From favorite colors and numbers to a surprising encounter with a fennec fox at the zoo, favorites have been a major topic of conversation at our house lately. But the theme followed me all the way to Duluth this weekend, where a live podcast with pro runners Des Linden and Kara Goucher and a shoe coincidence had me asking a deeper question: Does God have favorites?

While the world runs on popularity, performance, and status, Scripture tells us a completely different story about God's heart. In this episode, I’m sharing childhood memories of climbing my grandma’s lilac bushes, a funny incident involving hungry parakeets at the zoo, and a look at Romans 2:11. We are diving into five specific things the Bible says God actually delights in, and how understanding them helps us know His character so much better.

In this episode:

• The 48th birthday milestone and why the number 8 matters.

  
  

• Zoo stories: Hungry parakeets, alligator ponds, and finding a fennec fox.

  
  

• Serving on the race support crew in Duluth and a live podcast connection with Des Linden and Kara Goucher.

  
  

• The truth about Romans 2:11 and why God doesn't play favorites.

  
  

• Five things God explicitly delights in and what they reveal about His heart.

  
  

If you enjoyed this reflection, visit makemondaymatter.com for more.

...#faith #devotional #romans211 #bibleverse #christianliving #motherhood #spiritualgrowth #godscharacter #deslinden #karagoucher #brooksglycerin #grandmashalfmarathon #makemondaymatter

What if the ordinary stories you tell have a much bigger destination than you think? This past week at the camper, a random encounter in a grocery store checkout line left my nine-year-old retelling a 50-year-old moon landing story to anyone who would listen. It got me thinking about the lasting impact of the words we choose to share.

In this episode, we are looking at the book of Acts to see why the Apostle Paul repeated his testimony three different times. I'm also sharing my personal come-to-Jesus moment—and how God used a coworker's grocery store invitation to change my life, even when she didn't show up to the retreat herself! If you've ever felt like your story isn't interesting or important enough to share, this episode is a reminder that our job is simply to share what God has done and trust Him with the rest.

In this episode:

• A campground grocery run and a surprise connection to the 1969 moon landing.

• Why the Apostle Paul never got tired of repeating his testimony in the book of Acts.

• Full-circle moments: How working at a grocery store led to a life-changing retreat invitation.

• A reflection on Psalm 66:16 and overcoming the fear that your ordinary moments don't matter.

If you enjoyed this reflection, visit makemondaymatter.com for more.

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#faith #devotional #testimony #bookofacts #psalm66 #christianliving #sharingyourfaith #motherhood #roadtodamascus #camperlife #makemondaymatter

Leviticus has a reputation for being the exact spot where annual Bible reading plans go to die. It’s full of mind-fogging rules, overwhelming instructions, and endless lists. But as I turned the page to start handwriting this notorious book, a daily battle with my daughters over the sound of buzzing bees completely flipped my perspective.

In this episode, we talk about why I started handwriting the Bible back in April, how a stressful mistake at work gave me unexpected peace, and why God's intense attention to detail proves He isn't hands-off. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by life's mundane details or stuck in a dry season of faith, this reflection is for you.

In this episode:

• The backstory: Why I started handwriting the Bible in April.

• Brain fog and how we find exactly what we are looking for (the bee principle).

• Why God is like a meticulous doctor who refuses to skip the small details.

• The difference between a simple work mistake and the weight of separation.

• Finding immense gratitude for living on the other side of the cross.

If you enjoyed this reflection, visit makemondaymatter.com for more.

#faith #devotional #handwritingthebible #leviticus #biblereading #spiritualgrowth #christianliving #motherhood #attentiontodetail #makemondaymatter

What do you do when your perfectly planned schedule completely falls apart? The other week, a sudden phone call and an unexpected detour disrupted my entire morning. But what started as a stressful shift in plans turned into an early date for braces coming off, a forgotten rebate check put to great use, and a reminder of how God handles the details we can't see.

In this episode, I’m sharing the real life story of a 45-minute drive to Costco, a last-minute trip to a main orthodontist office, and how a missed opportunity for a deck fern found its way back to me. We’re looking at Proverbs 16:9 and learning how to take a breath and trust God’s timing when our own perfect days get completely shaken up.

In this episode:

• The monthly 45-minute Costco haul and the dread of the second checkout line.

