Wait… what?? Did you really just say I could learn “Spiritual Lessons from My Little Pony,” Laura? Have you lost your mind?! Nope, nope. Actually, I’m quite IN my right mind at the moment, and it feels GREAT! I had a bit of spiritual awakening this past week. Almost as if God gave me a…
Have you ever had a verse smack you upside the head? It doesn’t matter how many times I study the book of James, these verses about being quick to listen and slow to anger always hit me right between the eyes. Today, they are confronting some not-so-desirable aspects of my parenting. Laura Stufflebam HolthAs a…
Have you ever felt like you just can’t leave home for any length of time without bedlam ensuing? Nothing irritates me more than people ignoring the rules just because I’m not there to enforce them for a while. Maybe that’s why Nehemiah 13 bothers me so much – it sounds like my life! Laura Stufflebam…
Have you ever thought about what someone would say in your eulogy? Would they remember your killer meatloaf recipe? Your business savvy? Your awesome sense of humor? Would they talk about your faith? How your life inspired them? Laura Stufflebam HolthAs a former University Resident Director, Career Counselor, Certified Personality Trainer, and high school Spanish…
We’re all familiar with the phrase, “faith like a child” or “child-like faith,” so let’s attention to all the things our KIDS can teach US about God! Today, we have our first guest post here at Scattered Woman. Hooray! Please welcome Jessica Meades and tune your heart to what God would like to speak to…
Once upon a time, a young couple decided to get married and went shopping for an engagement ring. At the store, the woman spotted a positively gorgeous ring. “It’s perfect!” she exclaimed, and asked the shopkeeper if he would pull it out for them to look at. The shopkeeper noted, as he reached for the…
Perhaps this entry would more accurately be titled “What’s NOT in a Name”. Peter figured out the answer to that question pretty quickly! Check out the account of Simon receiving his new name from Jesus, Peter, and what happens immediately after that event: Laura Stufflebam HolthAs a former University Resident Director, Career Counselor, Certified…
In What’s in a Name? – Pt. 1, I talked about the importance of the names we use with each other. In this segment, I’m shifting to focus on the names God gives us. A while back, I went through a study on Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers – the story of the prophet Hosea…
Over the past several years, I have come to realize just how important names are. Such a seemingly small thing to call someone by their given name, but it makes such a huge difference in how that someone responds to me. Each year when I was a Resident Director I used get feedback from students…
[Jesus] said to him, “Do you want to get well?” “Sir,” the sick man answered, “I don’t have anyone to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I’m coming, someone goes down ahead of me.” ~ John 5: 6-7 (HCSB) Man, do I resonate with this guy. Excuses, excuses….
“Like a snow-cooled drink at harvest time is a trustworthy messenger to the one who sends him; he refreshes the spirit of his master.” ~ Proverbs 25:13 As an introvert, I never anticipated needing people to help me feel refreshed. But after transitioning from a busy Resident Director, constantly surrounded by students and other staff,…
“The fear of the Lord leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble.” ~ Proverbs 19:23 “If there is a God, and He’s so good, why does He let bad things happen to His people?” It’s a common quandry among those struggling to believe, but this verse in Proverbs redirects our perspective: It’s…
“As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.” ~Proverbs 27:19 (NIV) The past several days have been eye-opening for me as a parent. C & I started potty training last Wednesday, and it was an intense, lonely few days of me just home with C, focusing solely on her, and not being…
“Help your relatives and they will protect you like a strong city wall, but if you quarrel with them, they will close their doors to you.” ~ Proverbs 18:19 Why are family relationships so doggone hard? Our families have the ability to build us up or to completely destroy us with just a…
“When my little sister comes, we’re going to do this! When my little sister comes, we’re going to do that!” I happily prophesied, as only a four-year-old little girl can, while I played with my dolls amongst the clothes and shoes in my mom’s closet. Oh, boy… Thought my mom, greatly pregnant with her…
It’s been a long two years of being angry, bitter, and frustrated with God. Health issues, adjusting to motherhood while still working, then adjusting to motherhood while NOT working, three moves… It all piled up on me and left me feeling very alone and abandoned by the God I had previously leaned on for everything and…
Erik & I had a long conversation the other night about how we are struggling to get plugged into a church, friendships, etc., after moving to Kentucky back in August. It feel like we’re living in a friendship desert. I was still mulling over our Relational Sahara situation when this post from 2008 came to…
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. Woe to you, teachers…
Today, more than any day in recent memory, I needed a reminder to just have faith. My job has been completely overwhelming this year, which has led to even more stress and sickness than usual, and this past week has been one sucker punch to the stomach after another. Three student crises – two while…
How many times have I read through the old Testament? Apparently not enough to make a connection between the story of Jonah and the prophet Nahum! Jonah finally gets his act together and preaches in Ninevah, and the people repent and turn to God. Nahum is preaching against Assyria – and it’s capitol, NINEVAH! Has…