Beautiful Between

living fully in the now & not yet

This book will make you want to be poor in spirit (Glorious Weakness review + giveaway)

I know that if I can somehow let down my guard enough to let you see that you’re not the only one struggling, it might just be healing. It might just be a little bit life-giving.

We Don’t Talk About This on Good Friday

For he made him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.  2 Corinthians 5:21 We talk about the supper. In still and gentle tones, the last message of a dying man, shared and sung around the table in time-honored tradition. Love […]

How To Bring A Casserole To The Psych Ward: And Other Ways To Serve Church Members Who Have Mental Illness

Those who struggle with mental illness rarely receive the tangible support of someone bringing dinner over. But we can change that. Check out these simple ways to support those dealing with mental illness.

Why everyone is wrong about “the joy of the Lord”

After weeks of working, trying to make it better, trying to bring restoration, they finally heard the word of God. The priest read and the Levites explained the meaning for hours, filling in huge gaps in Israel’s collective memory. They have come to rebuild and inhabit Jerusalem after long, hard years of exile. And now, […]

When hope hurts, here’s what you need to do

I know, it happens every year. I see the photos in my feeds, too: rings and flowers and first looks and all the trappings of idyllic wedding days. I can’t keep track of all the #bestdayever captions, the gorgeous honeymoon photos, or the engagement announcements. As Jessica Faith says, “It can seem like all social […]

How to make an amazing self-care kit for bad days

Tools, tips, and resources I use to get through my worst days It’s been a tough week. (You, too?) We’ve been pelted mercilessly by rain that brought dangerous flooding across Nashville. After a brief break and sunshine, the flat gray clouds have rolled back in. Loved ones have been buried under feet of snow across […]

Dear God, thanks for not forcing wholeness on me

Dear God, you’re not who I thought you were. You don’t want what I thought you wanted. You don’t treat me how I expect to be treated. Sometimes, I don’t know what to do with you. See, I spent years trying to be good enough, trying to be what you deserve. Shouldn’t a king have […]

Single? Why you shouldn’t wait to love your life

The truth is this: trading the expectation of settledness for singleness hurts. It just does. But pain is not the only truth.

This is what you need to do before heartache hits this year

Have you ever had a year go exactly as you planned? Or even as you hoped? Neither have I. We plan and prep and hope. And we’re working to become who we truly want to be. But we don’t foresee the drops on this wild roller coaster. The twists and turns aren’t quite what we expected, […]

This simple truth will make you who you want to be

Our shiny, new year tarnishes quickly, doesn’t it? The ball drop and midnight celebration seems so long ago now. By now, more than half of those who made New Year’s Resolutions have quit. There must be a secret that keeps the select few going. That’s why we’re spending the month looking at who we want […]