• Made New

    ByKristin faith, Rachel

    Being able to say Rachel has heard the gospel her whole life is a blessing, but that doesn’t change her personal need for a Lord and Savior. Jesus is the only way — to heaven, through hard days & seasons, and to peace that passes all our understanding. 

    She may be young, but during a hard season in our home, she ran toward Jesus instead of away from Him. Through many conversations with Greg and me, her teachers at school and church, and other trusted adults, Rachel realized she doesn’t want to be apart from God. 

    One night in July, when she should have been sleeping, right after our Alaska trip and before VBS and Crossings, she put her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and decided to follow Him. 

    She’s still asking questions, starting conversations, and digging deep, but she believes & trusts in Him who made her and wants to become more like Christ. She took a huge step forward Sunday morning when she made this faith public through believer’s baptism. 

    I could list so many people who helped (and will help!) us raise this girl in the ways of the Lord, but I’ll just leave it at this: We are so grateful to be surrounded by such an awesome community, especially at Hardin Baptist Church and New Covenant Christian Academy. Walking up to the baptistery, through the high school room, to her Sunday school class, and then back into service was so fun because so many people wanted to celebrate her — who she is in Christ and what He’s doing in her life. These are our snapshots of some of our people, and we truly don’t know another way to know God and make Him known than together. 

    After her baptism, she hugged us and was going to change into dry clothes, and I said, “Do you feel refreshed?” Immediately, she responded, “I feel made new.” 

    Indeed! This isn’t just refreshment for the moment but life-giving nourishment for the rest of our days. I’m thankful God keeps teaching and growing us in His ways.

    *****

    Another note: The Internet is a weird place. I debated sharing my video of her baptism after I’d already posted a carousel of pictures, but I did. And, y’all, God has used it! I’ve been writing and sharing on the Internet for a long time, but the reel of Rachel’s baptism is going viral, literally. The fact that this video is one of surrender and actually doesn’t have anything to do with me isn’t lost on me. Leave it to God to work in ways I never expected, even on Instagram.

  • Happy birthday, Rachel!

    ByKristin Rachel
    Photo by Bailey & B Photography

    This girl has grown up this year. I realize that’s cliché and literally what happens from birthday to birthday, but I can see it. You know, sometimes you’re so close to a situation to see the changes? Yeah, I’ve seen this girl grow in height, maturity, and faith — and she’s as physically close to me as anyone ever wants to be. She’d sleep in my bed with her lanky limbs wrapped around me, if I’d let her. I don’t let her, just for the record. 

    Rachel is 11 today! 

    This summer was full of so many questions from Rachel and prayers for Rachel. She’s sorted through what it means to choose Jesus as Savior and Lord. Approaching midnight one night in July, Rachel decided to make her own the faith we’ve raised her in. This decision came in the midst of a family vacation, Bible school, and church camp. 

    And she’s being baptized in front of our church family tomorrow — like a double birthday! 

    She’s brave in a million ways and also worries about a lot of things. She’s perceptive and curious and joyful and easy to be with. 

    This year she and some of her fifth-grade friends started playing volleyball with the middle school girls, and it’s been so good. Watching is fun, but I see her confidence growing too. 

    She’s still part fish, and would swim anytime. With all kinds of rhythm and creativity, she knows all the words to so many songs and can make up a dance in no time. She’ll tell you she wants to be an astronaut, but I’m not sure she will stay committed to school beyond its legal requirement. But the adventure component is right for her. 

    As a mom, this year has been odd and required much adjusting. The teenagers aren’t home much, so I’ve had so much time with just Rachel that I didn’t see coming, although maybe I should have. Cate moved out and into a rental house in August, and Ben loves to drive, work, and socialize. 

    Eleven years old is still a little short of the teenage years my baby girl is longing for, but I’m praying we can bottle up this girl like this for a little longer. She’s good for my soul, and a blessing to our whole family. 

    Happy birthday, sweet girl! I’m excited to see how you keep growing up and depending on Jesus. 

    *****

    Look back on Rachel’s past birthdays:  One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven. Eight. Nine. Ten.

    Learn more about her adoption story in “Peace in the Process: How Adoption Built My Faith & My Family.”

    God authors the stories on our porches and wherever we go. If you haven’t already, please subscribe to receive #PorchStories emails about every other week.

  • Splash into Scripture

    ByKristin books, family, Rachel

    My 10-year-old girl has a lot of questions these days that lead to meandering faith conversations. Recently, she asked about why God didn’t give Satan a second chance. But who is to say He didn’t? Of course, Satan is a fallen angel, so He wasn’t created in the image of God like humans are. 

    As we talk, more questions come, so I’m thrilled to have a new resource to help me with answers for my curious girl as we splash into more Scripture this summer!

    Rachel and I spent some time looking up words and ideas she had questions about in the Explorer Bible Dictionary for Kids. It’s an alphabetical listing of lots of people, places, and promises in the Bible. 

    I know reading may not be at the top of your kids’ summer bucket list, but I think these resources will make them willing. I’m a firm believer that sharing God’s Word with kids in ordinary ways is how they are able to write truths upon their hearts. God has to repeat truths to me, so I know our kids need the same anthems.

    These help bring the Bible to life for kids with the award-winning CSB Explorer Bible for Kids & companion products! Share these biblical resources with your curious and creative kids: 

    • CSB Explorer Bible for Kids includes book introductions to help kids understand the key truths and takeaways for every book, applications about how everything points to Jesus, illustrations and real-world images to help connect the dots between important archaeological discoveries and the Bible, facts and images connecting modern-day objects and things in the world today to God and the Bible, illustrated timelines to survey key time periods and events in biblical history, profiles with fun facts and insights about important people in the Bible, topical concordance to help with some of the big words found in the Bible, and QR codes placed throughout the Bible with online videos and activities for home or church.
    • Explorer Bible Dictionary for Kids accompanies the CSB Explorer Bible for Kids. Its full-color pages include 750 common Bible terms paired with concise definitions to enhance their understanding of the people, places, and things of the Bible. Fascinating images, illustrations, maps, and reconstructions are featured throughout. ​
    • Scripture Memory Cards are another companion resource to the CSB Explorer Bible for Kids. Engaging illustrations on the 100 cards match the Bible and are designed to help kids continue to know God’s Word. Each full-color, pocket-size card includes a verse on the front and a corresponding illustration on the back, organized into these categories: Scripture, God, Creation, Humanity, Sin, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Salvation, Church, and New Creation.

    Think about your summer bucket list: Pick fruit. Swim with friends. Visit an amusement park. Bake cookies. Grill burgers. Have a campfire. Play cards with friends. And add this one: Develop joyful Bible study habits as a family! Trust me, we all want to get kids excited about spending time in God’s Word. 

    Shop Explorer Bible resources for kids.

    Enter to win a grand prize

    Lifeway is giving away one GRAND PRIZE bundle worth about $150! The Explorer Bible for Kids + Toddler Theology Series Bundle includes two copies of the Explorer Bible for Kids, two Explorer Bible for Kids Dictionaries, Explorer Bible Stickers, an Explorer Bible T-shirt, and the Toddler Theology Series six-book set. 

    Giveaway winner must be a U.S. resident and complete THIS FORM by June 11, 2026. 

    *****

    Many thanks to Lifeway Christian Resources for providing this dictionary for me to review and the bundle that I hope one of you wins. The opinions expressed here are 100 percent my own. 

    Discover more Bible resources here as well. Even in summer, God authors the stories on our porches. If you haven’t already, please subscribe to  #PorchStories emails to receive them about every other week.