spirit of life within its walls. Even with a missing roof and the bare bones of its foundation left, it was beautiful. My husband and I stood in the center of this place where people once worshipped.
- [Pray Through the Dark, Even When You're Not Sure Now](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/03/praying-through-the-dark/) - As I listened to my son tap the keys on the piano, a smile enveloped my face. He was role-playing, and the audience encircled the bench where he sat. “Now, I’m going to play you a song you may have heard before….” he said, placing his fingers across the keys. I leaned against the wall,
- [When Loneliness Is a Blessing](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/03/when-loneliness-is-a-blessing/) - I remember the first time we drove through this small town tucked into hills of Western Maryland. It was a cold, rainy day and a heavy fog hung over us like a blanket. As we made our way across the overpass and I looked down at the place I would later call home, I thought,
- [4 Truths to Hold Onto When You Think You've Let God Down](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/03/think-youve-let-god-down/) - One weekday morning several months ago, I woke up to a familiar tune. In my grogginess I realized my husband had personalized the alarm on my phone. He can be sweet that way sometimes. He knew the words of Tenth Avenue North’s By Your Side held a reminder I desperately needed. A reminder that his
- [When My VIP Pass Becomes My Last Ditch Effort](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/03/am-i-throwing-away-my-vip-pass/) - My brother had VIP access at the concert, and he didn’t even pay for it. After waiting in line for an hour to speak to his favorite Christian musician, he held nothing back. His questions, compliments and everything in-between poured out like water from a fire hydrant. Crowder didn’t rush him, but gave him his
- [3 Reasons Why You Don't Need to Conform](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/03/3-reasons-not-to-conform/) - “Why are you trying to mimic his sound? Your tone is so much better than his.” My band director’s words surprised me. For one, I wasn’t aware I was copying my fellow band member’s sound. And second, I was also amazed our leader could hear me above the other trumpets in our section. Even though
- [Are We Ignoring a Crucial Area of Our Health? {Book Review & Giveaway}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/03/ignoring-your-emotional-health/) - I spent my first year as a mother trying to stuff my emotions. My husband and I began our marriage by moving cross-country, over two thousand years from a town in the heart of South Carolina where I'd spent my entire life. Less than two months later, I saw two solid lines on a pregnancy
- [When You Think You've Missed the Boat](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/03/when-you-think-youve-missed-the-boat/) - Last night I talked to a friend who told me she turned off Messenger notifications on her phone. After I asked about a message I’d sent several weeks ago, she realized it had gotten buried under piles of other messages and she’d never seen it. I completely understood. If she’s anything like me, she’s familiar
- [The Most Important Thing We Are Missing in Ministry](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/02/what-we-miss-in-ministry/) - It was just a few words in a text, but it took my breath away. My friend wanted to thank me for praying. I hadn’t told her I was praying for her. But she knew. A few weeks ago, she’d shared some vulnerable pieces of her life after a MOPS meeting. We’d fumbled through the
- [Do You Need to Wake Up Your Faith? {A Book Review}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/02/do-you-need-to-wake-up-your-faith-a-book-review/) - I didn't question the existence of God as a child. I grew up in the church, attended a Christian school and went to youth group on Wednesday nights. I believed what I was taught. One hot summer night at Billy Graham's Cove Camp in Asheville, North Carolina, I repeated a simple prayer in the light
- [Don't Let Comparison Steal Your Purpose](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/02/comparison-steals-your-purpose/) - The morning was full of potential. I got up on time, didn’t check social media, and made the kids breakfast. Then, after dropping my son off at the bus stop, I checked my email. And everything went downhill. The intent of the message was positive. My reaction to it was not. This successful blogger wanted
- [Why It's Okay to Let Your Child Lose](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/02/letting-your-child-lose/) - “Give a man a fish, and he’ll eat for a day. Teach him to fish, and he’ll eat for a lifetime.” -Unknown I spent the first five years of my oldest son’s life cleaning up all his toys. He’d dump out the Legos, the trains and tracks, and I’d clean up the mess as son
- [Where Do We Find Hope When Darkness Overwhelms?](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/02/where-do-we-find-hope/) - I’ve never witnessed someone cross through the thin veil which separates this life from the next. When I listen to others describe it, I’m always filled with awe. What was it like? Did angels lead the way into the Light which never fades? Was there hesitation or was it impossible to resist the pull of
- [When We Give Our Doubt a Voice](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/01/when-we-give-our-doubt-a-voice/) - “So what are you going to do?” It was an honest question, but it hurt. My new acquaintance was already getting on my nerves, and after responding with feigned confidence, I made my exit as politely as possible and went looking for my husband. Doubt can be such a lonely place. I was seven months
- [Are We Smothering God's Fire With Well-Meaning Activity?](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/01/are-we-smothering-gods-fire/) - I poked at the fire, frustrated that it wasn’t staying aflame. This girl was no scout. The temperatures outside had reached single digits, and our furnace was having a hard time keeping up. After spending an hour trying different techniques, adding wood, scraps of paper, and using more fire starters than any person should, the
- [When We Let Others Define Who We Are](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/01/who-defines-us/) - I dug my well deep. Every day I dropped my bucket down into the depths and filled it with words of affirmation. Sometimes it was a compliment from a friend. Other times it was a note or a comment I’d received from a fellow writer. One Tuesday morning my youngest boy gave me a huge
- [Don't Give Up](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/01/dont-give-up/) - A few days ago, I took a trip back to middle school. Not in the literal sense, but in my head. I was surrounded by sticky floors, kids racing around on bright wheels, and 80’s music. We were at the neighborhood skating rink. It was my oldest son’s first time on skates and for thirty
- [Are We Living Life Awake?](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/01/living-life-awake/) - “Mama, Mama?” I hear my four-year-old’s voice beside me and try to muster the energy to respond. He’s going through a phase where he craves attention more than my oldest, and he questions everything. “What’s that, Mama?” “What’s he doing?” “Why? Why? Why?” I know there will come a day when the questions are few
- [Bringing the Lost Soul Home](https://abbymcdonald.org/2016/01/bringing-the-lost-home/) - My first baby is a runner. She doesn’t wear human skin or have opposing thumbs, but she’s a member of our family all the same. She’s a four-legged ball of mischief who looks like a cross between a Rottweiler and a Beagle. Her name is Zoe. There are a hundreds of things which can beckon
- [Be a Light By Showing Up (Link-up)](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/12/be-the-light/) - A season of lit trees and celebration was closing and I heard excited talk about picking your “one word” for the New Year. Piqued by curiosity, I reasearched and loved the idea of such specific focus instead of forgotten resolutions, unrealistic expectations and lists. It seemed doable. Everyone was jumping in. So I followed suit
- [Even When We Doubt God's Love](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/12/when-we-doubt-gods-love/) - It’s difficult for us to receive what we don’t understand, isn’t it? For years, I ran from God because I didn’t think he could accept me the way I was. I had a lot of baggage I’d carried around with me for years, and bringing it before a holy God seemed not only unreasonable. It
- [When a Community Gives a Glimpse of Heaven (and an Opportunity to Help)](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/12/when-community-comes-together/) - Every now and then, a community is given a chance to band together and support one of their own. They’re given a unique opportunity to be the hands and feet of Christ extended here on earth, to show glimpses of his love in a tangible way. Over the past two weeks, my little town here
- [Will My Kids Turn Out Okay?](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/12/will-my-kids-turn-out-okay/) - During my first few years of motherhood, I had this horrible fear that I was going to mess up my kid. I questioned everything from his diet to the laundry detergent we used to make sure we made the perfect decision. Crazy, I know. Then he went through a phase where all he wanted to
- [When the Light at the End of the Storm Eludes You](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/12/light-in-the-storm/) - The light was so near I could almost grasp it. I sensed the end to a long season of stress and difficulty and was ready for smooth sailing, Christmas decorating and time with family. Then my son got sick. Unfortunately his health was only the beginning of the turn toward Grinchville and by the end
- [Are We Forgetting the Most Powerful Counselor We Have?](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/12/powerful-counselor/) - I have a confession to make. Several times a year when I gather up the boys’ toys to donate to the Salvation Army and Social Services, I make sure they are either at school or asleep. Doing otherwise results in the inevitable cries of, “Oh, I forgot about this!” or “Oh, my favorite toy!” even
- [For the One Questioning Who God Is](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/11/questioning-god/) - “If you are the Son of God…” (Matthew 4:3) Ah, the tactics of the enemy. Isn’t this the same question the he’s asked since the beginning? These manipulative words attack Jesus’ identity when he is in the middle of the desert, hungry and exhausted. Matthew aptly refers to Satan in this passage as “the tempter.”
- [When Giving Hurts](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/11/when-giving-hurts/) - “Which would be more devastating to you? To wake up and realize there is no God, or that there is no money in your bank account?” These words spoken by a dear friend years ago still echo in my mind, and at the time I was sure of my answer. It’s funny how life has
- [When the News Makes You Want to Run in Fear](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/11/when-youre-afraid/) - Until last weekend, I thought Siri could get me anywhere I needed to go. If I was unsure where an address was, I slid into the driver’s seat, stated my destination and waited for her monochromatic voice to tell me my next move. That is, until my husband and I tried public transportation. On a
- [Uncovering the Lies of Postpartum {Part 3}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/11/lies-of-postpartum-3/) - Friends, we've reached our third and final part of this series on the lies we tell ourselves and hear from others as new moms. My prayer is that you've been encouraged or given a helpful word to share with another mom who is struggling. This journey is filled with so many highs and lows, but
- [Uncovering the Lies of Postpartum {Part 2}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/11/postpartum-lies-2/) - Happy Tuesday, friends! Last week we kicked off a mini-series on some of the lies we tell ourselves, or are told by others, during postpartum. My hope is that by discussing some of these, moms will see that they are free to explore this beautiful journey in their own unique way and find what works
- [Uncovering the Lies of Postpartum {Part 1}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/11/postpartum-lies-1/) - I don't know when it was exactly, but several years into this journey called motherhood I realized there are lies we moms often believe after we have children. Some of them are lies we tell ourselves. Others we've heard from social media, family members who may mean well, and our peers. No matter what the
- [A Prayer Inviting the Spirit to Move](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/10/inviting-the-spirit/) - Well friends, we made it. There were times when I didn't think we would, but here we are at the end of our 31 day journey. I want to thank each of you who have offered words of encouragement and love during this challenge. It is because of you that I continue to write, to
- [When the Darkness Becomes Comfortable](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/10/comfortable-darkness/) - I once heard a friend say she liked to keep her house dimly lit because it hid all the dirt in her house. We were chatting with other moms and made jokes about how darkness was good for so many things, like hiding the mess we didn’t feel like cleaning for the hundredth time. And
- [When You Feel Like You're Missing the Party](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/10/missing-the-party/) - I could not stop looking at the other table. I tried to focus on my eating my meal and made eye contact with the women around me. We talked about our writing experience, what drew us to the conference and our hometowns. But every few minutes, my eyes would drift back to the table parked
- [It Is for Freedom {A Guest Post}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/10/it-is-for-freedom/) - When I first read Tiffany's writing, I knew nothing about her except that she captivated me with her ability to weave a story and string together words. Since I reached out and commented on her blog, she's become a dear friend and encourager and I thank God we crossed paths in the blogosphere. I hope
- [Freedom in Knowing the Truth](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/10/freedom-in-truth/) - Music stirs something deep within me. The beautiful worship leaders at Allume played the song "No Longer Slaves" by Bethel Music a couple of times at the conference last weekend and I and the more I sang the declaration over and over, the more I realized it was true. "I'm no longer a slave to
- [A Prayer for Authenticity](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/10/a-prayer-for-authenticity/) - We are down to the home stretch, folks. I have to admit, I am getting tired. But I thank each and every one of you who have showed my and encouraged me on this 31 day journey. You bless me more than you know. Today, as I have each Saturday, I am offering up a
- [From Fake Fine-ness to Hard Truth](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/10/fine-to-true/) - I didn't even know he was sick. My three-year-old chased his older brother around and they wrestled as they do every hour of every day. He asked me for snacks on the half hour and played trains on the wood table. Based on outward appearances, he appeared healthy. At around 5 o' clock I noticed
- [When Comparison Threatens to Steal My Community {A Guest Post}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/10/when-comparison-threatens/) - I immediately recognized my friend Kristine Brown when I attended She Speaks in July, 2014 and she welcomed me with a warm hug. She has become a continual source of encouragement to me on this writing journey, and I pray I bless her as much as she's blessed me over the past year and a
- [When You Need Affirmation](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/10/needing-affirmation/) - “There are things he wants to tell me.” My voice was soft, almost a whisper to my roommates after a frightening knock and complaint from the hotel security guard. We spoke in hushed tones, sharing the truths God revealed to us over a weekend blogging conference in the heart of downtown Greenville, SC. I looked
- [How Do You Handle Hard Conversations? {A Guest Post}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/10/hard-conversations/) - Today we are continuing our 31 Day series by welcoming my beautiful friend, Kristi Woods, to the blog. I felt an immediate connection to Kristi's writing when I discovered we shared the same struggles with the gypsy life. We've both moved all over the country, and encourage each other in our strides to build community
- [A Prayer for Peace](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/10/a-prayer-for-peace/) - Every Saturday during the 31 Day series I will offer up a prayer for God to move our hearts and open our eyes to Him. My hope is that these prayers will encourage you to join me. I truly believe prayer is critical to living a life unstuck, which is why I will devote time
- [When Woe, Woe, Woe Replaces Your Ho, Ho, Ho {A Guest Post}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/10/woe-replaces-ho/) - I'm so glad to be welcoming my friend Christy Mobley back to the blog today. Christy has become a close friend and encourager to me over the past few months, and continually thank God for the grace and perspective she brings to my life. When I first heard her refer to herself as "off the
- [Stuck in the Safety Net](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/10/stuck-in-the-safety-net/) - When life gets hard, I tend to navigate to one of two extremes. Let’s call them “hyper-busy mode” and “bubble mode.” In hyper-busy mode I clean my house until it is spotless. Since I can’t control anything else in my life, I attempt control my environment by creating a crumb-free kitchen floor and a shining
