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.
2024 Annual Impact Report Download the Printable Report By Sarah Koontz All of my life, I’ve been a giver. I enjoy being the one who has an abundance to share and little need to receive from others. But now, by the grace of God, I find myself in the position
By Hadassah Treu Loss is painful. Often, we face a cumulation of losses in a certain season of our lives. When this happens, we grieve. Grief occupies a lot of mental and emotional space. It stirs up anger, anxiety, fear, and loneliness—and makes experiencing joy difficult. Not only does our
By Felicia Harris-Russell Does working from your heart come naturally to you, or are half-hearted efforts a continual struggle? I’ve answered yes to both questions at some point in my life. However, as my relationship with the Lord deepened, so did my work ethic. My mindset and approach to life
By Amber Ginter It was 4:38 a.m. on a Tuesday in February. My brother passed away from an overdose the day before Valentine’s Day. Losing a loved one is one of life’s most painful experiences. No matter how much we prepare, grief is inevitable, and the aftermath comes in waves.
By Jill Miller Anyone who works in an office with an Information Technology (IT) staff learns one thing fast: Before you call the helpline with a problem, shut down your computer, restart it, and try again. It’s surprising how many times this works. I can’t begin to comprehend the inner
By Julia Sexil Nightfall would set in soon, and my mountain hiking adventure was far from complete. I needed another two hours to reach my destination on the other side of the lake. The more darkness crept in, the more my imagination gripped me. The trail had once appeared straight
By Anna Moore Ask the most mature person of faith you know about their prayer life, and they likely have something they want to improve about it. Prayer is an essential spiritual discipline of the Christian faith. We have the privilege to make our praises and petitions known to the
By Grace Thomas Does your family struggle with developing spiritual routines? My family has, especially as we navigate life with a newborn and toddler. Just like regular rhythms can help us, spiritual routines can provide a lifeline in busy times, anchor us, and streamline our days. So, how can we
Article By: Sarah Koontz, Founder of Living by Design Ministries I have truly enjoyed my seminary studies at Dallas Theological Seminary. Because of my busy ministry schedule and the fact that we homeschool our children, I typically enroll in just one online class at a time. In my first year
Article by: Sarah Koontz On December 3, 2024 our ministry is participating in #GivingTuesday. Giving Tuesday is a day dedicated to generosity and giving. It occurs the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday. It’s a day to acknowledge the power of giving, volunteerism, and simple acts of kindness.
Did you know that nearly one-third of annual charitable giving occurs in the final weeks of the year? Last year our nonprofit ministry raised 50% of our funds during the month of December. This is why the last quarter of the year is known as the ‘Giving Season‘ by nonprofit
Article by: Sarah Koontz Today marks the beginning of our Fall Fundraiser. This is a time for our ministry team to reflect on and rejoice over the good gifts God has given us this past year. It is also a time for us to share our vision for the future
I have a confession to make. I can’t sing. I mean, of course, I can sing. I just can’t sing very well. When I volunteered to help with Vacation Bible School at our church, they asked me if I’d be willing to help lead worship one night (because the talented
Article by: Lisa Kimrey I know the songs say the holidays are the most wonderful time of the year, but it’s the most exhausting time of the year for me. Don’t get me wrong. I truly embrace the holiday season! I love the colors and decorations, the smells, the food,
By Joanna Eccles Years ago, a close family member got sick, and we didn’t know if he would survive. He went to countless hospitals and kept getting worse. I lived far away and felt helpless. I flew six times over six months to help, but it never seemed like it
By Daeyna Otieno Not long ago, my life was a whirlwind of activities. I was juggling a new job, family, and church commitments. There were never enough hours in a day. One evening, I was rushing to prepare dinner when my husband tapped me on the shoulder, smiled, and hugged
Over the past year, every worldly source of security and stability has seemingly vanished. Thankfully, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Heb 13:8)! Our position in Christ gives us strength to endure the trials and tribulations of this world. In Him, we will not be shaken,
By Kyleigh Dunn When was the last time we thought of our smartphones as a catalyst for spiritual growth? Usually, we view our phones as a threat to our spiritual lives. We’ve been told our phones will rob our souls of vitality and drain our affection for the things above.
By Gina Castell On Thanksgiving Eve, our holiday plans were canceled. No big deal, I thought, we’ll just stay home and order in. While researching caterers for Thanksgiving dinner, my husband and I heard a loud bang. I thought a plane had landed on our roof. Panic arose in my
By Rebekah R. Nash My child woke me up in the middle of the night again. Dishes, laundry, and cleaning are piling up. I still haven’t eaten breakfast. I don’t know how to survive today, let alone get my quiet time in! Has this ever been you? It’s certainly been
Article By: Sarah Koontz Registration is now open for our JoyFULL Bible Study! Our free JoyFULL Bible Study will take you on a three-week journey through Philippians—the most joy-filled book in the Bible. If you are struggling to find joy in this season, we invite you to join us for this
By Julia Sexil Prior to the last boarding call for a flight back to Florida, I heard my name announced over the loudspeaker to see the clerk at the front desk. Bewildered, I stood up to stretch one last time. I wiped away any evidence of sleep from my eyes,
By Jill Miller Reading this article means you’ve already tapped into the spiritual side of technology and have tasted its sweetness. But how did you get here? Were you intentionally searching for edifying spiritual content or mindlessly scrolling and the graphic caught your attention? Technology is like fire. Fire can
One of our primary goals is to help God’s people understand God’s character and apply God’s revelation to their lives. God is Creator; we are His creation. As such, we exist for His glory and good pleasure. He is the only One with the authority to label us and
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