The Living by Design Blog
The Bible is packed with the spiritual nourishment your soul craves. Our aim is to provide resources to help you break it down into bite-sized pieces that are easy to digest. Articles on the Living by Design Blog are packed with heart-focused content, practical solutions for real life, and Bible-based training. Since launching this blog in 2014, we’ve featured more than 100 guest contributors. If you’d like to submit an article for consideration, please review our submission guidelines.
As I wrote a Bible study on the book of Ephesians a few years ago, I sought to explain the Trinity as a daisy. The roots, stem, and flower all with different jobs/roles but the same essence. I used one word that I should not have in my illustration, “separate.”
Article by: Marnie Hammar As winter drags its feet and the fluff on my slippers wears thin, I’m often tempted to slip into a rhythm in my spiritual walk that looks suspiciously close to the winter blues. That draw into dormancy and the desire to bury into blankets can transfer
Article by: Laura Bailey My hand hovered over the social media apps on my phone. The Holy Spirit had undeniably convicted me—those little square icons were distracting me from the work God had called me to do in a big way. As my finger flirted with the screen, I began
Article by: Michele Morin “You can say ‘no,’” he said softly, in a whisper, so our son would not hear. Immediately, my guard went up. It was Christmas time, so my planner was bulging its squares with lists of things to buy and to wrap and to bake. What was
The 2020 “Fish & Loaves” Grant Initiative has ended. Thanks to all who participated! Article by: Sarah Koontz Today we are excited to announce a brand new “Fish & Loaves” Grant we received to cultivate new monthly donors for Living by Design Ministries. The grantmakers desire to help us inspire
Article by: Collene Borchardt I have always loved flowering trees. The beautiful blooms announcing new life bring me so much joy. So, you can imagine my delight when my husband agreed to buy two for our yard! I went to the local landscaping company and picked out two beautiful serviceberry
Article by: Robin L Seaton I sat in the parking lot watching Christmas shoppers come and go like bees from a hive—hurrying to finish their shopping and get out of the weather. I wanted a peaceful Christmas for my son, our first since my husband had passed. Yet, I dreaded
Article by: Taryn Nergaard Bible reading wasn’t always enjoyable for me. At times, reading Scripture felt like a chore—a necessary struggle to become a “good Christian.” I didn’t grow up reading the Bible, so when I accepted Jesus into my life at nineteen years old, I assumed I should read
Article by: Sarah Koontz The Psalms are filled with spontaneous joy, personal adoration, and anticipation of the fullness of God’s salvation (Ps 16:8-9). The gospel accounts are laden with professions of joy as the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ is shared (Lk 2:10). Christ, himself, declares that
Article by: Kristine Bolt Forty-five percent. Almost half. That’s how much of my life I wasted. I calculated it. Half of my one and only life. Time I’ll never get back. Wasted through impatience, passivity, and cowardice. First, I kicked God to the curb because I wanted answers from Him,
Article by: Nikki White Sin. Repent. Repeat. It was exhausting. Sin. Repent. Repeat. I was stuck in an endless cycle of failures before my Lord with the same playlist of offenses. After each transgression, I would cry. I would berate myself. I would analyze. I would pray. I would furiously
Sadness. Fear. Uncertainty. Boredom. Exhaustion. Anger. These are just a few of the emotions I’ve experienced in 2020. I know that I am not alone.I know that you feel it too. Strange, new emotions rise up in our souls as we come to the painful realization that the future may
Article by: Erika Rachelle Anderson I vividly remember what it feels like. The constant heaviness. The tasks that piled up because it was all I could do to feed, clothe, and try to be nurturing for my children. The lack of joy.The constant overwhelm.The dread. I retreated into social isolation
Article by: Laura E. Sumpter “Wait, Mrs. Sumpter! I have something to show you!” The little girl jumped from her seat and ran to her front door. Through my zoom lens, I could see her open the door and run back inside with a giant pot. My curiosity got the
One of my favorite authors on the subject of prayer is a Civil War-era preacher named Edward McKendree Bounds (1835-1913). Receiving his law degree at age nineteen, Edward became the youngest practicing lawyer in the state of Missouri. Bounds felt a call to Christian ministry in his early twenties, and
Article by: Sue Donaldson I went out the front door the other day, and our girls called out: “Mom! Where are you going?” I laughed and replied, “I’m only picking some rosemary for the roast.” With our older children sheltering-at-home, the tables are definitely turned. It’s endearing they don’t let
Article by: Eleisha O’Farrell Silence is one of the most uncomfortable things we experience as humans. Why is that? Possibly, it is because we have music and video streaming services right at our fingertips. Maybe, it is because we are mothers and teachers who are surrounded by noise for long
Article by: Erin Myers Do you struggle to find time in your day to dig into God’s Word? There’s a saying that goes: Something that can be done at any time is often done at no time. I think that Bible Study can easily fit into this category. We all
This 6-Week Hymn-Inspired Bible Study Is Now Available On-Demand! Are you longing for more peace and joy in your daily life? Do you crave a deep, sustaining relationship with your Creator? Sarah Koontz invites you to join us for “It Is Well,” a free online Bible study inspired by beloved
Article By: Jazmin Frank “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 (ESV) Hebrews 4:12 is a familiar passage,
By: Kristine Bolt I stared at my friend in shock for a few seconds, then my face crumpled. A sob escaped my lips, and I doubled over on her living room floor. My body heaved as I struggled to get myself under control. My friend hadn’t sucker-punched me, and she
Article by: Jessica Jenkins Do you ever get angry? I sure do. Daily something happens which results in my pulse increasing, and that familiar energy rising in my chest. Usually, my angry feelings are focused on my children. Maybe your anger focuses elsewhere—on your husband, your co-worker, your boss, neighbor,
I need thee every hourMost gracious LordNo tender voice like thineCan peace afford I am overcome by my own smallness. My lack. My need. I need thee, O I need thee;every hour I need thee;O bless me now, my Savior,I come to thee. My eyes drift upward in search of
Article by: Danita Jenae I’ll never forget the first time I heard the foreign concept of having a prayer partner. We were a new military family in town, and my husband was deployed overseas. I was struggling with isolation, postpartum depression, and desperately searching for any semblance of confidence in
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