- [2 Simple Truths That Can Help You Overcome Discouragement {A Guest Post}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/10/overcome-discouragement/) - Today I'm honored to be welcoming my friend Betsy de Cruz back to the blog. I met Betsy at the She Speaks conference in 2014, and she immediately welcomed me with a hug and a smile. She has been a continual source of encouragement through all the ups and downs on this writing journey, and
- [Why Sometimes You Have to Abandon the Routine](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/10/abandon-the-routine/) - I am a woman who thrives on routine. As much as I love the longer days of summer, the sleeping in and the trips to the coast, a few months in I always go a little crazy. The lack of a schedule makes me start counting the days until the school doors will open around
- [Today, Don't Forget](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/10/today-dont-forget/) - Whatever you do today, take a moment to stop and remember that life is precious. Remember to savor the time with the people you love. Take a minute or an hour to do something that makes you feel alive, whether it be a walk, a run around your neighborhood, or a painting season. Notice
- [A Prayer for Clear Vision](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/10/prayer-for-clear-vision/) - Every Saturday during the 31 Days to Life Unstuck series I will offering up a prayer. I hope these prayers will encourage you to come before God with your own requests, worries and hopes. Lord, you created each one of us in your image, unique reflections of your glory and love. Help us to see
- [Chasing Someone Else's Dream](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/10/wrong-dream/) - Two nights ago, my oldest son turned our kitchen into a dance floor. With moves I’d never seen or knew he had, he moved around our little rancher with joy. It turns out, he’d been learning dances like the Sid Shuffle and the Cha Cha at school during what his teacher calls, “brain breaks.” My
- [Overflowing Hope](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/10/overflowing-hope/) - Today I'm excited to welcome my friend Sabra Penley to the blog. I met Sabra via an online writing class and it wasn't long before a friendship was formed. Sabra's writing exhorts in a gentle and non-condemning way, and I am always blessed by her words. I hope you will give her a warm welcome
- [Is There a Key to Why Some Succeed? {Book Review and Giveaway}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/10/is-there-a-key/) - My first reaction when I heard about the increasingly popular app called Periscope was, “Oh great. Another web tool I have to learn how to use.” I’ve since grown to like the app and enjoy being able to interact with an audience of readers and fellow bloggers on a more personal level. But if I’d
- [Giving God Your Wish List Life {A Guest Post}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/10/wish-list-life/) - Today I'm thrilled to welcome my dear friend Meredith back to the blog. I met Meredith via an online writing class and was instantly drawn to her welcoming spirit and authentic words. I had the pleasure of meeting her on person at the She Speaks conference in 2014, and hope to connect again in the
- [Abundance or Leftovers?](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/10/abundance-or-leftovers/) - Bebo Norman's Only Hope is the first song that captured my heart as a new follower of Christ. The lyrics summarize what I believe is at the core of so many stuck hearts: a belief that God has nothing better for them. We often want scraps and leftovers when God is offering us a feast. I encourage
- [A Prayer for Focus](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/10/a-prayer-for-focus/) - Every Saturday during the 31 Days to Life Unstuck Series I'll be offering up a prayer. I believe God will use our prayers to open doors and reveal himself in new ways. Will you also lift up a prayer for a person in your life who's feeling stuck today? Thanks for being on this journey
- [When You Feel Stuck in Limbo](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/10/stuck-in-limbo/) - I wanted to fast forward through the season. Christmas was over, and winter settled in whether we were ready for it or not. The only reminder of life was an occasional bird who hadn't migrated south. My husband and father-in-law had just driven cross-country on a sheet of ice in record-breaking temperatures. Chris said it
- [Are We Living Life Stuck?](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/10/are-you-stuck/) - I used to be obsessed with astrology. One afternoon I remember camping out at a Barnes & Noble, perusing different books and discovering I not only had a sun sign, but a moon sign and rising sign. I was hooked. Convinced these theories explained everything about me and unlocked keys to my future, I went
- [Will You Join Us?](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/09/will-you-join-us/) - Do you ever feel like there’s something missing? Like you’re just going through the motions of life, but never moving forward? I have. My path was so comfortable and worn, I didn’t realize I was moving in a circular pattern. I held onto the familiar because it was what I knew, but didn’t realize what
- [The Answer That Changes Everything](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/09/the-answer/) - “I believe in you.” Four powerful words can propel us. We step into the unknown and take endeavors we never dreamed possible with a little push of encouragement. But often our dreams are met with skepticism and negativity. We want to do a “new thing,” but when we mention it to those close to us
- [The Lie We Tell Ourselves As Moms](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/09/the-mom-lie/) - “Summer is wearing me a little thin,” I confessed to my friends while the boys wrestled in the family room. “I’m running out of things to do to keep these kids occupied.” They poured out grace with their words and my weary soul drank it in, but I still felt the singe of guilt. Why
- [When We Dilute the Gospel of Grace (Link-up)](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/09/the-gospel-of-grace/) - For a long time, I believed a lie which is threatening the very heartbeat of our church. It sneaks in like a slow poison and its symptoms are often loss of joy, endless business and little time for meaningful relationships. It doesn’t announce itself with brazen warning signs or even seem evident in the sanctuary
- [When You Want to Hide From Fear](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/09/how-do-we-conquer-fear/) - All I wanted him to do was pedal. I pleaded and coerced, ran behind the bike and offered words of encouragement. “You can do this. You know how. Just keep going.” But as soon as I let go of the seat, his feet went down. Every time, without fail. And as much as I tried
- [Our Words Can Save a Life](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/09/save-a-life/) - On my two-year-old’s first day of preschool, he ran into the classroom without giving me a second glance. I stood there watching, my emotions swinging between relief and sadness. He was going to be just fine. His teachers welcomed him with warm smiles and words of encouragement. But their presence and tenderness spoke volumes their
- [Why We Don't Need to Fix People](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/09/fix-people/) - The realization came as a blow to both my pride and my false sense of control. He did not want me to fix it. He wanted me to let it go. For months I’d offered opinions as much as I’d offered up prayers. For months I’d judged behavior more than I’d offered love and support.
- [How Do You Let Go of Fear?](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/09/let-go-of-fear/) - I awoke from the dream covered in sweat, trembling. Where was my phone? I needed to call my in-laws. Yes, that’s where the kids were. Were they okay? Had something terrible happened? Perhaps this was God’s way of telling me about some impending tragedy. I couldn’t get the visual of the body bag out of
- [Today I Am Brave Because I Made a Choice](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/08/today-i-am-brave/) - “So what are y’all declaring?” The middle-aged man paused in front of me, his thick Texan accent hanging in the air. It was a logical question. My nametag had the name of the conference emblazoned across it in bright purple: Declare. “We’re declaring our love for Jesus,” I said without hesitation. Fidgeting a little, I
- [Finding Purpose in Unexpected Places](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/08/unexpected-purpose/) - It was the season of slow. I pushed my ever-cautious son to try a new activity and he resisted. With further coaxing he took a step forward only to take two steps back. I submitted my writing to various publications and waited. Then, I waited some more. Weeks passed until finally received a “no” from
- [Who Are We Trying to Please?](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/08/who-to-please/) - I’ll never forget the sound. It was hundreds of pounds of files and metal crashing down on my three-year-old son but to me it sounded like one thing: disaster. The impact was followed by the shrill scream of my child. In complete panic I ran from my parents’ kitchen to see him lying there with
- [Fulfilled: Book Review and Giveaway](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/08/fulfilled-book-review/) - I walked away from the church at a young age. I felt like everyone within its walls was a hypocrite, and I projected the shortcomings of others onto an unchanging, holy God. My life became a chase for one element that would fill me, whether it be a relationship, a high, or a lifestyle. I
- [When Our Offerings Become Idols](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/08/offerings-or-idols/) - Sometimes our altars to the Lord can become idols. When I started this blog two years ago, it was an offering to my Creator. I moved past my fears of being judged and stepped out in faith. I tossed aside my stereotypes and prideful assumptions about blogging and embraced humility. The more I shared truth and was vulnerable with my readers,
- [On the Days When Your Patience is Wrecked](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/07/patience-is-wrecked/) - “It’s hotter than a microwave out there!” my seven-year-old exclaims as he runs back into the house. Despite my frustration, I can’t help but laugh. Where does he get his flare for the dramatic? I put away dishes and my mind races to find something for my boys to do. Little brother sees Jay and
- [When You Wonder Where You Belong](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/07/where-you-belong/) - There is a vast difference between hearing words and actually believing them. For most of my life, I did the former. To say I took things with a grain of salt was an understatement. I used the entire shaker. My grandmother never missed an opportunity to tell me I was beautiful. I would give her
- [I'm Here, God. Do You See Me?](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/07/do-you-see-me/) - I waited a week for acknowledgement that the gift was received. A book I carefully picked out for this season of his life when he was groping for meaning and purpose. I opted for the express shipping so it would be there in time for his birthday. My anticipation of his reaction mounted. But
- [What We Really Do When We Compare](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/07/when-we-compare/) - The shouts echo from the family room and as much as I try to avoid them, I know I’ll have to referee. I can’t see what’s taking place, but I know. My rising blood pressure is a sure sign. As I stand in the doorway, my suspicions are confirmed. There are hundreds of toys strewn
- [For the Weary Perfectionist Whose Tank is Bone Dry](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/07/weary-perfectionist/) - As I turn my face toward the glow of the digital alarm clock, I can almost hear the seconds ticking away. I will myself not to look at the time, not wanting to know the limited hours until I must wake my son for school. Instead of counting sheep, I talk to the Shepherd who
- [For the Discouraged Soul Who Can't Carry the Weight](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/07/discouraged-soul/) - Before I had time to take my fighting stance, the enemy of my soul sat down and planted himself between me and the truth. His presence was firm. He wasn’t going anywhere. Discouragement in every form took over my thoughts. My church, writing, friends, ministry and everything I held dear were a source of attack.
- [Where Do We Find Peace When Chaos Rules?](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/07/when-chaos-rules/) - The news came across the waves of a Christian radio station a few days before our family vacation. Nine people were shot in a church. In a place where people gather to find peace and comfort, the Enemy prowled like a lion and a hate crime was committed. And in the midst of packing to
- [When You're Tired of the Wait](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/07/tired-of-the-wait/) - The ocean was restless and moody, like me. I tried to soak in the beauty of my surroundings and be patient. Swatting at gnats, I walked further down the beach to get a better vantage point. Where was the sun? I snapped a few shots of the birds looking for their morning meal. Their flight
- [Stop Hiding Your Light](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/06/stop-hiding-your-light/) - Photo Credit My face beamed as I read my friends words and the corners of my mouth curved into an awkward smile. She was happy. For me. She was “doing double back flips.” For me. At first my heart didn’t know how to respond. Then warmth enveloped me like a soft touch and I
- [Laying Down Our Pride](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/06/laying-down-our-pride/) - I turned from the swing and saw him standing there, fresh cut flowers in hand and a smile on his face. “I’m sorry. I woke up on the wrong side of the bed.” I embedded my face in his chest and wrapped my arms around him. An apology and flowers weren’t what I was expecting,
- [30 Day Praise Challenge for Parents: Book Review and Giveaway](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/06/praise-challenge/) - God is opening my eyes to a whole new level of praise and worship. It is worship which goes beyond my circumstances and focuses on the character and nature of God- a God who never changes, whose love is everlasting, and whose thoughts are higher than my own. This change began when I cracked open 30
- [When Worship is the Last Thing on Your Mind](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/06/worship/) - I'll be the first person to admit it. Sometimes I don’t feel like worshipping. I’d rather grumble and complain. I'd rather vent to a friend about my three-year-old’s latest antics. I moan about my worries and stress until I can’t sleep. It’s not that don’t I don’t know I’m blessed or don’t see all of
- [When You Long for Freedom](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/06/when-you-long-for-freedom/) - If you are visiting from Suzie Eller's place today, welcome! I am so glad you're here. To kick off our week I'm going to take my #LiveFree story a little deeper and talk about some of those lies and insecurities which can hold us captive, even after we are in Christ. One of the first
- [When You're the New Girl and You Feel Alone](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/06/when-you-feel-alone/) - “Yep, I could hang out with you.” I chuckled at my new friend’s words. We’d just met a few weeks ago and our families were having lunch for the first time. She seemed so confident in our budding relationship. When my husband and I had moved cross-country nearly a year ago, I’d immediately become pregnant
- [Through the Eyes of a Child: Leave It Behind Series](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/06/eyes-of-a-child/) - Friends, I cannot thank you enough for joining us over the past couple of weeks for this series. It has been a true blessing to read stories of lives being changed in ways which could only be in and through the mighty God we serve. I will be closing out this series with my story
- [The Right to Defend Ourselves: Leave It Behind Series](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/06/the-right-to-defend/) - For the third installment of our Leave It Behind series, I am excited to introduce you to my friend and sister in Christ, Katie Reid. I had the pleasure of meeting Katie at the She Speaks conference last year, and was struck by the way she moves past small talk and quickly dives into the deep,
- [Trade the Old for God's New: Leave It Behind Series {Plus a Giveaway}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/06/old-for-new/) - As we continue the Leave It Behind series, I am thrilled to introduce you to my friend, Tiffany Parry. I discovered Tiffany by chance in the blogging world, and was instantly drawn to the way she expressed herself through words. She made me feel as though I was right there with her as she explored deep and
- [No Bitter Root: Leave It Behind Series](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/06/no-bitter-root/) - Today I am excited to start a new series on the blog with you: Ashes for a Crown: Leave it Behind. For the next couple of weeks, we will be discussing things we've left behind to pursue more of God. Whether it be a negative mentality, a toxic relationship, an idol or simply an old dream,
- [Faith Through the Famine](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/05/faith-through-the-famine/) - It was one of those days where I needed a do-over. All I wanted to do was crawl back into bed and bury my head underneath the pillow, but the kids were hungry and Daddy was coming home soon. I sent up a few weak prayers, but my heart wasn’t in them. Anxiety consumed me
- [When the Pursuit of Your Dream Becomes Selfish](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/05/pursuit-of-your-dream/) - “I went to the conference thinking there was a big pie and I had to get a piece. Then I realized God just makes a bigger pie.” The author’s words struck me with clarity and I realized I had the same misconception about an invisible pie. When did I start making his work about me?
