Writing

I imagined myself a writer long before I even knew the alphabet. My mom claims before I could spell, I followed her around with pen and paper and begged her to transcribe the stories that were swirling in my head. When I learned to write, I unleashed the words in my mind and filled stacks of notebooks with “original novels” and prize-winning poetry.

My first published poem was a cheesy jingle for Spin Blend mayonnaise. It rang across the airwaves of a hip metro radio station all summer long when I was a gangly girl of thirteen.  It earned me the honorary title of Miss Mayo and fifty dollars to spend as I liked. To celebrate, I bought a brand new pair of hot pink parachute pants and threw a party for my seventh- grade English class. Though my radio fame faded, my love for words did not. I taught my first writer’s workshop at the age of fifteen and secured my own byline in the local newspaper shortly after.

Eager to unlock the world of words for others, I graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a degree in English teaching. I had planned to grow gray behind a school desk, but after three short years, my heart was tugged home by a tow-headed toddler who called me Mommy.

My world of words shifted from Shakespeare to Green Eggs and Ham, while my love for writing dissolved into grocery lists and post-it-notes. I no longer scribbled poetic thoughts into journals, no longer crafted stories in my mind. However, in the quiet of the night or the stillness of dawn, the bigger-than-me-demands of motherhood drove me to God’s Word. And this word-girl fell in love with The Word Made Flesh (John 1:14) all over again.

Three babies later, when I was buried deep in diapers, dishes and discipline, God interrupted a midnight feeding and whispered, “Write.”

Like Moses before the burning bush, I protested. “I can’t even complete a coherent sentence anymore.”

“I’ll give you the words.”

Eventually my arguments ran dry, and I began to write from the sleep-deprived trenches of motherhood. And true to His promise, God gave me the words He wanted me to share.

Magazines

My scribbles have landed on the pages of print and digital magazines as I’ve partnered with these amazing ministries seeking to bring Biblical encouragement to a hurting world.

Bible Studies and Devotionals

I’ve also had the honor of co-writing the Bible study Proverbs: Everyday Guidance for Making Everyday Decisions with Claire Foxx and contributing to a variety of devotionals that meet women in the middle of their right-now lives.

Some of my favorites are:

But far more important than any published words I’ve ever written are the Bible studies I’ve crafted for the young women in my life who long to know Jesus personally. From the 10-year-old girls gathered in my living room with snacks and Bibles to the college-aged women lingering with me in the campus coffee-shop, I have no greater joy than seeking Jesus with His dearly loved daughters.

My life looks a little different than it did when God first prompted me to write for Him. I’m no longer frantically scribbling away while babies sleep or writing while toddlers play at my feet. But one thing remains the same. I’m still faithfully weaving words to fix my eyes—and maybe yours, too,—on Jesus. And I’m still awed by the way He meets me when I seek Him.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

If you’ve enjoyed the encouragement you’ve found here, you can find more of my devotions at Proverbs 31 Ministries. Join me there and you’ll find many resources to help you seek Jesus through God’s Word. Because at Proverbs 31, we believe if you know the Truth and live the Truth, it changes everything!