"Remain in me, as I also remain in you." - John 15:4 Vine Creative Studio is based on this idea from John 15 that we abide in Christ - but what does that look like very practically? This article will give three simple ideas of easy everyday practices that can help you stay close to God as you move through your daily life. The aim is that we stay connected to Him who is the Vine. This post is one of many free tools on Vine to help describe 'abiding': Read the Complete Guide to

"We must pay the most careful attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away." - Hebrews 2:1 There are probably countless reasons why it happens that we drift away from God - our priorities, community, and ultimately our loves come to mind. This article in the ABIDING series covers why believers slowly grow cold and get further and further away from Jesus Christ. It also offers tangible and practical advice for bridging that divide. This post is one of many fre

A Step-by-Step Journey of Learning to Follow Jesus in Everyday Life The path or journey of Christian growth will differ depending on who you ask. While the Bible is the best voice to follow and the leading of the Holy Spirit, there are some practical points every person will reach as they journey from A to Z (with the destination being To Know Him). Christian growth is not random—it follows a pattern: we begin with belief, move into identity, grow in relationship, develop awa

My step-by-step guide for navigating the moments when life shifts with faith I feel like I have been many people: a daughter, a sister, a student, a wife, and now a mother. Life changes whether we take note of it or not, but God is developing us all the while. I worked in ministry for a few years, studied what faith practically looks like, and then He made me a writer so that I could share this with you. Life transitions refer to seasons of change such as uncertainty, emotion

My step-by-step guide for ministry leaders who want outreach that is not just effective, but sustainable For some reason most Christian outreach & mission ideas are short-lived, and they often come at the expense of the person who felt it on their heart. Outreach often burns bright but fades quickly when systems, rhythms, and people are not supported. Why do we lose vision? How do we prevent burnout? And what can we do to ensure the ministry has a lasting impact? As someone w

My step-by-step guide for ministry leaders who want to build people, not just programs Many ministry leaders are never actually trained for leadership—they are simply placed into it. As someone who grew up in the church, has worked in ministry, and been in various roles through the years - there are some things I've picked up along the way. God equipped me to lead others well, learn about this at Uni, and then He made me a writer so that I can share it with you. This Christia

My step-by-step guide for Kids Ministry Leadership that makes disciples "I wish leading Sunday School came with an instruction manual", is a sentence I've thought many times in my life. Even when I was just a teenager myself, facilitating summer camps, I kept thinking: There has to be a system for this! Why does it feel like we're reinventing the wheel? Well, since then God gifted me with ten more years in children's ministry, academic training in the field, and then He made

"It's just babysitting" How can you move your kids ministry from entertainment to true faith formation instead?

"You have not because you ask not" - James 4:2 This week I've been thinking about the actions that come before miracles - whether it's surrender, asking, prayer, sharing, gratitude... What are the things that a person needs to do to see the breakthrough they so desire? What precedes miracles? In this article, I'll reflect on Scripture and my own lived experience to offer a contemplative suggestion and some answers. I'll also draw on an article I wrote on this topic for a clie

"Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it." - Proverbs 22:6 Yesterday, I was creating (putting together & writing) a Bible-based kids holiday program for a local non-profit our church is supporting. Then it hit me. I need to include a section guiding the facilitators on how to actually keep kids engaged. Your heart is in the right place if you're trying to lead a Sunday School program well - but when the children ignore you, me

This free Father’s Day Lesson is packed with a joyful activity, a fun story, a Bible memory verse, a creative response, and more...

Marriage is a sacred partnership designed by God to reflect Christ’s love. In this post, discover practical, biblical ways to build a Christ-centered marriage through grace-filled communication, forgiveness, prayer, and spiritual growth together. Let’s live out God’s beautiful design for marriage with faith, hope, and love.

Photo by Sixteen Miles Out Prophecies are common in the Bible, yet the term 'prophecy' can be a bit confusing for people today. This gift of the Spirit has tripped up many followers of Jesus, so why did Paul say it should especially be desired? (1 Corinthians 14:1) (This post was originally written for GodsVerse.org - It can be read here) Definitions - What is a prophecy in the Bible? In order to understand what a prophecy in the Bible is, we need to first look at the word 'p

"The Word of God is alive and active" -Hebrews 4:12 The Bible speaks about God as alive, the Word as God-breathed, and the ministry of Jesus and the apostles as filled with power. So why is our study of it all often so. very. stale.?Theology means the study of God (Theos) + (ology). It is faith seeking understanding. Why does theology feel dead? I have a suspicion that theology becomes lifeless whenever it becomes disconnected from the living God.

A flatlay from a book I illustrated - The Child's Place "Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in an pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul." - John Muir The source of creativity can feel like an elusive 'thing' that artists and makers of all sorts need to chase down at all cost. Yet, many creatives will agree that when they truly are in flow state, it seems to just flow. It's not so much chasing down, grappling with, or wrestling

I'm a practical theologian and professional editor who just spent a few months immersed in a leadership manuscript by a client from the US. Here are seven (7) patterns and Biblical Leadership Lessons that stood out as I was editing. May you find space here to pause, reflect, and abide. What a Christian Leadership Manuscript Taught Me About Biblical Leadership When I started working as an editor, I expected polishing manuscripts, fixing grammar mistakes, and helping authors f

The Widow's Oil Bible Lesson teaches kids the famous story from the Old Testament and applies it to their own lives. It's about trusting God as their provider. The program elements include a name game, memory verse, song, lesson, Q&A, and prayer. This is lesson #10 in the series on the Old Testament's TEN most epic tales: 1 - The Creator & His Creation 2 - Noah's Flood etc... May you find space here to pause, reflect, and abide. Icebreaker Let every child say which story in

This Queen Esther Bible Lesson was written as part of a Bible program done across schools in South Africa - and it just might be the perfect thing for wherever you are too! This lesson teaches kids about bravery and courage, and knowing their place in God's big story. The program elements include a name game, memory verse, song, lesson, Q&A, and prayer. This is lesson #9 in a series on the Old Testament's most epic tales: 1 - The Creator & His Creation 2 - Noah's Flood and so

This Ruth and Boaz Bible lesson teaches the important values from the story in a way kids can understand. This lesson is focused on what we can learn from Ruth. It's about faithfulness, sticking with God's people, and loyalty. The program elements include a name game, memory verse, song, lesson, Q&A, and prayer. May you find space here to pause, reflect, and abide. Icebreaker “When were you…” happy, excited, shy, angry, sad, heartbroken. Let them raise their hands and share

This is the first Daniel in the Lion's Den Bible Lesson to teach kids the basics of this epic Bible Story. In this lesson, we'll cover why Daniel was thrown into the pit - it was because he lived God's way. Kids will learn what it means to live differently as disciples of Jesus. The program elements include a name game, memory verse, song, lesson, Q&A, and prayer. This is lesson #7 in a series of 10 on the Old Testament's most epic tales: From The Creation to Jonah & the Whal