By

Marian Jordan Ellis
From Honeymoon to Carpool: Reflections on Life as a Bonus Mom When Justin and I got married, I came home from our honeymoon and immediately jumped into the world of carpooling, school projects, and navigating life as a bonus mom. To say it wasn’t how I imagined my life would be is an understatement. His...
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Lost in the Wrong Direction: What Biblical Repentance Really Looks Like Have you ever thought you were heading in the right direction, only to realize hours later you were completely lost? A dear friend of mine (who will remain nameless) once set off on a road trip to Houston. She had her music blasting, snacks...
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Each afternoon, when I check my mailbox, I grab the miscellaneous contents and immediately head to a trash can. Typically, my mail is filled with sales promotions and bills that are promptly tossed. But occasionally, checking the mail brings delight when I see an invitation sticking out of the pile. Invitations stand out because they...
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Everyone from Hollywood celebrities to old Church ladies talk about prayer, but what is it? And, what, if anything, does prayer accomplish? It is noteworthy that of all the things Jesus’ disciples asked Him, the one thing they asked Him to teach them was how to pray. The reason for their question is because they...
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woman with scarf
You Have a Purpose in the Kingdom of God At dawn on Sunday, Mary Magdalene slipped into the cold Jerusalem morning. Her destination was the garden, where Jesus had been buried. Just two days ago, she watched in disbelief and agony as He was tortured and died. She was also there with Jesus’ mother, Mary,...
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The First Noel
Chances are you’ve probably sung the classic Christmas hymn, The First Noel. But have you stopped to ponder the meaning of the word, noel? The first Noel the angel did say was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;  in the field where they lay keeping their sheep  on a cold winter’s night...
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New Bible Study on the Gospel of John John the Apostle was a devoted follower of Jesus and eyewitness of His majesty! He beheld Christ’s miracles, teachings, and suffering. John stood in awe inside the empty tomb and ate breakfast with the resurrected Lord. Through John’s personal testimony, we come to behold and believe that...
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Nothing says summer vacay like plunging into a good fiction book while lounging by a beautiful beach. Unfortunately, my everyday life is so busy that taking the time to read fiction proves a luxury. Sure, I’m always reading something, but mainly I spend my time in the non-fiction world, in order to prepare for teaching...
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Four Truths I’ve Learned About Marriage on our 10th Wedding Anniversary “‘Haven’t you read,’ Jesus replied, ‘that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they...
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One of my favorite movies from the 90s is The Usual Suspects. While I’m not a film critic, I would say it’s one of the best. This movie depicts a con artist who ruthlessly escapes capture through deception and lies. The final scene closes with this incredible line: “The greatest trick the devil ever pulled...
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