If September is the month when life resets, October is the month when everything speeds up again. The leaves start falling, the temperatures start dropping, and we realize that the Advent Season and Christmas are right around the corner, and we have to start preparing. October is such a funny month. It’s a month suffering from an identity crisis. Half the world is decorating with pumpkins, scarecrows, and hay bales. The other half is already putting up Christmas lights. And e

If you listen closely, you can already hear it. Not the sound of geese migrating… Not the rustling of leaves beginning to turn… No, it’s the sound of parents whispering hallelujah under their breath because school is back in session. But there’s also a wonderful energy in the air. People come back from summer trips with stories, sunburns, and at least one souvenir they regret buying. Kids return to school with new clothes and backpacks, and the kind of enthusiasm that lasts u

Keeping the Faith Through the Dog Days of Summer August has arrived! The month when the temperatures rise, the ice cream melts faster than we can eat it, and many of us wonder where the summer went. And as August arrives, we find ourselves standing between the fullness of summer and the promise of a new season. The gardens are producing their harvest and many of us are taking time to reflect on the blessings God has provided throughout the year. Scripture reminds us in Psalm

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” — 2 Corinthians 3:17 July is here—bringing sunshine, outdoor activities, backyard barbecues and way too much heat. As we gather this month, we celebrate the 4th of July, our freedom as a free sovereign nation… actually our 250th year as a nation. I’m sure there will plenty of parades, fireworks, and American flags to remind us of the hard-fought freedom we enjoy. Independence Day reminds us h

June is finally here! The days are getting longer, the grills are going, and somewhere in Iowa a mosquito is already drawing up flight plans and looking for volunteers to donate blood. As we step into June, we’re reminded of God’s goodness in creation. The flowers are in bloom, children home from school, and evenings seem to stretch just a little longer. In fact June 21st is the longest day of the year, marking the start of summer. It’s as if God gives us a little extra dayli

May has arrived! The month where flowers bloom, allergies attack, and calendars suddenly fill up with graduations, recitals, cookouts, and that one event you forgot until five minutes before it starts. In all the busyness, 1 John reminds us of something simple but powerful: Walk in the light. Love one another. Stay rooted in Christ. That sounds peaceful… until you try to do it during a hectic May schedule. But maybe that’s exactly the point. Faith isn’t just for quiet morning