- [Praying Upside Down: A Book Review](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/05/praying-upside-down/) - I’ve been in a prayer rut without even realizing it. I approach it like a to-do list, checking each person off an unseen piece of paper and moving on with my day. And the beauty is that God still hears these prayers and answers them, but I’m discovering my conversations with him can be so
- [When You Can't Do It On Your Own](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/05/you-cant-do-it/) - Yesterday marked a monumental moment for my son. His training wheels came off the bike for the first time. This excited mama had the camera in hand, ready to snap endless photos of him riding up and down the street. But when the moment came, fear crept in. I could tell my son wanted to
- [Out of the Holding Pattern and into His Grace](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/05/holding-pattern/) - As soon as he sat down in the car, I knew something was wrong. His face was downcast and his step had lost its usual after-school skip. I thought maybe he’d gotten a red mark at school, an indication he’d played class clown one too many times. I wasn’t expecting what came in the following
- [Waiting for the Shoe to Drop and Other Lies](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/05/waiting-for-the-shoe/) - I am learning to be brave. Not in an obvious way like scaling mountains, speaking to thousands or entering a war zone. Perhaps those endeavors await me in the future. But for now, I am learning to be brave in love. I am saying, “yes” to risky, extravagant love and, “no” to the fear which
- [When Your Soul is Restless](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/05/when-your-soul-is-restless/) - The feeling swept in with the morning rain clouds, as I sat by the window drinking coffee. Restlessness. There were no defining edges to it. I couldn’t quite grasp where the emotion came from. It was just there. And it consumed me. I daydreamed about moving to another town. We’d lived here four years so
- [Am I Striving or Abiding?](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/05/am-i-striving-or-abiding/) - I’m doing it again. The habit has become so rehearsed, so familiar, I rarely recognize it. I fall into it like a dance step. I’m striving. Sometimes I’m not even sure what I’m striving toward. I trick myself into thinking it’s Christ but is it really? Does a relationship with God mean constantly feeling insecure,
- [When No One Understands Your Struggle, You Are Enough](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/04/inner-struggle/) - When something in the church world makes me angry, I have a tendency to go on a spiritual high horse. Or at least, that is what I’m calling it. But the problem is it isn’t always as spiritual as I’d like to think. A few weeks ago when I reposted a previous blog about depression,
- [Mothering from Scratch: Book Review and Giveaway](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/04/mothering-from-scratch/) - My first year as a mother was one of the most difficult years of my life. Before I discovered I was expecting our first child, my husband and I moved over 2,000 miles away from both of our families. After coming home from the hospital I tried to jump into my role as a new
- [Loving Through the Risk](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/04/loving-through-the-risk/) - My husband and I have a running joke that when our three-year-old reaches the dating age, he is going to be trouble. He loves anyone and everyone, but his affection toward the ladies overflows. As Daddy drove him to the hardware store over the weekend, he rolled down the window, blowing kisses to the female
- [Take God Out of the Box](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/04/out-of-the-box/) - “I find that people often expect too much from people and too little from God.” The words from author and speaker, Christine Caine, stung because I knew how true they were. Do we really believe God is capable of all he says he is? While pondering her statement, I stood watching my three-year-old play in
- [When Your Ministry is Criticized](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/04/ministry-criticism/) - The words cut like a cleaver through a fresh piece of meat and I felt exposed and ridiculed. Hurt was quickly followed by anger and resentment, and I wanted to defend myself. I longed to make others see what I did, to notice the hours of work and commitment I put into this position. Although
- [Help End Sex Trafficking Now](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/04/help-end-sex-trafficking-now/) - I remember the first time I heard the word "sex trafficking" mentioned. It was six years ago, and I was watching the movie Taken with my husband and in-laws. I was appalled. It shook me to the core to realize that this trade was not just taking place on the silver screen, but in real life.
- [When You Long For a Change](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/04/when-you-long-for-a-change/) - For months I wondered what would happen if one of the city’s homeless graced the doorstep of our church. Would the lady I’d often seen walking the streets be welcomed in with warm smiles? Her tattered comforter was always wrapped tightly around her like a cape. It seemed to be her only source of security
- [5 Questions to Help You Conquer Mom Guilt Once and For All](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/04/conquer-mom-guilt/) - "You do not have to clean like your mother." I held the wrapper before me and burst into laughter. As I savored the Dove chocolate and reflected on the promise inside, I realized how true it was. We do not have to be anyone other than ourselves, and yet so often our self-talk tells us
- [For the One Who Can't Forgive](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/04/for-the-one-who-cant-forgive/) - For the longest time, those words Christ uttered with his body pinioned to the cross didn’t make sense to me. “Father, forgive them.” I didn’t want the witnesses to be forgiven. They didn’t deserve it. As they hurled insults at him, making a mockery of my God, he suffered the unthinkable. Why would he say
- [When You Feel Like an Imposter](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/03/when-you-feel-like-an-imposter/) - “Sometimes I feel like we’re just the wannabes. Like there’s this higher level of writers who have published books.” I nod my head in agreement as I listen to my friend on the other end of the line. My eyes are wet with understanding. Every day I put the pen to paper or hands to
- [4 Things to Learn When Your Tools Are Rusty {Renewal Through Christ Series}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/03/when-your-tools-are-rusty/) - Today I am excited to welcome my friend, Carmen Horne, to the blog. Carmen's writing draws you in and makes you feel as though you are sitting on the couch with her, enjoying a hot cup of coffee or tea. She invites you to not only take part in the conversation, but to ask questions
- [Hope for the Deepest Why {Renewal Through Christ Series}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/03/hope-for-the-why/) - This week as we continue our Renewal Through Christ series, I am thrilled to introduce my friend, Angela Parlin. Angela's writing is transparent, authentic and real. She makes her readers feel comfortable being themselves without the facade of being perfect or having it all together. Her heart for Christ is evident though her words as she seeks
- [When Dreaming Is Just Too Scary {Renewal Through Christ Series}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/03/scared-to-dream/) - Today we welcome back one of my favorite writers, Brandi Rennemeyer, to the blog. Brandi's writing is like putting on a pair of warm slippers and curling up with a cup of hot tea. She has a vivid style of describing environments and experiences in a way that brings them to life and immerses you
- [Renewed Strength for the Uphill Marathon Days {Renewal Through Christ Series}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/03/uphill-marathon-days/) - To continue our Renewal Through Christ series, I am thrilled to welcome my friend Betsy back to the blog. Betsy's words always exhort and point me back to the truth of Christ in a simple yet profound way. She makes me feel capable of tackling that next task and reaching my full potential in all the various
- [From Shame to Rebirth {Renewal Through Christ Series}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/03/from-shame-to-rebirth-renewal-through-christ-series/) - Today we are starting a new series here on the blog: From Glory to Glory: Renewal Through Christ. With spring finally in the air, I am anxious to discuss the renewal that is continuously taking place when we belong to Him. We will be talking about five different areas where we experience this: in ourselves, in
- [Contagious Disciple Making: Book Review and Giveaway](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/03/contagious-disciple/) - How do you effectively minister to someone from a different culture or background than yours? Why are so many Americans apathetic towards the Christian faith? These are just a couple of the questions which are addressed in David L. Watson and Paul D. Watson’s book, Contagious Disciple Making: Leading Others on a Journey of Discovery.
- [The Hope That Leaves You Hungry](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/03/the-hope-that-leaves-you-hungry/) - “What’d you do that for? Because you wanted him to lose?” My husband recalled the conversation he had with the scout master just minutes earlier as we sat in the fellowship hall, waiting for our son’s turn to race his pinewood derby car. Those words were directed at my husband after he’d explained that we
- [Is God Sovereign?](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/02/is-god-sovereign/) - I am terrible at the silent treatment. If there were a contest to see who could stay silent toward an adversary the longest, I would definitely lose. I just don’t have it in me. Conflict makes me anxious and uncomfortable. It’s funny how what is painful with our loved ones is often perfectly normal with
- [Should I Say Anything?](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/02/should-i-say-anything/) - As I listened to my friend tell her story, I could see the look of worry on her husband’s face. He was reliving the incident with each word. This health crisis which had almost cost her life. I searched for the words, listening to each detail, and wondered how I could say anything that wouldn’t
- [When You Want to Hide Your Story](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/02/hiding-your-story/) - As I sat outside the conference room counting the minutes until my appointment, the tension was palpable. I tried to make nervous conversation with the woman sitting across from me, but my mind was too scattered. What started as chit chat about the organization of the conference quickly fizzled into talk about nothing at
- [Do I Let Them Fall?](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/02/do-i-let-them-fall/) - The longer we sat, the more frustrated my son became. My tiredness came through in my tone and I fought my desire to take the book away from him and finish the reading myself. “Sound it out, buddy. You can do this.” He slowly mouthed each consonant and vowel of the next word. Then he
- [Does My Story Matter?](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/02/does-my-story-matter/) - It was just three simple words on a piece of paper. Three simple words with a couple of exclamation points and a smiley face added for emphasis. And it changed the course of my entire day. "You are beautiful." My husband knew I was feeling down. Following the previous night’s rejection email, I explained to
- [The Most Excellent Way {A Guest Post}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/02/the-most-excellent-way-a-guest-post/) - To start the month of February, I am thrilled to introduce my friend, sister in Christ, and fellow encourager, Christy Mobley. Christy's heart for the Lord is evident in everything she writes, and she inspires me to love others the way he does. Today she is talking to us about marriage and sacrificial love, a
- [When You Can't Stop Worrying, Read This](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/01/when-you-cant-stop-worrying-read-this/) - "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV) As I began my morning praying God’s Word, I didn’t foresee the
- [For the One Who Doubts God's Call {Linkup}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/01/doubting-gods-call/) - I take deep breaths in and out, trying to calm the rapid pulse of my heart. It’s no use. My hands shake as I rummage through my purse for lip gloss, trying to silence the voices of defeat. Every five seconds, I look over my shoulder for my husband. Where is he? When the worship
- [Redemption of the Commons: A Movie Review](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/01/redemption-of-the-commons-a-movie-review/) - Every now and then I review a book or film here on the blog. Recently, I had the opportunity to watch Redemption of the Commons, an indie film created in my home state of South Carolina. Redemption of the Commons has garnered the Award of Excellence from California’s Indie Fest Film Festival, Official Selection from the
- [When You Wonder How God Sees You](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/01/when-you-wonder-how-god-sees-you/) - Another dreary winter day swoops in and the sun can’t seem to break free from its shroud of clouds. My mood is a reflection of the weather. Before I even got out of bed, I feel defeat. I make my way to the laundry room and fluff the clothes that have been in the dryer
- [How Can I Be Filled?](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/01/how-can-i-be-filled/) - The day after our first son was born via emergency c-section, my husband washed my hair. I didn't have the strength or stability to do it by myself. I remember my entire body trembling and using his steadiness to support my wobbly frame. Extending himself in that selfless act of service is one of the
- [Motherhood: I Want to Thrive, Not Just Survive](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/01/motherhood-i-want-to-thrive-not-just-survive/) - As I stand over the stove with my blood pressure rising, one question repeats itself in my head: Am I simply trying to survive motherhood? Preparing dinner is the most difficult time of the day for me. There is no exact science to keeping two young, active boys occupied while I make a meal. However,
- [For the One Who Doesn't Feel Welcome](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/01/for-the-one-who-doesnt-feel-welcome/) - I spent the better part of my twenties running from God. I ran for so long I forgot what rest was. Solace disillusioned me, although I thought I was finding it in the arms of men, substance abuse, and lies. But I always came home empty. I never found what I was looking for, though
- [Bravely Stepping into God's New {A Guest Post}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/01/stepping-into-gods-new/) - To welcome the New Year, I am thrilled to introduce you to Kristi Woods. Kristi is a friend, an encourager, and a sister in Christ. The first time I read her writing, I found myself nodding and thinking, "Me too. Yes, me too." She has the gift of making you feel right at home, and
- [When You Feel Like God is Punishing You](https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/01/when-you-feel-like-god-is-punishing-you/) - I was being punished. The thought entered my mind instantly and I replayed the last several weeks in my mind, wondering what I'd done to deserve it. Why do we so often jump to this conclusion when circumstances in our life go awry? Is it in our nature, or something we've learned over time? If
- [Eyes to See Him Move](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/12/eyes-to-see-him-move/) - Our family attended our first 4D movie, The Polar Express, just days before Christmas. While our 3D glasses made everything pop off the screen, the moving seats, falling snow, and smell of hot chocolate took the experience to a whole new level. My three-year-old, however, refused to wear the glasses. As much as his daddy
- [The Day I Learned the True Definition of Hospitality](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/12/the-day-i-learned-the-true-definition-of-hospitality/) - The stain on the seat cushion glared at me. This house would never be clean enough for guests. Who was I kidding? Why had I agreed to host a Bible study in the first place? My perfectionist nature kicked into overdrive. I convinced myself it was a mistake to open our home. After all, I’d
- [When Christmas Renews a Burden for Someone You Love](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/12/when-christmas-renews-a-burden-for-someone-you-love/) - “How is your family doing?” I ponder the question and wonder which version to give her. Does she really want to know? Or is she just making small talk? With a half smile, I tell her they are fine. We talk about my parents’ physical health and my brother's whereabouts, leaving the conversation short and
- [Struggling for Approval That's Already Ours](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/12/struggling-for-approval-thats-already-ours/) - It only takes a few words implying rejection for me to slip into that high school skin. The insecurity and striving for someone to notice me, to like me, to give me a nod of approval. A few days ago, the feeling of denial came through an email. Just a few sentences into it, I
- [For the One Who Doesn't Feel Prepared](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/12/for-the-one-who-doesnt-feel-prepared/) - If there was an award given for procrastination, I would be a top contender. When people ask me, "Are you ready for Christmas?" the answer is, "No." Not even close. My kids received a Christmas card in the mail from Santa yesterday. It has no return address. It says he heard they've been very good
- [When Christmas Traditions Don't Go the Way You Planned](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/12/when-christmas-traditions-dont-go-the-way-you-planned/) - My six-year-old fidgets with the tiny box, trying to get it open. He is not paying attention to a word I am saying. I take a deep breath and tell myself to be patient. When I picked out the nativity scene, I envisioned it becoming a yearly tradition. Each piece of the set was stored
