About half of women in the United States feel unattractive without makeup (source). Based on my Twitter stream, a good percentage of women struggle to build solid friendships with other women in their communities. We battle feelings of insecurity and insignificance. We wonder if we are good enough at mothering, wife-ing, homemaking, and ministering. Based on the popularity of books like Hope for the Weary Mom: Where God Meets You in Your Mess,Unglued: Making Wise Choices ... [Read More]
When God Draws Near: May We Be Stilled
Here we are ... Thanksgiving week. I have no idea how this is even possible. 2012 has flown by! We are halfway through the When God Draws Near series and I'm working hard to get the devotions finished up and ready for you in a couple of weeks. One of my favorite things is to provide ideas and resources for others. Last week I mentioned a playlist for meditating and keeping your heart and mind focused on the redemption story throughout the holiday season. Thankfully I am married to a ... [Read More]
When God Draws Near: The Plan for Redemption
I have redeemed you. I have called you by name. You are mine. Isaiah 43:1 Redeemed. Bought back. In the busy-ness and business of this mad dash toward Christmas, we easily lose sight of the promise of redemption woven deep into the manger and stable. Caught up in the messiness of our lives, the promise of something better than rules, SOMEONE called Redeemer, can get lost in the piles of gift lists and menus and more events than time. But there it is, this plan sprinkled throughout ... [Read More]
When God Draws Near: Our Need for Redemption
Life is messy. Dishes have to be done over and over. Laundry keeps piling up. Furniture needs dusting and floors need vacuuming. Babies need diapers and toddlers spill juice. Children bicker and tweens roll eyes. Spouses disagree. Exhausted and worn thin from emotions spilled over and giving pieces of ourselves to everyone in our lives, we mommas find ourselves drained, empty. We cry out for help or sleep or both ... and we run on the inside from the demands and needs and pressures. As ... [Read More]
Fall Favorites: Thanksgiving Stockings
It's one of my four favorite seasons ... autumn! I love the colors and smells and foods and traditions of fall. So, I thought I'd share some of my favorites over the next few days. First up, my absolute favorite Thanksgiving tradition here at The Underwood Abode: Thanksgiving Stockings! Every year after the table is cleared and our bellies are stuffed with sweet potatoes and dressing and pumpkin pie, Scott and I give everyone who has gathered with us for the day a "Thanksgiving ... [Read More]
When God Draws Near: The Story of Redemption
Started thinking about Christmas yet? I should go ahead and confess that I'm one of "those people" who buys Christmas gifts all year long and generally speaking has all the hard planning parts of the season taken care of long before December 1 ever arrives. You may not be a year-round gift buyer like me but maybe you are like me in another way: Somehow the business and busy-ness of Christmas leave little time for stillness and contemplation of Christ. The beauty of the manger story gets so ... [Read More]
