By Dr. Layne McDonald You're juggling soccer practice at Shelby Farms, homework at the kitchen table, bedtime routines that feel more like negotiations, and somewhere in between, you're supposed to be raising kids who love Jesus. Sound familiar? Memphis parents know the grind. Between managing school schedules, navigating I-240 traffic, and keeping up with everything from science projects to summer camps, the idea of "purposeful parenting" can feel like one more thing on an a

When was the last time someone truly saw you? Not just looked at you, but saw you: with full presence, with warmth, with the kind of attention that says, "You matter"? If you serve on a greeting team, at the door, or at an information desk, you hold one of the most sacred roles in the church. You are often the first person a guest encounters. And the simple act of looking at them: really looking: is more than customer service. It's a form of worship. The Pupil as Portal In

Community doesn't happen by accident. And yet, so many church leaders, myself included, have stumbled through building it like we're assembling IKEA furniture without instructions. We get excited, rush ahead, skip steps, and wonder why the whole thing wobbles. If your church feels more like a collection of strangers than a tight-knit family, you're not alone. The good news? Most community-building mistakes are fixable once you know what to look for. Mistake #1: Treating Othe

It's 12:15 PM. You've just opened your lunch, and before you even take a bite, you're scrolling. Ukraine tensions. School safety headlines. Economic warnings. Someone's outraged tweet about something you didn't know happened. Your chest tightens. Your lunch goes cold. Your afternoon? Already derailed. Scripture says: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." (Philippians 4:6) Her

Scripture : "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you." (Isaiah 26:3) Welcome to your midday pause, a moment to step back from the scroll, take a breath, and see today's headlines through the lens of faith. This isn't about escaping reality or pretending hard things aren't happening. It's about choosing to process the news with clarity, compassion, and confidence in God's sovereignty. Here's what's moving at midday, February 12, 2026

Scripture: "You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you." (Isaiah 26:3) It's 12:10 PM on a Thursday, and you've already scrolled through three apps, read five conflicting headlines, and felt your chest tighten twice. A shooting in Canada. Peace talks in Ukraine. A volcano erupting. Federal debt warnings. Winter storms. Data breaches. And that's just before lunch. You want to stay informed. You know ignoring the world isn't biblic