- [When You Can't See the Fruit of Your Labor](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/12/when-you-cant-see-the-fruit-of-your-labor/) - When I was a kid, our family took a lot of hiking trips. I'll never forget them. Looking out over the summits, and seeing how far we'd come. We'd reached our goal and I could see it stretched out before me in a vast sea of blue peaks. But in life our goals aren't always
- [Do You Want to Be Blessed?](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/12/do-you-want-to-be-blessed-2/) - To start December, I am thrilled to introduce you to my friend, Kelly Balarie. This woman is a visionary and a motivator, and I am so glad I met her in the world of blogging several months ago. Kelly's writing cuts through any pretense and fluff and takes you straight to her heart for God,
- [More Blessed to Give?](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/11/more-blessed-to-give/) - Three is going to be harder than two. Two weeks in, and I can already tell. Maybe it's the way he drops down to an army crawl every time I attempt to grab him to put on his shoes, get him ready for bed, or put on his jacket. Maybe it's the way he fights
- [For the One Who's Lonely and Losing Hope](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/11/for-the-one-whos-lonely-and-losing-hope/) - The winter after we moved to this area was one of the most lonely periods of my life. And of all the seasons, winter is the one where depression is most likely to sneak into my life and stifle my hope. Darkness shrouds the day shortly before my husband even gets home from work. Bitter
- [When You Don't Think Anyone Notices](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/11/when-you-dont-think-anyone-notices/) - The change was subtle. I didn't think he would notice. A little less spice, a little more brown sugar. An hour of simmering on the stove to develop the flavors, the heat, the harmony between each ingredient. I never enjoyed cooking before marriage. Before I had a family, quicker was always better. But now, this
- [Why Can't They Just Be Grateful?](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/11/why-cant-they-just-be-grateful/) - "Why is this taking so long?" My six-year-old's words caught me off guard. I was working feverishly to get dinner on the table and my two sons were already sitting down, waiting. Almost instantly, I could feel my blood pressure rising. Who did this kid think he was? I had spent the past half hour
- [When Communication With Your Spouse Breaks Down](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/11/when-communication-with-your-spouse-breaks-down/) - The snarky remark came tumbling out of my mouth before I had time to think about the outcome. I saw the look on my husband's face, and I knew I shouldn't have said it. Immediately, I began trying to explain away the hurt already caused. But the words were already out there, the line of
- [Looking Forward, Looking Back](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/11/looking-forward-looking-back/) - Birthdays can bring a lot of conflicting feelings. Joy mixed with sorrow. Discouragement mixed with gratitude. Anticipation mingled with quiet reflection. Today, I could think about all of the goals I hoped to accomplish during the past year but didn't. I could stress about the looming task of potty-training my son. I could let
- [Humbled and Grateful: The Liebster Award](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/11/humbled-and-grateful-the-liebster-award/) - When Tiffany of Simply for One nominated my blog for the Liebster Award last week, I was humbled and grateful for this sweet friend's encouragement. I have followed Tiffany's posts for several months now, and I love her ability to bring fresh perspective and illuminate common subjects in a new way. The Liebster Award is
- [For the One Who's Tired of Running](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/11/for-the-one-whos-tired-of-running/) - Maybe you grew up in the church and you think you've got this God thing all figured out. You know the stories of the Bible and have memorized verses. You may even have gone on a few missions trips. But somewhere along the line, your feelings toward the church became jaded. There is deep seeded
- [Slowing Down to Find Joy in the Ordinary](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/11/slowing-down-to-find-joy-in-the-ordinary-2/) - This month I am thrilled to introduce you to my friend, Betsy de Cruz. Betsy has been a mentor and a wealth of wisdom to me for several months now, and I had the pleasure of meeting her in person at the She Speaks conference in July. Her writing is always filled with godly advice
- [How Will You Leave Them?](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/10/how-will-you-leave-them/) - I wonder what his disciples were thinking the night before He left. Surely they were fearful and confused. Surely they did not want Him to leave. He promised to send them a Helper who would remain in them after he was gone. But what did that mean? I selfishly would have wanted Him to stay.
- [I'm Giving You a Gold Star Today, Mom](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/10/im-giving-you-a-gold-star-today-mom/) - Sometimes, when I'm elbow deep in the trenches of motherhood, I look around and all I see is the mess. And I want so badly to see some work that is finished. I want a gold star or a pat on the back for a job well done. I look at my kids' chore chart and
- [When You Don't Know How to Pray](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/10/when-you-dont-know-how-to-pray/) - Sometimes I forget one of the most powerful things I can do for my family is pray for them. I worry and I strive. I try to control situations that are far beyond my ability to control. And then I wonder why everything seems to be falling apart when I neglect time spent before the
- [The Day Someone I'd Never Met Changed My Life](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/10/the-day-someone-id-never-met-changed-my-life/) - Do you ever wonder if your prayers make any difference? Do you look at verses like the one above and think, "How is that even possible?" If you have, you are not alone. I have been there too, friend. Sometimes, God uses the life of someone else to shine his Light into your own. Even
- [When the Days Are Long and Tired](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/10/when-the-days-are-long-and-tired/) - Although the days have been getting shorter, within the confines of this house they have been long. Over the past couple of weeks as my entire family has battled sickness, I've seen my favorite season passing by. From our bay window I've watched the rain and the leaves give their last vibrant bursts of color
- [When Worry Threatens to Ruin You](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/10/when-worry-threatens-to-ruin-you/) - I told worry to take a hike once and for all. I used the words in my son’s favorite Dr. Seuss book, “Please go now!” Except maybe I didn’t say, “please.” My fight with worry started last week when my oldest child’s parent-teacher conference was approaching. Our record with parent-teacher conferences isn’t exactly the greatest.
- [Why Should I Care?](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/10/why-should-i-care/) - "Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." 1 Peter 3:10 There are days when I don't like myself very much. I laugh at inappropriate situations. When circumstances are awkward. I laugh to release the tension and then people look at me like I'm crazy. I say the wrong
- [For the One Who's Putting Off that Decision](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/10/for-the-one-whos-putting-off-that-decision/) - Sometimes the fear of making the wrong decision is so paralyzing that I'm unable to move forward. My life stays in the same place because I am terrified of living in regret. Have you been there? Is there a choice that needs to be made, but you've been putting it off because you're afraid you'll
- [God, I'm Drowning Down Here. Don't You Care? {A Guest Post}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/10/god-im-drowning-down-here-dont-you-care-a-guest-post/) - Today is a very special day on the blog. At the beginning of each month I like to welcome other writers who have breathed life into my soul, and I am so excited to introduce a new friend to you all. I met Brandi on an online writing class called Compel and had the pleasure
- [A Brave New World, or Not?](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/10/a-brave-new-world-or-not/) - "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." 2 Corinthians 4:16 It is my natural instinct to fight against the new. To take a fight or flight response, trying to protect what is familiar. What is safe. Today as I was waiting
- [When Raising Them is Hard and You Feel Alone](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/09/when-raising-them-is-hard-and-you-feel-alone/) - It was an ordinary Tuesday afternoon when I opened my email to find a Groupon ad for a cruise on the Caribbean. I desperately wanted to hit "buy" and wondered if it would be possible for my husband and I to leave the next day. I imagined myself in my straw Panama Jack hat and
- [Because We Need to Know We Are Not Alone](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/09/because-we-need-to-know-we-are-not-alone/) - I will never forget the moment when I finally got it. When it finally sank in. I was sitting on the couch of our 30th St. Rancher in Ogden, Utah reading The Purpose Driven Life with my husband. The opening chapter is aptly named, "It's Not About You," and those words changed my life.
- [When You Wonder Which Way Your Child Should Go](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/09/when-you-wonder-which-way-your-child-should-go/) - As I watched my son kick the dirt on the field, it was painfully obvious that soccer was not his thing. When we asked him if he wanted to play another year, he said, "Yes," but I knew better. I watched him get excited about singing. I watched him get excited about building stuff. I
- [Learning When to Release the Hold](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/09/learning-when-to-release-the-hold/) - I remember my oldest son's first trip to the ER. He was covered in hives and his face swelled up like a balloon. Food allergies. The news that no parent wants to hear. When I first saw the symptoms, I had no idea what was happening and stared in horror as my son, though still
- [An Invitation to Live a Full Life Right Now](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/09/an-invitation-to-live-a-full-life-right-now/) - As I pushed my son on the swing, I looked up at the blue, cloud spotted sky and noticed a jetliner flying directly above us. Its stream followed behind, leaving a trail in its wake as it faded into the distance. Instantly, I was filled with a sense of longing. Where were the passengers going?
- [The Day I Saw Love as a Verb](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/09/the-day-i-saw-love-as-a-verb/) - When my oldest son was two years old, our family moved cross-country. My husband drove the U-haul across eight states while my toddler and I took an airplane. I spent the last day or so before the trip preparing the diaper bag and carry-ons for a painless trip. Little did I know that no amount
- [Five Minute Friday: Ready](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/09/five-minute-friday-ready/) - "Do you believe Mormons are Christians?" The question left me fumbling for words, not knowing what to say to this person who I'd just met weeks before. Her faith had been attacked by someone who no doubt called themselves "Christian" and yet their actions said otherwise. I didn't know what to say. At this
- [For the One Who's Afraid of Failing](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/09/for-the-one-whos-afraid-of-failing/) - As I stepped away from the highly esteemed author, I could not wait to read the inscription he wrote in my book. I opened the crisp new pages and found a reference to a verse I was not familiar with. Luke 1:45. I walked quickly to my room and flipped open my Bible. When I
- [When Life Gets Loud](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/09/when-life-gets-loud/) - I thrive in quiet spaces. A good book can envelop me for hours, and although I love community, I have no issue with being alone for long expanses of time. And in a house with too young boys, this does not happen very often. They are loud. They demand my attention. They fight and whine
- [The Day I Used Prayer As a Last Resort](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/09/the-day-i-used-prayer-as-a-last-resort/) - I remember the phone call like it was yesterday. My husband was driving down a highway in northern Utah and I was on the other end of the line, sitting behind a desk in Columbia, South Carolina. Panicked. As much as I hate to admit it, I am a woman who thrives on routine. Take
- [How to Survive and Thrive When the Flood Waters Rise {A Guest Post}](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/09/how-to-survive-and-thrive-when-the-flood-waters-rise-a-guest-post/) - It is a very special day on the blog today, friends! I am thrilled to introduce you to my blogging turned real life friend, Meredith. This woman has been such an encouragement to me over the past five months, and has lifted me in mind and spirit in more ways than I can count. I
- [When You Wonder If You'll Ever Reach the Finish Line](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/08/when-you-wonder-if-youll-ever-reach-the-finish-line/) - A couple of weeks ago I told my husband I felt like I was just treading water. I was pushing and pushing but not going anywhere. Exerting effort but not seeing progress. The land I thought I saw in the distance was simply a mirage. I could only see water and I wasn't sure how
- [For the Woman Who Wonders if Anyone Sees](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/08/to-the-woman-who-wonders-if-anyone-sees/) - I had a plan. A date with my paperback. Just the two of us. After the rain started, I decided to take the kids to the inflatable playground. Their energy level was bursting at the seams and this mama was tired. After a week as a single mom with the hubby on a work trip,
- [The Change Starts With Me](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/08/the-change-starts-with-me/) - Helpless. Devastated. Dark. That's how I feel when I turn on the news lately. People are being persecuted around the globe for their faith. Iconic entertainers are taking their own lives. Poverty. Oppression. When will it end? When will a change come? There is a song by a legendary pop star which says, "If you
- [8 Things Being a Mother Taught Me](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/08/8-things-being-a-mother-taught-me/) - Each day I spend with my little ones, I learn more about God's love and grace. I truly believe that children teach us just as much as we teach them. They are our Creator's little vessels of eternity and truth, and we would be wise to pause, pay attention, and learn each lesson He is
- [Why Waiting Is Just as Important as the Finished Art](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/08/why-waiting-is-just-as-important-as-the-finished-art/) - I put off downloading my iPhone's new software for over a year. I can be stubborn like that sometimes. Yesterday, when I finally bit the bullet and downloaded the newest version, I found that my phone was even faster at accessing apps and uploading pictures than it was before. I take a photo and instantly
- [Should I Tell God When He Already Knows?](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/08/should-i-tell-god-when-he-already-knows/) - If I tell someone my problems, they will breathe a life of their own. For many years, that was my point of view. That by keeping my issues to myself, somehow they would go away like a figment of my imagination. Perhaps the demons in my head would retreat and find someone else to whisper
- [3 Myths About Depression That Need to Stop](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/08/myths-about-depression/) - Someone in your life right now is suffering from depression. They feel as though they are hopelessly alone, that there is no way out, that there is no end to the darkness that permeates them from all sides. Symptoms of their mental state may not be outwardly visible. They may feel shamed by it. There
- [The Power in the Words, "I'm Not Fine"](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/08/the-power-in-the-words-im-not-fine/) - "It is never just your story." The editor's words cut through the classroom with razor-like precision. I ponder them and am ashamed to count the number of times I thought it was. Weeks later, as I worship with my church family, I realize how thankful I am for the truth in her words. It's not
- [Fill Someone's Need Today](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/08/fill-someones-need-today/) - I love my morning coffee. One of my favorite sounds is the drip filling the carafe, permeating the house with pungent aroma. One of my friends is a barista, and she once told me that if the expresso is not emptied into the drink within minutes of being made, it goes bad. Its taste becomes
- [Just Be Thankful](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/08/just-be-thankful/) - When we discovered that the case of children's DVDs was stolen from our car, gratitude was not my immediate response. Irritation and anger, maybe, but not gratitude. With a ten hour car ride looming in a couple of weeks, I knew how much smoother the trip would go if the boys had something to hold
- [Chase That Dream](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/08/chase-that-dream/) - For a long time, I thought being a mom meant I wasn't allowed to pursue other dreams and aspirations. It felt selfish and irresponsible to spend time and money on myself. And who has time to chase after an occupation that doesn't pay the bills, when the kids are still little and the laundry never
- [Remember the Passion of the Beginning](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/08/remember-the-passion-of-the-beginning/) - Take off is always my favorite part of the flight. The force of gravity pulling my body back against the seat. Trees and land masses becoming vague shapes and specks in the distance. We begin. Anticipation of what lies ahead fills me, and everything seems right with the world. But inevitably, midway through the flight