• Navigating an unexpected dental scare and a last-minute school pickup.

• How a forgotten rebate check turned into a free fern and a gerbera daisy.

• A reflection on Proverbs 16:9 and why God's steps are always better than our plans.

  
  

If you enjoyed this reflection, visit makemondaymatter.com for more.

...#faith #devotional #proverbs169 #christianliving #motherhood #spiritualgrowth #costcohaul #plantmom #trustgod #makemondaymatter

A 7.5-hour road trip from Minnesota to Iowa for a graduation party led to a lot of family time, an intense game of tag, and a sudden wave of panic when a brand-new necklace charm went missing. While the adults gave up the search, a child's simple backseat prayer changed everything.

In this episode, I'm sharing the reality of surviving a long drive with car sickness, navigating a busy weekend as an introvert, and the reminder I needed from Matthew 18:3. We're looking at what it means to stop trying to fix things in our own strength and how to carry our worries to a God who cares about the small details.

In this episode:

• Road trip survival: Unlimited screen time, audiobooks, and car sickness.

• Surviving a high-energy weekend when your whole family is introverted.

• The panic of the lost charm and the adult assumption that it was gone for good.

• What a 9-year-old singing "Jesus Loves Me" teaches us about persistent prayer.

If you enjoyed this reflection, visit makemondaymatter.com for more.

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#faith #devotional #matthew183 #christianliving #prayer #motherhood #spiritualgrowth #roadtrip #introvertlife #makemondaymatter

From college "quote walls" and rotating scrapbooks to handwriting the book of Exodus, I'm realizing that we write things down because, quite frankly, we're forgetful. Whether it's an inside joke with roommates or a 2,400-entry gratitude journal, putting pen to paper changes how we remember our stories—and God's story.

In this episode, I’m talking about why God tells us to "remember" so often. We’re exploring how slowing down to write helps us hold onto the truth when life gets distracting.

In this episode:

• Evolution of a friendship: Quote walls, rotating scrapbooks, and group texts.
• My update on handwriting the Bible: Moving from Genesis into Exodus.
• Why God is a fan of stone tablets and memorials.
• The connection between my gratitude journal and remembering God's wonders.

If you enjoyed this reflection, visit makemondaymatter.com for more.#faith #devotional #handwritingthebible #psalm105 #spiritualgrowth #gratitude #motherhood #duluth #makemondaymatter

Digging out the summer clothes totes this week led to a realization: we spent a lot of time trying to squeeze into things that just don't fit anymore. Sometimes the discomfort we feel in our schedules or relationships isn't just a "growth spurt"—it's a sign that we are clinging to habits or identities that no longer fit who God is calling us to be.

In this episode, I’m talking about my own struggle with a nine-month running injury, what Jonah teaches us about the chaos of forcing our own plans, and why Isaiah 43:19 is the reminder we need when we're afraid to let go.

In this episode:

• Dealing with growth spurts and clothes that "technically" work but don't fit.

• Why we stubbornly cling to old seasons and schedules.

• Letting go of running and seeing what God put in its place.

• Learning to perceive the "new thing" God is doing.

If you enjoyed this reflection, visit makemondaymatter.com for more.

#faith #devotional #isaiah4319 #christianliving #growth #motherhood #spiritualgrowth #lettinggo #jonah #makemondaymatter

A few years ago, we traded vintage linoleum for luxury vinyl plank, and I quickly realized how much I love a floor that camouflages the everyday mess. But eventually, the morning sun hits just right, and suddenly every speck of dust and every little toe print shows up. What looked clean in the shadows gets exposed in the light.

In this episode, I’m sharing memories of my grandma’s "shoes off" rule in the house she built across the field from my childhood farm. We’re looking at Psalm 139:23–24 and why it’s so much better to let the "Son" shine on our mess than to keep trying to hide it in the shadows.

In this episode:

• Memories of my grandma’s protective "no trucks on the floor" rule.

• Why "clean enough" is usually just a matter of lighting.

• The reality of letting pride and impatience blend into the background.

• Learning to pray the hard prayer: "Search me, God."

If you enjoyed this reflection, visit makemondaymatter.com for more.

...#faith #devotional #psalm139 #christianliving #motherhood #spiritualgrowth #grandmashouse #makemondaymatter