by Michelle Ruddell | devotional
My word for 2025. Abide. Definition according to dictionary.com: to remain; to continue; to stay. For years I lived by strive rather than abide. My idea of “a good Christian” was one who followed all the rules and checked all the boxes. I thought I was...
by Michelle Ruddell | devotional, Personal life
Do I look unsinkable? Shortly after this picture was taken, the current took me far away from friends and safety. Just a few minutes after this smile, I was struggling to keep my head above the water. I was most definitely not unsinkable. I fell off the...
by Michelle Ruddell | devotional, Matthew stories
Matthew rubbed his sleepy brown eyes as he peeked around the corner. The adults sat, cameras ready, waiting for my three-year-old son to see the spread that Santa had delivered. There was the toy kitchen he had asked for since July, a big yellow truck, an overflowing...
by Michelle Ruddell | devotional
I had a little meltdown this week. My thoughts started spinning. I needed to make a decision. It’s not a matter of great consequence. Nothing earth-shattering will happen if I say yes–or if I say no. It really wasn’t that big of a deal. It should...
by Michelle Ruddell | devotional
My hiking helpers My mind and my heart love a good hike in the mountains. (not anything too crazy). My body doesn’t cooperate. I am clumsy and out-of-shape. Recently my daughter, Missy, and I took a trip to the mountains, where I knew we would be hiking. On our...
by Michelle Ruddell | devotional
I knew I had procrastinated too long. The yard was a jungle. I had used every excuse to put off this task, but today was the day it must be done. The neighbors had all mowed. I had the lone unkempt, tall grassland on the block. I started late in the evening....
