Life in Stride Blog presented by Tri-State Bible College

"It's the little things."  Have you ever said this?  It's a very ambiguous statement. "It's the little things" can be what drives you crazy (which is more often my intention) or what matters most. I've been reading many stories recently where people are enjoying the little things more in this season. Some attribute it to having more time to take part in them. Others are merely noticing little things more in the reduction of noise.  Thing like:  Eating meals together as a family Enjoying nature for pleasure instead of sport Cooking/Baking Decluttering/Organizing Getting into shape or adopting healthier habits  Ok, well, some of those things aren't as much little things that need appreciating as they are things we don't make time for. But, people are doing more of these things.  There are also things you notice or appreciate because...

Over the years, my husband and I have established a few traditions with our family. Some were cultivated from our favorite childhood traditions, and some were established through new routines with our children. A few of my favorite traditions are opening one gift on Christmas Eve, Friday night family nights with games, movies, popcorn, and fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies, and the birthday boy getting to choose dinner for their special day. Family traditions can be fun, give us something to look forward to, authenticate our experiences, and even bring us back "home" when we feel adrift. But what about religious traditions? Are they good? "Therefore, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions you were taught, either by our message or by our letter."   2Thessalonians 2:15 (HCSB) Tradition kept the Thessalonian Church anchored to Truth during a time of persecution and helped them stand firm.  But, be careful that keeping to tradition doesn't cross into an empty ritual....

November is National Adoption Month!! I have many friends with beautiful adoption stories. One in particular where you could see the Hand of God moving mountains to make it happen. It was awesome to witness. I also have friends whose adoptions stories are not so pretty and have even ended in loss and heartbreak. And then, for our family, we never even made it to the adoption phase.   The uncertainty of outcome can make it terrifying to even step into the arena of fostering and adoption, but the reality is that there is such a great need.  The number of children entering foster care each year is astounding. “On any given day, there are nearly 438,000 children in foster care in the United States.” (childrensrights). As of May 2020, there are 7,265 children in foster care in WV, over 10,000 in KY, and nearly 16,000 in OH. And, as much as each child needs a loving,...

You know that moment when you are sure you've reached your peak? When one more thing has the potential to crash your world down around you and wreck you?  We usually call that our breaking point, but what if we chose to bend instead? What if we flexed with what's happening to reach toward hope, survival, and joy in every circumstance? This is Bend. International Journalist and Author Beth Lueders takes us to the bending points of nine different moments. Moments that I personally do not know how they found the resolve to bend instead of break, but they did. We all have that capacity. We all have a bending point.  Beth defines a bending point like this: "In your life, a bending point is that experience where steadiness meets disruption." "steadiness meets disruption."  Goodness. Those are some resounding words. I have little doubt that we can all relate to this kind of moment, whether...

Waiting is not my forte. And, although I can appreciate the good waiting does toward developing godly character, I fail miserably at waiting.  I feel like a child in "big church," squirming in the pew, waiting for the service to end. I look for stuff to fill the time, occupy my mind, and hopefully make time pass faster. It reminds me of what used to happen in my house when we were getting ready to leave. We'd tell our boys to get ready to go, and we were leaving at a specific time. When we'd call out for everyone to head to the car, suddenly, boys were scrambling to get their shoes or finding pertinent items for where we were headed.  "Why aren't you ready?" we'd ask, in a stern yet loving tone...

It used to be that we could feel pretty safe about the influences in our children’s lives until they hit college age and were exposed to more diverse beliefs and cultures.  It seems, however, that radical views are coming into play as early as 3rd grade. And, by middle school, many church-going children have decided they do not believe in God.  Some religions are more evident in how they contradict Scripture; but, many religions have an element of truth, making them seem feasible and dangerous. These differences may even make more sense from a human standpoint. So, how can you help them tell what is true and what is counterfeit? Here are four ways we can encourage our children in to help them stay true to their faith:   Study the Word Cultural norms, fads, and new aged religious philosophies change every day. The Word of God is never-changing and is an anchor for our faith....

In honor of October being National ADD/ADHD awareness month, I thought I'd share some tips and tricks that helped our ADD household survive the school year. Our household was actually a mixed bag of learning complications that we worked through over the years: ADD w/inattention, ADHD, Dyslexia, Visual Processing Disorder, extreme auditory learner (in a visual household)...

Today is National Step Family Day!! So if you are a blended family, bonus parent, step-something, this post is especially for you. If you are not in any of these categories, please stay with us as there are universal truths here for you too. Cultivating new relationships is difficult in any scenario, but trying to merge two families takes an extra measure of care. Here to give us some "tried and true" advice are Your Morning Walk's own Magan and Derek. Both Magan and Derek parent in blended families and have graciously allowed me to ask them some questions about their experiences.   1) What is your best advice for families who are ABOUT to unite? Derek: Give grace. It's a learning process for everyone. There will be mistakes and lessons, so grace is much needed. Magan: Remember, this is a HUGE change for everyone. Even if it's a positive change, it can really throw us...