- [On Writing and New Friends](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/07/on-writing-and-new-friends/) - Two days ago, I walked away from an experience that changed my life. For the first time, I was surrounded by over eight hundred women who not only understood my desire to write, but matched my passion and yearning to fulfill the dream to write or speak. I was overwhelmed. I was in awe of
- [When You Feel Like No One Understands You](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/07/when-you-feel-like-no-one-understands-you/) - When I was growing up, the Cheers theme song could have been the theme song for my life. I wanted to go where everyone knew my name. Where our troubles were all the same. For a long time, I felt like no one knew who I was or understood anything about me. I was not
- [Time to Rest](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/07/time-to-rest/) - I've had a still-in-my-pajamas-at-noon kind of day. The hubby is out of town for the week, my little ones have been stretching me in new ways that I never even knew existed, and I'm so tired and overwhelmed that the idea of cutting up veggies to make myself a nice salad sounded like too much
- [There's Glory Right Here in the Mess](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/07/theres-glory-right-here-in-the-mess/) - Our first family camping trip with our church friends began with a torrential downpour, which caused me to let go of any future expectations of how the weekend would go. Instead of complaining, we laughed. Three families huddled around a picnic table and ate soggy burgers under a leaking tarp. We made jokes. We took
- [When Your Faith Seems Small](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/07/when-your-faith-seems-small/) - Whenever my family travels via airplane, I always prepare for the worst-case-scenario and hope for the best. When I gave birth to our first child, we lived over two thousand miles away from all three sets of grandparents. So we did a lot of traveling. All of the binkies had to be in the
- [Freedom From Perfection](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/07/freedom-from-perfection/) - As I turn my face toward the glow of the digital alarm clock, I can almost hear the seconds ticking away. I will myself not to look at the time, not wanting to know the limited hours until I must wake my son for school. Instead of counting sheep, I talk to the Shepherd
- [Exhale Stress, Inhale Peace](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/07/exhale-stress-inhale-peace/) - I am awakened by my two-year-old's blood curdling cry around 2 A.M. Then again at 4 A.M. What is causing his sleeplessness? We don't know but we think it's night terrors. His sudden, inexplicable cries scream fear. As I walk into his room and he recognizes me, he calms slightly. When I pick him up
- [For the Woman Who Feels Like God is Disappointed in Her](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/07/for-the-woman-who-feels-like-god-is-disappointed-in-her/) - Did you know that the word "disappoint" or "disappointed" is never used in the Bible to describe God's feelings toward his children? This truth was revealed to me at a Beth Moore conference nearly a year ago. Go ahead, look it up on Bible Gateway if you like. And yet, so many times as followers of
- [Let Us Arm Ourselves With the Truth](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/06/let-us-arm-ourselves-with-the-truth/) - I do not consider myself a superstitious person. So when my five-year-old son's wind-up music box begins randomly playing around 3:30 in the morning, I look for a logical explanation. But the thing is, my husband and I can't find one. My child lays sound asleep in his bed. When my husband decides to kneel
- [Instead of Pulling Out Our Comparison Charts, Let's Give Each Other Grace Today](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/06/instead-of-pulling-out-our-comparison-charts-lets-give-each-other-grace-today/) - It never even occurred to me that other moms might be struggling too. Grace didn't cross my mind. A simple word that embodies so much, but one we so easily overlook, forget and brush away like yesterday's leftovers. During my first year as a mother, I so badly needed it. I looked at other moms
- [When You're Afraid to Let Go](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/06/when-youre-afraid-to-let-go/) - I do not typically remember my dreams. When I wake from sleep, whatever took place in my subconscious stays there, whether it be to my benefit or not. But there's one dream, or nightmare as it may be, that has stayed with me since I was a little girl. I am falling, flailing
- [Mom, Give Yourself a Little Grace Today](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/06/mom-give-yourself-a-little-grace-today/) - There are so many things that surprised me about motherhood; things that no one tells you in the What to Expect books. I knew the statistics for c-sections, but I didn't know I would actually grieve the loss of natural childbirth. I knew there would be sleepless nights, but I didn't foresee the loneliness and
- [Learning the Balancing Act of Motherhood](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/06/learning-the-balancing-act-of-motherhood/) - My oldest son is three when I watch him fall face first into the pool, an accident which could have cost him his life if adults were not nearby. He is fully clothed and without a flotation devise, trying to reach a toy that drifted away from him. Fortunately, my sister-in-law sees him immediately and
- [The Message Starts With the Messenger](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/06/the-message-starts-with-the-messenger/) - As I sit down in the recliner to pray, the connection seems distorted, like a amp with a loose wire. I try to focus, to let the words flow, but hundreds of thoughts pound through my head and make it difficult the talk to the one who can bring me peace. I sit there and
- [Grace Turns Darkness into Light](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/06/grace-turns-darkness-into-light/) - As the woman tells her testimony of suffering intermingled with redemption, a strange harmony, unlike any I've ever heard, emerges. I thirst for every word that comes from her mouth, eager to hear of this power that brings beauty out of ugliness. Continue reading... Today my beautiful friend, Meredith Bernard, has asked
- [When We Burn the Bridges to Our Future With Regret](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/06/when-we-burn-the-bridges-to-our-future-with-regret/) - As I watch the characters on the screen squander away their youth between binges of alcohol and substance, I have to look away. Images flash through my head like a negative reel. Years of my life I can never get back. I hear a voice that I know is not my Father's saying, "Look at
- [Unwrap the Gifts in Everyday Moments](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/06/unwrap-the-gifts-in-everyday-moments/) - One of my two-year-old's favorite words is one that I need to say more often: "thank you." He repeats it over and over until I acknowledge him with a simple response, delighted to hear me say it. How many times have I opened my hands to receive but never bothered to stop in a moment
- [While I Ate My Cereal This Morning, A Child Was Starving](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/06/while-i-ate-my-cereal-this-morning-a-child-was-starving/) - As I sat at the kitchen table eating my mini-wheats with my son this morning, I could not divert my mind from one thought: a child is starving. No, scratch that. Children are starving. Most of this world lives on a fragment of the paycheck my husband brings home every two weeks. Sherpas who risk their
- [Finding Joy in the Midst of the Messiness](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/06/finding-joy-in-the-midst-of-the-messiness/) - As I recline on the couch with the weight of my sick two-year-old's body on my chest, I feel unexpected gratitude. Not because he is feeling ill or because we may have to make another trip to the doctor. But as his slow breathing in and out falls into pace with mine, I realize how
- [For the Perfectionist Trying to Earn God's Love](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/05/for-the-perfectionist-trying-to-earn-gods-love/) - I am a perfectionist in recovery. When I was in school, nothing made me happier than seeing an A+ on my paper, followed by endless accolades from my teacher on a job well done. But even when I achieved the good grades and the praise from my mentors, nothing I did was enough. I
- [When the Woman in the Mirror Says, "You're Not Good Enough"](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/05/woman-in-the-mirror/) - I'm not sure when my negative self-talk started or how it became part of my inner monologue, but somehow those self-condemning thoughts worked their way into the recesses of my mind. Most of us have them from time to time. Those conversations with the person in the mirror. Where we talk ourselves out of doing
- [Hope for When God Doesn't Answer the "Why?"](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/05/when-god-doesnt-answer-the-why/) - As my five-year-old continued to ask the question, "Why?" over and over, I could feel my blood pressure rising. This phase started when he was three and hadn't stopped since. The only facet which changed was where his, "Why?" was directed. He had gone from asking about how things work to questioning our decisions about
- [Far But So Close](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/05/far-but-so-close/) - My family used to live so close I could throw a pinecone and almost hit their house. I would wake up in the morning to find them in my front yard, with my mom planting flowers and my dad mowing the grass. Because that is what they do. Their love language is acts of service
- [Beauty That Lasts](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/05/1027/) - If you asked me five things I would change about my personal appearance, I could name them without thinking twice. I truly believe that women are their own worst critics, and becoming a mother does not soften this trait. We live in a culture where women are constantly bombarded by images of what the perfect
- [When You Want to Be Right](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/05/when-you-want-to-be-right/) - As startled awake sometime after 3 AM, my anger was almost as palpable as the laminate floor. The air mattress which had been my bed for the past two nights was deflating rapidly since I'd failed to seal it properly. I clumsily got up and fastened the seal, inwardly counting the hours until I'd have
- [When Your Child is a Victim of Bullying](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/05/victim-of-bullying/) - As I listened to my son narrate his encounter with the bully from school, I tried to contain my emotion. I didn't want him to know how much this story upset me. If I followed my maternal instinct and showed tears, he would be even more bothered by the situation. I know that these types
- [Homesick](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/05/homesick/) - As I told my son to go to bed for the fifth time this Mother's Day evening, I reflected on how patient my mom was with me. How she never turned me away when I tiptoed into their bedroom at night, trying not to wake my Dad. How she'd scratch my back and my arm
- [What if We Laughed at the Future?](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/05/what-if-we-laughed-at-the-future/) - My fear of the public stage began when I was ten years old. It was my third piano recital, and I had practiced the piece until it was flawless. As the expanse of faces fixed their eyes on my tiny frame while I sat in the spotlight, I moved through the first verse effortlessly. Then
- [What We Moms Can Do For Each Other (Guest Post and Giveaway)](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/05/what-we-moms-can-do-for-each-other-guest-post-and-giveaway/) - Today I am featuring my first guest post in my little corner of the internet. One of my favorite bloggers, new author of a book every mom should read, and mother of three, Lisa-Jo Baker is sharing her words. She is like a long lost friend I never met. Her book has inspired me to embrace
- [When You Feel Complacent](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/05/when-you-feel-complacent/) - There is a spirit which lingers in the shadows and threatens to rock the very core of my faith, the values of my family, and the discipline of my children. It is not the spirit of pride or anger or selfishness. Although all of those things may result because if it. It is the spirit
- [What if Marriage Wasn't Designed to Make Us Happy?](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/04/what-if-marriage-wasnt-designed-to-make-us-happy/) - There's nothing like marriage to show you how selfish of a person you truly are. Outside of your parents and possibly a roommate, there are few people who are with you day in and day out, and see the good, bad, and all the in-between. The dirty laundry that's accumulated for days. The dishes piled
- [Are My Kids the Center of the Universe?](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/04/are-my-kids-the-center-of-the-universe/) - As I sat watching the well-known pastor on television, he stated something that made me start questioning my priorities. My husband should come before my kids. God first, husband second, kids third. I immediately began running different scenarios in my head of how our family did things. Were our kids the center of our universe?
- [Changed and Transformed](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/04/changed-and-transformed/) - As I thought about the list of things I wanted to accomplish over the next few months, my body was consumed with stress. It's a personal demon I've struggled against my entire life, and often when I think I've rid myself of him he pounces me in a corner when I'm least expecting it. I
- [The Thorn Called Envy](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/04/the-thorn-called-envy/) - I remember sitting in a MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) meeting several years ago, listening to a fellow leadership team member pray, and wishing I had to ability to speak to God in front of a large group with such eloquence. Her words were concise, yet filled with mercy and love for the mother she was
- [When You Want to Quit](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/04/when-you-want-to-quit/) - Sometimes I wish Jesus had said, "In this life you will have plenty of chocolate, rainbows, and nine hours of sleep each night." But He didn't. He said we'd have trouble. He guaranteed it. These past couple of weeks have reminded me that not only will problems arise, but my race is not finished yet.
- [The Glue That Binds](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/04/the-glue-that-binds/) - Did you know that He prayed for you? For me? Before I was ever a glimmer of life in my mother's eye, my Savior thought of me. He didn't pray that I'd have a trouble free life, that I'd make enough money to pay all the bills, or that I'd never experience heartbreak. He
- [What My Willful Child Taught Me](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/04/what-my-willful-child-taught-me/) - Before my second born entered the world, I laughed at the idea of having a strong-willed child. Moms would tell me stories of their children having meltdowns in the middle of grocery stores and stubbornly refusing to do anything and everything they asked them to do, and I would nod and listen, secretly wondering why
- [The Master Painter](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/04/the-master-painter/) - It's Friday. Where hundreds of writers gather every week to stop being their own worst critic and just write. One word. Five minutes flat. No hyper-editting or backtracking. Just for the sheer joy of it. Won't you join us? Click the button at the bottom of this post to learn more. Today's word: Painter GO:
- [Love Looks Deeper](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/04/love-looks-deeper/) - Have you ever met someone with whom you felt an instant connection? A friendship was formed with little or no hesitation, and you went on to share stories about your aspirations, your disappointments, and the ordinary routines of your life? I have experienced this type of bond. But it is oh so rare. With my
- [Five Minute Friday: Writer](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/04/five-minute-friday-writer/) - It's Friday again (or in my case, Saturday) where hundreds of brave writers gather each week over Lisa-Jo Baker's blog write for five minutes flat on one word. No hyper-editting. No backtracking. Just real, unscripted writing. Won't you join us? Today's word: Writer GO: Being a writer is a dream that started when I was
- [Forgiving the Unforgivable](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/04/forgiving-the-unforgivable/) - As I sat cradled in the branches of the oak tree late that summer afternoon over twenty years ago, forgiveness was the last thing on my mind. Confusion, shame, fear…all of these emotions stirred within, creating a strange combination that made me want to vomit. A piece of my innocence was stolen that day. What
- [Surprised By Motherhood](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/03/surprised-by-motherhood/) - Since the day my first son was born, motherhood has been full of irony and contradictions. I told myself I would give a natural birth and avoid an epidural, but a few hours into labor decided the anesthesiologist was my new best friend. I envisioned myself pushing and bearing my child into the world, but
- [Mighty in the Chaos](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/03/mighty-in-the-chaos/) - Today I'm joining hundreds of other writers to write for five minutes flat about one word. No hyper-editting. No backtracking. Loving and encouraging your fellow writers. Won't you join us over here? Today's word: mighty Nothing makes this mama of two boys feel more inadequate than when five o' clock rolls around, I'm trying
- [When the Answer Doesn't Come](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/03/when-the-answer-doesnt-come/) - As I lifted my dear family up in prayer one day in late September, my words seem to reverberate off the ceiling and back down to me. I couldn't remember how long I'd been praying for him. Days, months, years, decades? Was I crazy to continue petitioning God for an answer that may never come?
