Christian Living: Where faith and real-life intersect
When you you believe in Jesus Christ it permeates all areas of your life. From how to navigate politics, to loving others well. But what does it look like to be a christian? Here you will find stories, resources, and tips on how to navigate life as a believer and what that looks like in the every day mundane moments.
I used to believe that putting faith in God meant nothing wrong would ever happen to me. If I believed enough, then God would protect me from the pain and suffering of this world.
But when I learned what it meant to put true and complete faith in God, I discovered that pain and suffering were inevitable.
In today’s world, Christians in America are finding themselves divided on the topic of self-care. One side of the camp removes God entirely from the equation and preaches self-care is all about “me.” Then, on the other side, we treat sacrificial motherhood as THE epitome of a godly mother and wife, even if that means we lose ourselves in the process.
“Is self-care Christian” is the wrong question to ask. Instead, we should be asking whether Christians should practice self-care?
Do you ever have moments when you are angry at God? Moments where you are quick to point out what you think He should have done to help you in different life situations?
What do you do?
I tell Him why I’m angry.
How do you get your husband to help out around the house?
How do you encourage your husband to be a more involved dad?
How do you - insert all the things we wish our husbands would do?
These questions saturate the conversation whenever moms and wives get together. We are desperate for more help, desperate for involved husbands and fathers, but we don’t know what to say or do. And every attempt gets us pinned as nagging wives, and let’s be real, no one wants to be the nagging wife.
We want good husbands - good Christian husbands - so what do we do?
My spouse can take care of himself, you may be thinking as you came across this post, but my child cannot. And that’s 100% true. Our children depend on us for everything from the moment of conception.
They have genuine needs that go beyond food and shelter, but safety, comfort, and love, too. So why should a spouse come before a child? And how do we even make that happen?
In some ways, I wish I could say that my worries and anxiety were abnormal. Because if it were, then it would mean that very few mothers would suffer the agonizing “what if’s” that plague me. But that’s not the case.
It’s completely normal to be worried, nervous, or uneasy about something like pregnancy and motherhood. For most of us, it’s a case of new mom anxiety*. From the moment you become a mom, whether biological or through adoption, fear and anxiety is an ever-present factor in your life.
The natural response may be to try to accomplish all the things this past year has taken from us, but instead, I want to challenge us to focus on living 2021 with intention but without the hustle, and burnout, and misplaced priorities. I am not against New Year goals or resolutions, but we want to make sure we are doing them correctly, focusing on the things that matter long term.
Another year has come and gone, and I like to reflect on where we’ve been. In honor of the New Year, I am sharing the 5 most popular posts, determined by page views. Popular or “favorite” doesn’t always indicate the “best”, but then again, “best” is subjective. It was fun to compare this year’s list to the 5 from last year…. Only one post popped up on both lists. These might not be my favorite posts, but I can definitely see why they were your “favorite”!
10 Months…. That’s how long the U.S. has been affected by COVID-19 aka the Corona Virus, can you believe it? When we entered 2020, the roaring 20’s as some called it, we weren’t expecting to have our worlds rocked. Yet, that’s exactly what happened.
There is no doubt that 2020 has been a HARD year for many of us. A dark and impossible year, yet here we are nearing a new year with a future that is just as uncertain. The only difference is this time, we are prepared. We know (to an extent) what to expect.
Have you entered a new decade of life and thought back to how much you’ve grown? Reflecting on our past brings to mind many vital lessons in life. Some lessons are a lot bigger than others… Like when you lose a loved one. You realize how short life really is. You learn how every moment of our day matters and should be lived with intention.
Then, there are short life lessons that pack a huge punch; lessons like the importance of sitting in silence when a friend is in pain. I look back over the last decade and am in awe at how much has changed… will any future decade change as much as my twenties?
So, cheers to 30, and hopefully many more years to come. Enjoy these real-life inspirational stories and short life lessons.
Are you tired of buying socks or underwear for the men in your life? Does it seem like your partner is the impossible man to buy for? I’ve been there.
So, whether you’re looking for a gift for the man who has everything or maybe you just want an unusual gift for guys, this is the list for you. Be it Father’s Day, Christmas, Birthdays, Anniversaries, or even Job Promotions, you can’t go wrong with these practical yet creative gifts for the man in your life.
Do you have a special woman in your life who is growing in her faith, like your mom, grandma, aunt, daughter, or best friend? Love her well by picking a thoughtful gift that empowers her to continue to grow in her faith.
Here, you’ll find a list of unique Christian gifts for women. Whether you’re shopping for the perfect Christmas present, Mother’s Day gift, birthday surprise, Baby Shower gift, or for any other occasion, you’re sure to find something she’ll love and appreciate!
Sometimes the best gifts are ones that can be enjoyed by the whole family. You may have a brother who is impossible to buy for, a husband who has everything, or siblings who enjoy fun gifts, this list provides unique gifts for everyone. Whether it be games for toddlers or 20 somethings or appliances that make your home much more enjoyable, these ideas won’t be found on any other gift guide.
