• Resting in surrender

    ByKristin faith

    Most of my life, I haven’t been a good napper. My mom says even when I was a baby, I didn’t want to nap. In my toddler years, I also only wanted to wear pink and purple dresses, which is evidence that most things do change.

    Many Wednesday afternoons this school year, my 11-year-old girl and I have napped. She gets out of school two hours earlier than the rest of the week, so I’ve tried to protect that time as downtime. Sometimes I cook or throw in another load of laundry. But I try not to work.

    And we love our Wednesday afternoon rest time.

    Usually, I start reading a book and then decide napping sounds better. She may watch a show or join me for a nap. Eventually, I set an alarm, maybe to remind me to put whatever I’m cooking for small group into the oven before we need to leave, or maybe just to wake up.

    We didn’t nap this Wednesday, and, honestly, I missed it.

    There was a time in life when I would have thought it was silly to build in rest time. Of course, we did it for our kids when they were little. But this 47-year-old momma needs to rest too.

    For me, learning to rest has come with learning to surrender.

    I’ve walked with Jesus for three decades now, and He’s still teaching me what surrender looks like. As I look back and see what God has done, I can more easily trust His faithfulness in what’s ahead. Jesus holds the whole world together, which means I don’t even have to try. There’s freedom there for me, a recovering perfectionist with a lot of Type A tendencies.

    Rest isn’t something I have to earn by finishing everything on my to-do list. As I learn to rest in Jesus’ accomplishments and grace, I can rest more comfortably in my bed on a Wednesday afternoon.

    I think about Matthew 11:28-30, which is especially beautiful in The Message. Jesus invites the weary to come to Him, learn from Him, and experience the “unforced rhythms of grace.”

    I’ve forced myself into plenty of moments of a false sense of control. I’ve wrestled with outcomes far beyond my reach. I’ve stayed up too late replaying conversations that have already been had. I’ve regretted not asking for help. I’ve held on way too tightly to too many projects and people.

    So those unforced rhythms of grace are even more inviting than my bed, which my fifth-grade girl says is the best bed in the house. (Truly, hers is quite comfortable too.)

    Those rhythms of surrender and freedom are welcome here on any given afternoon, regardless of whether I get a nap.

    I can be still because He is God (Psalm 46:10). He will fight for me. He will lead me. He will provide abundantly.

    And He will give me real rest.

    *****

    God authors the stories on our porches – in every season, wherever we are. If you haven’t already, please subscribe to  #PorchStories emails to receive them about every other week.

  • A great Bible for teens

    ByKristin books, faith, review

    I love a faith resource created with teens in mind. None of us are finished learning and growing, teens included! 

    In my family, we have a 19-year-old girl who has been a Christian for 11 years and has grown and deepened her faith through school, church, and her own Bible reading time. Our 16-year-old boy is figuring out faith but has a foundation of what it means to be faithful to God. He prefers listening to the Bible. Our 11-year-old girl has a Bible case stocked with her notetaking Bible, markers and pens, and a notebook. I love seeing her pursue Bible study. 

    The new CSB Teen Study Bible is a great resource for any of them. I’m truly grateful to have solid resources around to help with parenting. Each season brings its own challenges, and this Bible can help answer many of the teenagers’ questions about identity, discernment, wisdom, and purpose rooted in Christ. 

    The CSB Teen Study Bible features a unique question-and-answer style study approach, devotionals for personal growth, and topical articles on complex faith questions. This Bible helps students connect Scripture to their everyday life.

    This Bible is endorsed by Shane Pruitt, who is the North American Mission Board’s national Next Gen director. It’s a great gift for every student because it’s durable, designed to be a convenient size to carry, and includes content written specifically for their generation. 

    This is an ideal resource for teens who are ready for a deeper, more engaging study experience that will foster lifelong faith and discipleship. Likewise, it’s also a great resource for youth pastors, ministry leaders, and parents to help guide teens, whether they’re new to following Christ or have been raised studying Scripture. The CSB Teen Study Bible also includes 66 Christ-centered book introductions, a full concordance, and a Bible dictionary. 

    Bible

    The CSB Teen Study Bible was published by Holman Bible Publishers (Sept. 15, 2026). Order the new Teen Study Bible for the young men and women in your life. Of course, it’s also available on Amazon.

    Developed by 100 scholars from 17 denominations, the Christian Standard Bible faithfully and accurately captures the Bible’s original meaning without compromising readability.

    Giveaway

    Lifeway has a fun giveaway happening for U.S. residents. The winning bundle includes a blue hardcover of the CSB Teen Study Bible, CSB backpack, sweatshirt, Yeti, journal, and a pen. To enter to win, use Lifeway’s form through Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026.

    *****

    Many thanks to Lifeway Christian Resources for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions on teenagers and this Bible are 100 percent my own! If you want to find the right Bible for you, check out these other resources.

  • Made New

    ByKristin faith, Rachel

    Being able to say Rachel has heard the gospel her whole life is a blessing, but that doesn’t change her personal need for a Lord and Savior. Jesus is the only way — to heaven, through hard days & seasons, and to peace that passes all our understanding. 

    She may be young, but during a hard season in our home, she ran toward Jesus instead of away from Him. Through many conversations with Greg and me, her teachers at school and church, and other trusted adults, Rachel realized she doesn’t want to be apart from God. 

    One night in July, when she should have been sleeping, right after our Alaska trip and before VBS and Crossings, she put her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and decided to follow Him. 

    She’s still asking questions, starting conversations, and digging deep, but she believes & trusts in Him who made her and wants to become more like Christ. She took a huge step forward Sunday morning when she made this faith public through believer’s baptism. 

    I could list so many people who helped (and will help!) us raise this girl in the ways of the Lord, but I’ll just leave it at this: We are so grateful to be surrounded by such an awesome community, especially at Hardin Baptist Church and New Covenant Christian Academy. Walking up to the baptistery, through the high school room, to her Sunday school class, and then back into service was so fun because so many people wanted to celebrate her — who she is in Christ and what He’s doing in her life. These are our snapshots of some of our people, and we truly don’t know another way to know God and make Him known than together. 

    After her baptism, she hugged us and was going to change into dry clothes, and I said, “Do you feel refreshed?” Immediately, she responded, “I feel made new.” 

    Indeed! This isn’t just refreshment for the moment but life-giving nourishment for the rest of our days. I’m thankful God keeps teaching and growing us in His ways.

    *****

    Another note: The Internet is a weird place. I debated sharing my video of her baptism after I’d already posted a carousel of pictures, but I did. And, y’all, God has used it! I’ve been writing and sharing on the Internet for a long time, but the reel of Rachel’s baptism is going viral, literally. The fact that this video is one of surrender and actually doesn’t have anything to do with me isn’t lost on me. Leave it to God to work in ways I never expected, even on Instagram.