- [Undiluted Joy](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/03/undiluted-joy/) - Today I'm joining hundreds of other writers to write for five minutes flat about one word. No hyper-editting. No backtracking. Loving and encouraging your fellow writers. Won't you join us over here? Today's word: joy GO: When I was fifteen years old, I met a boy who challenged everything I ever knew about joy. I
- [A Bravo from One Mom to Another](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/03/a-bravo-from-one-mom-to-another/) - Today I am using my blog to do something I've never done before: to promote another blogger's book. Lisa-Jo Baker is the creator of one of my favorite websites, and has just authored her first memoir, which will be released April 1. Although I've only read the first three chapters, I can already tell this
- [When You Face Rejection](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/03/when-you-face-rejection/) - As I perused the publisher's rejection letter, I felt like I was in middle school gym class all over again, waiting for one of the team captains to call my name. The words "unable to place" and "good luck" stood out in crisp contrast to the white of the page. Although this wasn't the first time,
- [Mirror of An Inward State](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/03/mirror-of-an-inward-state/) - As move through the Lent season, today I am partnering with my sisters over at She Reads Truth to take a look at a penitential Psalm from David, Psalm 38. Have you ever experienced a season in life when everything is going is wonderfully and you give yourself a pat on the back for a
- [When Doubt Rears Its Shadow](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/03/when-doubt-rears-its-shadow/) - photo courtesy of lindabutlerphoto.comWhat if self doubt didn't have the final say? I wondered as my fingers hovered over the mouse board, dancing with the idea of attending my first writer's conference. My husband and usual sounding board was away on a business trip, so I sat there for ten minutes having an inner monologue.
- [Are You Willing?](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/03/are-you-willing/) - It's Friday. Where hundreds of writers come together every week over at the lovely Lisa-Jo Baker's blog to spend five minutes writing about one thing. One word. No hyper-editing. No getting in your own way. Just writing, flat out. The most important rule: encourage the writer who linked up before you. Won't you join us?GO:The question was
- [Never Enough Time?](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/03/never-enough-time/) - There is a phrase I often hear come out of the mouths of moms. "I wish there were more hours in the day." Or, "I wish I had more time…" I've muttered something similar more times than I can count, and often find myself looking at the clock wondering where the day has gone. Sometimes
- [A Constant Struggle](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/02/a-constant-struggle/) - It's Friday. Where hundreds of writers come together every week over at the lovely Lisa-Jo Baker's blog to spend five minutes writing about one thing. One word. No hyper-editing. No getting in your own way. Just writing, flat out. The most important rule: encourage the writer who linked up before you. Won't you join us?Today's word: chooseGO:Each
- [Doing "A New Thing" When You're Proud and Scared](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/02/doing-a-new-thing-when-youre-proud-and-scared/) - I want to share a little secret with you, my readers. My friends who I receive so much encouragement from day in and day out. I've stated before that one of the main reasons I waited so long to start a blog was fear. And this is painfully true. But it was also pride. You see,
- [Small Glimpses of His Glory](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/02/small-glimpses-of-his-glory/) - It's Friday. Where hundreds of writers come together every week over at the lovely Lisa-Jo Baker's blog to spend five minutes writing about one thing. One word. No hyper-editing. No getting in your own way. Just writing, flat out. The most important rule: encourage the writer who linked up before you. Won't you join us?Today's word: smallGO:It
- [Toward the Light](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/02/toward-the-light/) - Darkness. It is a setting which existed even before the formation of the earth. Before there was light to oppose it, to shine into it. Before the two entities were separate, there was only dark. It only takes the tiniest bit of light to penetrate the dark. A candle, a flashlight. A kind word or an unexpected
- [It Lies Beneath](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/02/it-lies-beneath/) - It's Friday. Where hundreds of writers come together every week over at the lovely Lisa-Jo Baker's blog to spend five minutes writing about one thing. One word. No hyper-editing. No getting in your own way. Just writing, flat out. The most important rule: encourage the writer who linked up before you. Won't you join us?Today's word: gardenGO:It
- [To My Valentine](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/02/to-my-valentine/) - To the man I married:You are kind and compassionate. You put others needs above your own, and have an innate sense of knowing when someone needs help but is afraid or too proud to ask.You are a hard working man of integrity. When no one else is dependable, you are the person who rises up and completes
- [Just Write](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/02/just-write/) - It's Friday. Where hundreds of writers come together every week over at the lovely Lisa-Jo Baker's blog to spend five minutes writing about one thing. One word. No hyper-editing. No getting in your own way. Just writing, flat out. The most important rule: encourage the writer who linked up before you. Won't you join us?Today's word: writeGO:I
- [Forever a Superhero](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/02/forever-a-superhero/) - It's Friday. Where hundreds of writers come together every week over at the lovely Lisa-Jo Baker's blog to spend five minutes writing about one thing. One word. No hyper-editing. No getting in your own way. Just writing, flat out. The most important rule: encourage the writer who linked up before you. Won't you join us?Today's word: HeroGO:He
- [Hope in the Unseen](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/01/hope-in-the-unseen/) - This past week has been one of the most emotionally draining I've experienced in a while. I wrote in one of my posts from last week that I'd been experiencing an inner turmoil of sorts, like I was waiting for something to happen. And something has. Nothing that I ever would have hoped for or imagined,
- [Last Visit](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/01/last-visit/) - It's Friday. Where hundreds of writers come together every week over at the lovely Lisa-Jo Baker's blog to spend five minutes writing about one thing. One word. No hyper-editing. No getting in your own way. Just writing, flat out. The most important rule: encourage the writer who linked up before you. Won't you join us?Today's word: visitGO:Today
- [Restless in the Wait](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/01/restless-in-the-wait/) - My mom is on a purge cycle that has lasted for the past few, oh I don't know, years? She likes to go through their attic and mail me her findings from my school years. Most of the things she sends me I look at, think, "Why?" and throw in the trash. Moving as much
- [Outside of Yourself](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/01/outside-of-yourself/) - It's Friday. Where hundreds of writers come together every week over at the lovely Lisa-Jo Baker's blog to spend five minutes writing about one thing. One word. No hyper-editing. No getting in your own way. Just writing, flat out. The most important rule: encourage the writer who linked up before you. Won't you join us?Today's word: EncouragementGO:I
- [Sharing it All](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/01/sharing-it-all/) - I lost count of the number of unfinished books I have sitting on the shelves and in the library tab of my Nook. Oh, I've finished plenty at some point or another. But it's crazy to think of how many I've opened, excited by the smell of the newness of it or the title glowing
- [Do You See?](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/01/do-you-see/) - It's Friday. Where hundreds of writers come together every week over at the lovely Lisa-Jo Baker's blog to spend five minutes writing about one thing. One word. No hyper-editing. No getting in your own way. Just writing, flat out. The most important rule: encourage the writer who linked up before you. Won't you join us?Today's prompt: SeeGO:It
- [Clearing the Clutter](https://abbymcdonald.org/2014/01/clearing-the-clutter/) - Replenish me with your living water, O God.I love the ambiance of the Christmas tree and the quiet glow of the decorations that surround the house during December, but honestly, I also love the way the house feels after I take it all down. Uncluttered. Returned to it's normal state. More spacious. Our tree was
- [Coming Home](https://abbymcdonald.org/2013/12/coming-home/) - Two days ago we made the 545 mile trip down to my hometown, Irmo, SC. Me and my little family. Every time it amazes me how well our boys travel. They watch movies. Jaden plays with his Mobi-go. They make imaginary monster truck tracks on their arm rests and legs and have a rally full of sound
- [Is God Enough?](https://abbymcdonald.org/2013/12/is-god-enough/) - I've walked the road of trying to fill myself with things other than God many, many times. And every time, I have failed. Whether it be staying busy, shopping for clothes I didn't need, or having one more drink, nothing sustained me and filled me like the grace and love God poured into my life
- [From Daydream to Reality](https://abbymcdonald.org/2013/12/from-daydream-to-reality/) - Exploring God's creation always offers excellent opportunities for daydreaming.A couple of years ago when my family was living in northern Utah I took a creative writing course at a local arts council which was taught by a published author. On the first day he gave us ten steps to be an effective writer and make writing a
- [The Wonder of Christmas](https://abbymcdonald.org/2013/11/the-wonder-of-christmas/) - As the holiday season approaches, it can be easy to get lost in the clamor of finding the right gift for everyone on your list. I remember when I was little, it used to seem as though Christmas would never get here and now that I'm an adult with two kids I often find myself
- [What Would You Do?](https://abbymcdonald.org/2013/11/what-would-you-do/) - Today I am participating in Proverbs 31 Ministries' blog hop as we study Renee Swope's book, A Confident Heart.This is an online Bible study which will take place over the next four weeks.For today's topic I'm writing about some of my God given dreams.As I state in my bio, writing has been a passion of mine for
- [I Am Not](https://abbymcdonald.org/2013/11/i-am-not/) - Today I am participating in Proverbs 31 Ministries' blog hop as we study Renee Swope's book, A Confident Heart.This is an online Bible study which will take place over the next five weeks.For today's topic I chose an experience where I felt like a failure and responded with a resounding #IAmNot.I am a far better writer
- [Unpacking John 1:12](https://abbymcdonald.org/2013/11/unpacking-john-112/) - Today I am participating in Proverbs 31 Ministries' blog hop as we study A Confident Heart by Renee Swope. This is an online Bible Study which will be taking place over the next six weeks.For this week's topic I am unpacking John 1:12. In other words, taking a closer look at this verse and telling you what it's meant
- [Moving Past Mom-Fail Moments](https://abbymcdonald.org/2013/10/moving-past-mom-fail-moments/) - Today I am participating in Proverbs 31 Ministries' blog hop as we study A Confident Heart by Renee Swope. This is an online Bible Study which will be taking place over the next seven weeks.The topic I chose for this post is a #movingforward story.This week I had one of those epic mom fail moments. You see, for those
- [A Path to Surrender](https://abbymcdonald.org/2013/10/a-path-to-surrender/) - Today I am participating in Proverbs 31 Ministries' blog hop as we study A Confident Heart by Renee Swope. This is an online Bible Study which will be taking place over the next eight weeks.This post's topic is the point when I fully surrendered my life to Christ. Renee talks about this experience in her own life throughout chapter
- [At the Well](https://abbymcdonald.org/2013/10/at-the-well/) - Today I am participating in Proverbs 31 Ministries' blog hop as we study A Confident Heart by Renee Swope. This is an online Bible Study which will be taking place over the next nine weeks. For today's blog hop topic I read chapter 2 of Renee's book and looked at the story of the Samaritan woman
- [Anything But Ordinary](https://abbymcdonald.org/2013/10/anything-but-ordinary/) - It's Friday. (Well, actually for me it's Monday) Where hundreds of writers come together every week over at the lovely Lisa-Jo Baker's blog to spend five minutes writing about one thing. One word. No hyper-editing. No getting in your own way. Just writing, flat out. The most important rule: encourage the writer who linked up before you.
- [Welcome the Silence](https://abbymcdonald.org/2013/10/welcome-the-silence/) - The beach...one of my favorite places to enjoy silence. Just the waves and the breeze.This tired mama has been sick for the past five days with some sort of viral infection which ended with laryngitis. So, for the past two days I've been unable to speak except for in a whisper or short, raspy spurts.