Everyone knows a woman who has everything (or maybe we are her), whether she is a mom of a newborn or a teenager, a homemaker, a coffee addict, or an Independent Boss Lady, these ideas are the perfect gifts for the women in your life.
2020 has been an interesting year, and to top it off, we have what feels like one of the most important elections we have had in our (20-30 something-year-old) lifetime. But why does this election feel so important?
For me, It seems as though our nation is becoming more and more polarized on very important topics such as immigration, tax policy, healthcare, welfare, global warming, gun control, and free speech, just to name a few, and we are often left feeling at a loss.
When the world feels like such a bad place, we can either try to control the situation or we can turn it over to God. But what does that actually look like?
Have you ever had an idea, but felt like there was no point in pursuing it? Maybe, like me, you want to write a book, but someone else has already written about that very topic. Maybe you have an idea for a new product or app, but there are many others like it. Maybe you have a passion for makeup or decorating, and you want to showcase that online. Still, the market is saturated with those kinds of influencers.
It really seems like there is no more room for you. Yet, the idea won’t leave you, and instead nags you, begging to be accomplished.
Often times, it feels like we have this dream or calling, but someone else has beaten us to it, so there’s no point. Yet the constant feeling keeps coming back, over and over, and over again.
So, what do we do? Do we try and press forward, or do we just let it go?
After a 12-hour shift at work, my husband quietly walked into our home, fully expecting our daughter and me to be asleep. Natalie lay sleeping on the loveseat, while I rocked in the recliner working on the blog. I glanced up from my laptop and smiled at him, but inside I knew I was about to unload something heavy.
I have written and rewritten this post at least 3 different times. Each time, words failed me as I tried to answer how to love a friend when it’s difficult. I started off by listing all the ways I’ve been there for friends who made it hard to be around, but I could never finish.
Truthfully, I felt inadequate about writing this post. A fraud, even. How could I tell you how to best love your difficult friends when I have failed miserably. Over the last year, I have been so self-absorbed with my pregnancy and David’s TDY’s (military work trips), deployment, etc... I have neglected my own friends.
Leaning into racial conversations is hard work. Talking about race is hard work. You very much have the potential to be wrong. So why am I writing this? Why am I sharing my thoughts with you?
Because I'm at a loss, and the only thing I know to do is write and pray that God will reveal Himself in my words.
Fear is Not The Boss of You By Jennifer Allwood has been published less than 2 months, and I am on my second read through. It’s that good. It’s been such a long time since I have read (or listened to) a non-fiction book that was truly inspiring and gospel-centered that I had to share my review. I have felt stuck and, in many ways, still feel stuck. I have a desire to grow and do many great things, but then when it comes to action, I fall short. Every. Single. Time.
Two years ago, while deployed to Turkey, I started on a journey to become a writer and blogger. I started A Faithful Step with the goal of encouraging and equipping women to live a life well-lived. Although the posts have changed a little, the mission and vision are still the same.
I loved reading everyone’s response on the Reader Survey we sent out in the spring. It truly helps us see what we are getting right, what we are getting wrong, and how we can best serve you.
For the most part, it seems as though our content is headed in the right direction.
“Imagine growing up in an America with no war. That’s hard to imagine for us Millennials, but there was a time - not too long ago - where America was involved in no wars for almost 20 years… You can imagine how Cathy’s entire world was turned upside down the night her husband received an alert and, shortly thereafter, flew off to the Middle East to fight in Desert Storm.”
“There are hundreds if not thousands of groups we can join ranging from parenthood support, to spirituality, fitness and careers, etc… In all of these groups we are looking for something that ties us together with other people. Something that we can receive and offer support for. Usually something that we are lacking in person.”
Have you ever scrolled through Facebook and come across a post that stopped you dead in your tracks? A post that made you wonder “Why in the world would you be asking Facebook this question?”
Often times you hear people telling you that when you accept Christ as your Lord and Savior you are transformed. You are made new. But what does that even mean? To a new believer, it can sound a bit hokey. Was God supposed to wash over me and suddenly I stopped sinning? Was I born again? Made perfect? Righteous? How will I feel different (if at all)?
Wendi Iacobello, founder of Strength 4 Spouses and Army wife, lost her baby unexpectedly, during the eighth week of her pregnancy. The unexplained and unexpected loss challenged her faith and propelled her into a deep depression that seemed impossible to get out of.
This entire week has been all about celebrating the 1 year Blogiversary of A Faithful Step. I shared your Top 5 Favorite posts based on page views, I’ve shared My Top 5 Favorite Posts (that had ZERO overlap with your favorites), and I’ve even shared the Top 10 Lessons I’ve learned this past year. So, today, I share with you my gratitude.
Thank you for faithfully following our journey, even if you’ve just joined us. You may not know this, but you have encouraged me on numerous occasions when I have felt my weakest.
Three years feels like a short period of time, but I know that it’s long enough for God to grow me and mold me and make me better than I was before.
Most of you aren’t planning on starting a blog, so why am I sharing lessons learned from blogging? Well, what I’ve learned can be applied throughout life, not just blogging. Whether you work out of the home, or you are the primary caregiver to kiddos, take these lessons and apply them to your own circumstances.