MOMents 10/23 with Summer Hoyt

Thoughts on Living Words…all through the year!

Throughout the past year I have often thought, “It’s so hard to know what is true!” I frequently hear conflicting positions and arguments. From multiple angles, people speak, post, and blog to try to influence me towards their truth.  In light of this experience, I have delighted to participate in reading the Bible through in

Men’s Panel Q & A

Some additional questions and responses from some of the men from our recent panel – enjoy! Justin…Wife, years married, & kids: Married to Sara for 16 years. I have 1 girl (14) and 3 boys (12, 6, and 4).Best parenting advice you’ve received: When I was a young parent, I had the hardest time because it

Thoughts on Daily Faith-Building Practices

“Quiet time with the Lord” and “daily reading plans” are words that used to leave me unsettled. Why couldn’t I figure out a structure in my day to accommodate private, devoted Bible study time? I am fairly organized and have no problem scheduling my family’s life (to their dismay sometimes). It became fairly clear to

Thoughts on Christmas

I recently read an article in Sojourner magazine by Josina Guess called “In Labor and in Rest” where she recounted that while in labor with her third child, her sister didn’t understand her pain and commented, “But you’ve already done this before. Why is it so hard?” Guess replied, “I haven’t birthed this baby!” You

Thoughts on Remembering God Through Trials

This year has been full of various trials in our world, am I right?  COVID-19, division over a grueling campaign for the presidency…and then there are daily trials in our own homes and lives on top of everything else.  Hardship doesn’t only happen in the year 2020, however.  As much as I wish it would

Thoughts on Distance and Relationships

This is my third year on leadership, and therefore my third newsletter “thoughts.”  Both my first and third year I was left with the last chosen topic. The second year (last year) I chose first and it didn’t get published due to COVID.  I find it amusing how God knows when we have something he

Thoughts on “Throwing in the Towel”

There are days that I want to “throw in the towel” so to speak. Days where everything that could possibly go wrong does. Those are the days that I need the encouragement of others, especially those who have been through the difficult days of motherhood and have come out the other side mostly sane ~

Thoughts on Rejoicing Despite Change

With this topic assignment, I knew I could write a short piece about caterpillars and their clichéd transformation into beautiful butterflies, but this concept really has a lot more to unpack. There is no denying 2020 has been full of changes! Some were expected, many were not, and all have been viewed through the eyes

Thoughts on Lamentations 3:21-23

“There is nothing new under the sun.” Sometimes I marvel at the truth of this simple phrase. As I was reading through the book of Lamentations and understanding the time it was written, I was reminded that the prophet *Jeremiah wrote this after his precious city of Jerusalem had been destroyed along with many of