- [Prayer for Just Legislation](https://abbymcdonald.org/2013/10/prayer-for-just-legislation/) - Today I am joining Lysa Terkeurst and Proverbs 31 Ministries in 31 days of prayer to stop human trafficking. Please join me. Click the link above for details on this opportunity to come before God seeking an end to an awful violence which is taking place in our own cities.photo courtesy of eofdreams.comOur Father in Heaven, I
- [Where is Home?](https://abbymcdonald.org/2013/10/where-is-home/) - The place we now call "home"Lately I've thought a lot about how a person defines home. Many would say it's the place where they grew up, or the place they've lived their entire lives. Some have moved all over the country from a very young age, whether it be because their family is military or
- [Five Minute Friday: True](https://abbymcdonald.org/2013/09/five-minute-friday-true/) - It's Friday. Where hundreds of writers come together every week over at the lovely Lisa-Jo Baker's blog to spend five minutes writing about one thing. One word. No hyper-editing. No getting in your own way. Just writing, flat out. The most important rule: encourage the writer who linked up before you. Won't you join us?photo courtesy of
- [When Your Patience is Tested](https://abbymcdonald.org/2013/09/when-your-patience-is-tested/) - My inquisitive five-year-old. He has his Daddy's engineering brain.We had family photos taken the other day. The shoot was on a farm out in the middle of nowhere, and although the scenery was beautiful and the weather was perfect, I found myself trying very hard not to get lost on the way there. My husband
- [Five Minute Friday: She](https://abbymcdonald.org/2013/09/five-minute-friday-she/) - It's Friday. Where hundreds of writers come together every week over at the lovely Lisa-Jo Baker's blog to spend five minutes writing about one thing. One word. No hyper-editing. No getting in your own way. Just writing, flat out. The most important rule: encourage the writer who linked up before you. Won't you join us?photo courtesy of
- [No Longer a Slave](https://abbymcdonald.org/2013/09/no-longer-a-slave/) - photo courtesy of www.popscreen.comLast Saturday I had the privilege of attending my first Beth Moore Living Proof Live simulcast. After my experience, it definitely will not be the last. There are people in this life whose anointing of the Spirit is so evident, so transparent, that it moves you to tears. Beth Moore is one
- [Five Minute Friday: Mercy](https://abbymcdonald.org/2013/09/five-minute-friday-mercy/) - It's Friday. Where hundreds of writers come together every week over at the lovely Lisa-Jo Baker's blog to spend five minutes writing about one thing. One word. No hyper-editing. No getting in your own way. Just writing, flat out. The most important rule: encourage the writer who linked up before you. Won't you join us?photo courtesy of
- [Mess or Masterpiece?](https://abbymcdonald.org/2013/09/mess-or-masterpiece/) - A few months ago my friend Misty and I met for an impromptu play date at the park. As we were chasing our kids around, she asked me a question that made me chuckle. "So what do you do all day?" It's a question we often ask ourselves as mothers, but not many are brave
- [Five Minute Friday: Red](https://abbymcdonald.org/2013/09/five-minute-friday-red/) - It's Friday. Where hundreds of writers come together every week over at the lovely Lisa-Jo Baker's blog to spend five minutes writing about one thing. One word. No hyper-editing. No getting in your own way. Just writing, flat out. The most important rule: encourage the writer who linked up before you. Won't you join us?Today's prompt: RedGO:As
- [When You Feel Insulted](https://abbymcdonald.org/2013/09/when-you-feel-insulted/) - Last week my oldest started kindergarten. It was a big transition for our family, so I dealt with it by keeping myself busy for the entire day, which wasn't hard to do since we were leaving for a five hundred mile trip to my brother-in-law's wedding the next day. It was a rainy, dreary day
- [Five Minute Friday: Worship](https://abbymcdonald.org/2013/08/five-minute-friday-worship/) - It's Friday. Where hundreds of writers come together every week over at the lovely Lisa-Jo Baker's blog to spend five minutes writing about one thing. One word. No hyper-editing. No getting in your own way. Just writing, flat out. The most important rule: encourage the writer who linked up before you. Won't you join us?photo courtesy of
- [Whatever is Lovely](https://abbymcdonald.org/2013/08/whatever-is-lovely/) - I've just had one those weeks. Those weeks when you have so much on your plate and you don't know how you're going to get it all done, but don't see any way of removing anything from the packed schedule. The school orientation, the soccer practices, and the emotions which spin around the major milestone
- [Five Minute Friday: Last](https://abbymcdonald.org/2013/08/five-minute-friday-last/) - It's Friday. Where hundreds of writers come together every week over at the lovely Lisa-Jo Baker's blog to spend five minutes writing about one thing. One word. No hyper-editing. No getting in your own way. Just writing, flat out. The most important rule: encourage the writer who linked up before you. Won't you join us?Today's prompt: LastGO:We
- [Letting Go](https://abbymcdonald.org/2013/08/letting-go/) - I am a worrier. During periods of my life when there are a lot of changes taking place, I often have nights of little to no sleep. My mind races. I go through thousands of different scenarios in my head of things that could happen. Things that could go wrong. The "what ifs." My thoughts
- [Five Minute Friday: Small](https://abbymcdonald.org/2013/08/five-minute-friday-small/) - It's Friday. Where hundreds of writers come together every week over at the lovely Lisa-Jo Baker's blog to spend five minutes writing about one thing. One word. No hyper-editing. No getting in your own way. Just writing, flat out. The most important rule: encourage the writer who linked up before you. Won't you join us?Today's prompt: SmallGO:Sometimes
- [Things I Don't Post on Facebook](https://abbymcdonald.org/2013/08/things-i-dont-post-on-facebook/) - I have entered uncharted waters with my boys, and they are very turbulent at times. These are the moments I don't share on Facebook. Facebook is my place for sharing the "highlights" of my sons' lives. The fuzzy, cuddly, Hallmark moments, such as this picture of the two of them reading together. I live for
- [Five Minute Friday: Lonely](https://abbymcdonald.org/2013/08/five-minute-friday-lonely/) - It's Friday. Where hundreds of writers come together every week over at the lovely Lisa-Jo Baker's blog to spend five minutes writing about one thing. One word. No hyper-editing. No getting in your own way. Just writing, flat out. The most important rule: encourage the writer who linked up before you. Won't you join us?Today's prompt: LonelyGO:I know
- [Blood, Water, and other Adages](https://abbymcdonald.org/2013/08/blood-water-and-other-adages/) - Sometimes I wonder where sayings come from. As an English major, the origin of different words, figures of speech and the like always fascinates me. There's an old saying I've heard a lot lately, and I have to be honest. I really dislike it. We've all heard it at some point, I'm sure. "Blood runs
- [Five Minute Friday: Story](https://abbymcdonald.org/2013/08/five-minute-friday-story/) - It's Friday. Where hundreds of writers come together every week over at the lovely Lisa-Jo Baker's blog to spend five minutes writing about one thing. One word. No hyper-editing. No getting in your own way. Just writing, flat out. The most important rule: encourage the writer who linked up before you. Won't you join us?Today's prompt: storyGO:My story
- [Bottling a Moment](https://abbymcdonald.org/2013/07/bottling-a-moment/) - My boys spent the better part of an afternoon playing with a drain hole. Not with toys, not bouncing in around in the shaded float I bought for my one year old, but pouring water into a drain hole and removing the cover. And they were absolutely delighted by it. A simple activity. Two brothers.
- [Five Minute Friday: Broken](https://abbymcdonald.org/2013/07/five-minute-friday-broken/) - It's Friday. Where hundreds of writers come together every week over at the lovely Lisa-Jo Baker's blog to spend five minutes writing about one thing. One word. No hyper-editing. No getting in your own way. Just writing, flat out. Won't you join us?Today's prompt: BrokenI thought I could mend myself. I would stop chasing the wrong boy.
- [Inviting in the One Who Can Change a Life](https://abbymcdonald.org/2013/07/inviting-in-the-one-who-can-change-a-life/) - He is my rocket. My firecracker. My never-stops-moving, easily excitable, constantly curious, and very defiant Gabe. Gabriel, as the Hebrew calls him, strong man of God. Our choice of a name for him was very deliberate, as the stories of this archangel have brought a depth of understanding to some of the mysteries in the
- [Five Minute Friday: Belong](https://abbymcdonald.org/2013/07/five-minute-friday-belong/) - Five Minute Friday is an amazing opportunity, started by Lisa-Jo Baker, for some brave writers to come together every Friday and spend five minutes writing about the same thing. No hyper-editting, no being a stickler about grammar, just five minutes of your best uninhibited writing when you stay out of your own way. The most
- [Pursuit of the Unknown](https://abbymcdonald.org/2013/07/pursuit-of-the-unknown/) - I am in a period of waiting right now. You see, I have a couple of manuscripts, one fiction and one non-fiction, that are in the hands of publishers. Although I know there's a good chance that both will be declined, I still have a sense of hope, anticipation, wondering, and an endless thought train
- [Five Minute Friday: Present](https://abbymcdonald.org/2013/07/five-minute-friday-present/) - Living in the present. Something that is so hard to do. For one thing, time never stops moving forward. With never-ending frequency, it keeps ticking along, moving us forward even when we would rather stay stationary just for a moment, long enough to catch our breath and take in the sights, sounds, and aromas
- [Acceptance Instead of Judgement](https://abbymcdonald.org/2013/07/acceptance-instead-of-judgement/) - Being a mom was not something I fantasized about as a child, or even as a teenager. Becoming a wife, maybe… but I don't ever remember daydreaming about motherhood. When our first child was born, my husband, having a sister who is 13 years younger, knew more about taking care of babies than I did.
- [Five Minute Friday: Beautiful](https://abbymcdonald.org/2013/07/five-minute-friday-beautiful/) - I love being outside when the sunset begins. All of the foliage and the mountains off in the distance get an orange glow about them and a nice breeze sets in. Everything gets this sense of wonderment about it. Still time for one last walk with the dogs, with the little one in
- [Five Minute Friday: In Between](https://abbymcdonald.org/2013/06/five-minute-friday-in-between/) - I wake up to the sight of my son's smiling face, just inches away from mine. I'm still in-between the state of dreaming and reality, trying to will myself to keep my eye's open and sluggishly get out of our comfortable bed. "Go potty" are the only words I can get to come out of my mouth. And
- [A Thankful Heart](https://abbymcdonald.org/2013/06/a-thankful-heart/) - I love listening to my oldest son pray. Often he'll just recite prayers we've taught him, but every now and then he'll be spontaneous and speak to God from the heart, and I get a chance to see just how grateful he is for the little things we often take for granted as adults. He
- [Keep it Simple](https://abbymcdonald.org/2013/06/keep-it-simple/) - Sometimes it amazes me how different my two boys are. Like night and day, I tell some people. How two children who came from the same gene pool, being raised by the same two parents, could have such contrasting personalities. One of the differences that is still emerging is their love languages, and while I'm
- [From Fear to Trust](https://abbymcdonald.org/2013/06/from-fear-to-trust/) - About a week ago I learned something new about my oldest son, Jaden. He is afraid of heights. It was interesting because he had never displayed this phobia before, and yet there it was, completely obvious to me and my husband, Chris. We were taking a walk in a nearby state park and had stopped
- [My Plans vs. God's](https://abbymcdonald.org/2013/06/my-plans-vs-gods/) - In the weeks leading up to the arrival of my first son, I had a birth plan. Although I never actually wrote it down, it was in my head. I would have a natural delivery. I would make every attempt to avoid an epidural. I would breastfeed. I was a strong woman who would do

## Pages

- [About](https://abbymcdonald.org/about/) - Welcome to my little space on the internet. I am so glad you are here, and hope you will stay around for a while. I am a wife and a mom of two energetic boys and one sweet girl - our surprise to wrap up our family. Although I’m a Southerner by birth, I’ve become
- [Self-Editing Guide](https://abbymcdonald.org/editing/) - Ever wish you had your own personal editor? It helps to have fresh eyes on our work. Editors and beta readers can point out mistakes we may not see, and provide a new perspective. But what about when we're on a time crunch? What if we can afford to pay a professional editor? By asking
- [Surrendering Certainty](https://abbymcdonald.org/surrendering-certainty/) - Hearing God Today by Letting Go of Tomorrow Do you feel stuck in a decision you need to make, doubting your ability to hear from God? Do you sense that He is prompting you to take a step of faith, but you're waiting for another sign? Friend, I know what it's like to spend more
- [Shift](https://abbymcdonald.org/shift/) - Changing Our Focus to See the Presence of God If we want to see God in the midst of our struggles, we have to change the way we look for him. There is no denying that miracles, answers to prayer, and abundant blessings testify to God’s presence. When the desires of our hearts are filled,
- [The Shift Your Focus Playlist](https://abbymcdonald.org/the-shift-your-focus-playlist/) - Sometimes we need a little help to shift our focus from the problems of this life to the promises of God. Throughout scripture, we see followers of God using a specific tactic to defeat the enemy's lies and schemes: They worship God right in the middle of the chaos and struggle. I created this custom
- [The 5 Days to Life Unstuck Challenge](https://abbymcdonald.org/the-5-days-to-life-unstuck-challenge/) - Are there areas of your life where you can't seem to find breakthrough? Do you feel as though your keep praying the same prayers over and over, but you're not getting anywhere? Friend, I get it. I have been there too, and for a season I wondered why I wasn't living the full life Paul
- [Coaching & Resources](https://abbymcdonald.org/resources/) - Coaching You want to write, but you feel like your message has already been shared a hundred times before. Book a free 30-minute discovery call Or perhaps you wonder, “Who am I to share this? What are people going to think?” I know how defeating these thoughts can be because I’ve had them too.
- [The Daughter's Manifesto](https://abbymcdonald.org/the-daughters-manifesto/) - It's difficult for us to understand God's grace, isn't it? Everything in us says we need to do something to earn it or keep it. And yet, God wants to give it to us freely. As a result, our lives are transformed and we want to walk with Him. I wrote The Daughter's Manifesto for
- [Affiliate Disclosure](https://abbymcdonald.org/affiliate-disclosure/) - Hi friends! Here at abbymcdonald.org, my goal is help you see the hope of Christ in the middle of life's messes. I believe it is possible to see him in the midst of the storm, the valley and the struggle, but we have to change the way we look for him. There are a number
- [Media & Speaking](https://abbymcdonald.org/speaking/) - Bio Abby McDonald is a writer at heart, but she also loves to speak, teach, and do interviews on living a life of faith and the craft of writing. One of Abby’s greatest desires is to show women that their identity is shaped by Christ alone, not the constant noise of the world. She knows the
- [Waiting Well](https://abbymcdonald.org/waiting-well-challenge/) - A 5-day Challenge to Get Unstuck During the In-Between Most of us see the wait as a stuck place. A place where we want to see God move, but don’t. A place where we want to move forward, but can’t. What if we can? During the Waiting Well Challenge beginning March 4, we will discuss
- [Privacy Tools](https://abbymcdonald.org/privacy-tools/) - [gdpr_privacy_tools]
- [Contact](https://abbymcdonald.org/contact/) - Thanks for stopping by! I would love to hear from you. Please use the form below to contact me. By submitting this form, you are granting us permission to retain your personal information for the purpose of contacting you and/or providing services to you. View our Privacy Policy here.
- [Privacy Policy](https://abbymcdonald.org/privacy-policy/) - EFFECTIVE DATE: MAY 19, 2018 Abby McDonald (“us”, “we”, or “our”) operates the https://abbymcdonald.org website (the “Service”). This page informs you of our policies regarding the collection, use, and disclosure of personal data when you use our Service and the choices you have associated with that data. We use your data to provide and improve
- [Blog](https://abbymcdonald.org/blog/)
- [Write 31 Days](https://abbymcdonald.org/write-31-days/) - Hello, friends! This page will be the home of all links to posts written for the 31 Day Writing Challenge, hosted by Crystal Stine. I hope you will join me and some of my favorite writers this October as we explore what it means to find true freedom in Christ and let go of patterns

## Soliloquy Sliders

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## Testimonials

- [Lisa Appelo](https://abbymcdonald.org/testimonials/lisa-appelo/) - "This book is for anyone who thinks knowing God’s voice to understand his guidance is either too murky or reserved for a spiritually select few. Surrendering Uncertainty unpacks practical, scripture-based insight to help us get unstuck and go where God leads. After watching Abby absolutely live out this book navigating big moves, career opportunities, and
- [Lois Flowers](https://abbymcdonald.org/testimonials/lois-flowers/) - "When it comes to following God’s plan for our lives, we often want to know exactly what the future holds, along with step-by-step instructions for how to make it happen. However, as Abby points out in Surrendering Certainty, hearing from God is less about future outcomes and more about present peace and obedience. If you’re
- [Alicia Bruxvoort](https://abbymcdonald.org/testimonials/alicia-bruxvoort/) - “Hearing and heeding the voice of God is the surest way I know to turn a weary faith walk into a wide-eyed adventure. That’s why I’m thankful for the message of Surrendering Certainty. With the warmth of a friend and the wisdom of a mentor, Abby McDonald demystifies the idea of hearing from God and
- [Doris Swift](https://abbymcdonald.org/testimonials/doris-swift/) - "In Surrendering Certainty: Hearing God Today by Letting Go of Tomorrow, Abby McDonald helps us discover true contentment in our right-now moments through surrendering our need for next-step certainty to God. McDonald beautifully weaves engaging personal stories and solid biblical truth throughout the pages showing us how to release our expectations for the clarity we think
- [Krissy Nelson](https://abbymcdonald.org/testimonials/krissy-nelson/) - "Abby McDonald writes with the warmth of a trusted friend and the wisdom of someone who has wrestled with the same doubts and fears we all face. Surrendering Certainty will have you laughing, reflecting, and learning to recognize God’s gentle guidance in the everyday. Through her own story, Abby invites readers to release the need for control,
- [Kristine Brown](https://abbymcdonald.org/testimonials/https-abbymcdonald-org-testimonials-kristine-brown-2/) - "Did I miss God?” I’ve asked myself this question many times. I make a shaky move in the direction I feel God leading me, but when things don’t go as expected, I wonder if I heard him right. Surrendering Certainty is the resource I’ve been waiting for. Through relatable stories and deep Scriptural insight, Abby
- [Karen Wingate](https://abbymcdonald.org/testimonials/karen-wingate/) - "How can I be certain I’m hearing God’s voice? Abby McDonald invites us to ask a better question: What keeps me from doing what God directs me to do? In this conversational and deeply personal short chapter book, Abby guides her readers to let go of the fear that keeps us from moving forward in faith,
- [Lyli Dunbar](https://abbymcdonald.org/testimonials/lyli-dunbar-2/) - "Reading Surrendering Certainty helped dispel all my fearful thoughts about taking the wrong next step and ruining my life. Abby invites her reader to ask the right questions and to rest in the certain faithfulness of our Heavenly Father. Every chapter is grounded in Biblical wisdom and provides practical guidance so that even indecisive people
- [Lyli Dunbar](https://abbymcdonald.org/testimonials/lyli-dunbar/) - "Abby comes alongside her reader like a safe friend inviting you to step out of the fog and see the road in front of you with new eyes. Her vulnerable stories reminded me God has not forgotten my heartache, and He is whispering grace over me even when my spiritual sight is limited. Shift will uplift
- [Kelly Balarie](https://abbymcdonald.org/testimonials/kelly-balarie/) - "In a world that is constantly vying for our attention, it can be hard to focus on the "One Thing" that most matters, God. Shift artfully met my heart with relatable stories, insightful scripture, and fresh perspectives, many beckoning me to come closer to Jesus. As I turned page-to-page, there were various times that I
- [Lisa Murray](https://abbymcdonald.org/testimonials/lisa-murray/) - "Perspective is everything. As Shift portrays, changing our focus is a gift that can empower a radical faith. Beneath her quiet, graceful demeanor, author McDonald emerges here as a dynamic writer with a powerful message about the necessity of seeking God’s presence in every season and situation of our lives. Inspiring readers with her own life stories
- [Jami Amerine](https://abbymcdonald.org/testimonials/jami-amerine/) - "Fresh and loving insight straight to the heart. Abby will stun you with her inspiring words anchored in Biblical truth. A lighthouse of Hope!"
- [Katie M. Reid](https://abbymcdonald.org/testimonials/katie-m-reid/) - "For those who question if God cares what they are going through, Abby McDonald's wise and thoughtful insights provide a perspective shift to discouraged hearts. Learn to hang on to hope through difficult circumstances as you see God's trustworthy nature displayed with each turn of the page."
- [Kelly O'Dell Stanley](https://abbymcdonald.org/testimonials/kelly-odell-stanley/) - "Abby McDonald’s heart for her readers shows through in every word. Genuine and gentle, she leads us to a place where we can shift our lenses to see God’s presence in all the moments: good, bad, and—especially—in between. Because as much as we like to focus on the highs and lows, God longs to meet us in
- [Kristine Brown](https://abbymcdonald.org/testimonials/kristine-brown/) - "As new believers or seasoned Christ-followers, we all have times when we struggle to maintain the right perspective. In Shift, Abby McDonald opens our eyes to the freedom found through a change in focus. Abby communicates as if she’s sitting right here in my living room. Her desire to help others grow in Christ can be

## Categories

- [Uncategorized](https://abbymcdonald.org/category/uncategorized/)
- [testimony](https://abbymcdonald.org/category/testimony/)
- [spiritual growth](https://abbymcdonald.org/category/spiritual-growth/)
- [family](https://abbymcdonald.org/category/family/)
- [five minute friday](https://abbymcdonald.org/category/five-minute-friday-2/)
- [faith](https://abbymcdonald.org/category/faith/)
- [writing](https://abbymcdonald.org/category/writing/)
- [aspirations](https://abbymcdonald.org/category/aspirations/)
- [motherhood](https://abbymcdonald.org/category/motherhood/)
- [moving](https://abbymcdonald.org/category/moving/)
- [friendship](https://abbymcdonald.org/category/friendship/)
- [judging others](https://abbymcdonald.org/category/judging-others/)
- [hope](https://abbymcdonald.org/category/hope/)
- [book reviews](https://abbymcdonald.org/category/book-reviews/)
- [giveaways](https://abbymcdonald.org/category/giveaways/)
- [condemnation](https://abbymcdonald.org/category/condemnation/)
- [spiritual renewal](https://abbymcdonald.org/category/spiritual-renewal/)
- [strength through christ](https://abbymcdonald.org/category/strength-through-christ/)
- [grace](https://abbymcdonald.org/category/grace/)
- [loving others](https://abbymcdonald.org/category/loving-others/)
- [making an impact](https://abbymcdonald.org/category/making-an-impact/)
- [fear](https://abbymcdonald.org/category/fear/)
- [pride](https://abbymcdonald.org/category/pride/)
- [discouragement](https://abbymcdonald.org/category/discouragement/)
- [freedom in christ](https://abbymcdonald.org/category/freedom-in-christ-2/)
- [comparison](https://abbymcdonald.org/category/comparison/)
- [guilt](https://abbymcdonald.org/category/guilt/)
- [change](https://abbymcdonald.org/category/change/)
- [God's love](https://abbymcdonald.org/category/gods-love/)
- [contentment](https://abbymcdonald.org/category/contentment/)
- [prayer](https://abbymcdonald.org/category/prayer/)
- [perseverance](https://abbymcdonald.org/category/perseverance/)
- [suffering](https://abbymcdonald.org/category/suffering/)
- [identity in christ](https://abbymcdonald.org/category/identity-in-christ/)
- [parenting](https://abbymcdonald.org/category/parenting/)
- [community](https://abbymcdonald.org/category/community/)
- [forgiveness](https://abbymcdonald.org/category/forgiveness/)
- [rejection](https://abbymcdonald.org/category/rejection/)
- [grief](https://abbymcdonald.org/category/grief/)
- [rest](https://abbymcdonald.org/category/rest/)
- [dreams](https://abbymcdonald.org/category/dreams/)
- [anxiety](https://abbymcdonald.org/category/anxiety/)
- [worry](https://abbymcdonald.org/category/worry/)
- [depression](https://abbymcdonald.org/category/depression/)
- [waiting](https://abbymcdonald.org/category/waiting/)
- [holidays](https://abbymcdonald.org/category/family/holidays/)

## Tags

- [Five Minute Friday](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/five-minute-friday/)
- [motherhood](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/motherhood/)
- [spiritual growth](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/spiritual-growth/)
- [family](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/family/)
- [testimony](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/testimony/)
- [faith](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/faith/)
- [writing](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/writing/)
- [forgiveness](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/forgiveness/)
- [friendship](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/friendship/)
- [relationships](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/relationships/)
- [prayer](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/prayer/)
- [love](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/love/)
- [the church](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/the-church/)
- [parenting](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/parenting/)
- [stress](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/stress/)
- [worry](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/worry/)
- [anxiety](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/anxiety/)
- [Christian living](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/christian-living/)
- [negative self-talk](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/negative-self-talk/)
- [perfectionism](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/perfectionism/)
- [joy](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/joy/)
- [gifts](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/gifts/)
- [gratitude](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/gratitude/)
- [grace](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/grace/)
- [surrender](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/surrender/)
- [trust](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/trust/)
- [community](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/community/)
- [freedom](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/freedom/)
- [God-sized dreams](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/god-sized-dreams/)
- [rest](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/rest/)
- [blessings](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/blessings/)
- [depression](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/depression/)
- [waiting](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/waiting/)
- [change](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/change/)
- [dreams](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/dreams/)
- [fears](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/fears/)
- [decisions](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/decisions/)
- [loneliness](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/loneliness/)
- [christmas](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/christmas/)
- [approval](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/approval/)
- [hospitality](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/hospitality/)
- [being brave](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/being-brave/)
- [God's love](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/gods-love/)
- [identity in christ](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/identity-in-christ/)
- [doubt](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/doubt/)
- [division in the church](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/division-in-the-church/)
- [people of the cross](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/people-of-the-cross/)
- [division in church](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/division-in-church/)
- [unity in church](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/unity-in-church/)
- [goals](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/goals/)
- [ministry](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/ministry/)
- [freedom in Christ](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/freedom-in-christ/)
- [carrying each other's burdens](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/carrying-each-others-burdens/)
- [#Write31Days](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/write31days/)
- [busyness](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/busyness/)
- [affirmation](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/affirmation/)
- [postpartum](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/postpartum/)
- [perseverance](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/perseverance/)
- [body of christ](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/body-of-christ/)
- [grief](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/grief/)
- [addiction](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/addiction/)
- [encouragement](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/encouragement/)
- [giveaways](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/giveaways/)
- [discouragement](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/discouragement/)
- [expectations of others](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/expectations-of-others/)
- [spiritual battle](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/spiritual-battle/)
- [loving our kids](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/loving-our-kids/)
- [transition](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/transition/)
- [suffering](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/suffering/)
- [fear](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/fear/)
- [women's rights](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/womens-rights/)
- [fear of abandonment](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/fear-of-abandonment/)
- [rejection](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/rejection/)
- [God's promises](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/gods-promises/)
- [self image](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/self-image/)
- [satisfaction](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/satisfaction/)
- [#expectations](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/expectations/)
- [#God](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/god/)
- [#vision](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/vision/)
- [#church](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/church/)
- [#hope](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/hope/)
- [#guilt](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/guilt/)
- [#identity](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/identity/)
- [#words](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/words/)
- [time](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/time/)
- [#WordsmithsCafe](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/wordsmithscafe/)
- [#God'sLove](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/godslove/)
- [#bookreviews](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/bookreviews/)
- [#sexualabuse](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/sexualabuse/)
- [#labels](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/labels/)
- [#growth](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/growth/)
- [#darkness](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/darkness/)
- [#emotions](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/emotions/)
- [#freedominchrist](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/freedominchrist/)
- [#death](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/death/)
- [#spiritualgrowth](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/spiritualgrowth/)
- [#comparison](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/comparison/)
- [#security](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/security/)
- [#busy](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/busy/)
- [#talents](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/talents/)
- [#purpose](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/purpose/)
- [#impact](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/impact/)
- [#daughters](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/daughters/)
- [#loveofGod](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/loveofgod/)
- [#idenity](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/idenity/)
- [#contentment](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/contentment/)
- [#sin](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/sin/)
- [#lies](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/lies/)
- [#disillusionment](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/disillusionment/)
- [#courage](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/courage/)
- [#unseen](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/unseen/)
- [#truth](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/truth/)
- [#lovingothers](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/lovingothers/)
- [#storms](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/storms/)
- [#winter](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/winter/)
- [#spiritualbattles](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/spiritualbattles/)
- [#voiceofGod #spiritualgrowth](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/voiceofgod-spiritualgrowth/)
- [#connectingwithGod](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/connectingwithgod/)
- [#selfdoubt](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/selfdoubt/)
- [#direction](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/direction/)
- [#faith](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/faith-2/)
- [#prayer](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/prayer-2/)
- [#makinganimpact](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/makinganimpact/)
- [#boundaries](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/boundaries/)
- [#timemanagement](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/timemanagement/)
- [#fear](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/fear-2/)
- [#perseverance](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/perseverance-2/)
- [#voiceofGod](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/voiceofgod/)
- [#Easter](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/easter/)
- [#waiting](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/waiting-2/)
- [#rejection](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/rejection-2/)
- [#christmas](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/christmas-2/)
- [holidays](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/holidays/)
- [God'svoice](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/godsvoice/)
- [#beloning](https://abbymcdonald.org/tag/beloning/)