Have you heard the famous story of David and Goliath? A young, seemingly unqualified shepherd boy went on an inglorious errand for this father. Upon arrival, he found a mountain of a man threatening his people. The giant Goliath declared impending doom, and David's people cowered in agreement.

David looked up at the towering terror and said, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied." -1 Samuel 17:45

I wanted to share an article I wrote for Help Club for Moms with you. I LOVE extra opportunities to write and teach - because that’s when I learn the most. I wrote this article weeks ago during a very stressful time. I remember the pending deadline to submit an article about the Word of God and feeling overwhelmed about what to say. But isn’t that always where God shows up?

This week Chris finished a series on identity that was soooo good. It impacted our home in mighty ways, and delivered some powerful truth about identity in Christ. Everyone needs to hear this truth! Enjoy!

Last week, we found out we are expecting a healthy baby boy in April! We rejoiced over our blessings, and tears of grief stung my face simultaneously. My first pregnancy in 2018 was very brief. Our daughter, Annabel Brave, was born straight into heaven. Moments after seeing a hearty baby boy dance around my womb, I lamented for my little girl like it was the day I lost her.

Keep Reading…. Baby Ladd gender reveal is here!

A mom's love is a crazy thing. Truly. Tiny people take over our bodies, hearts, and minds - and occupy every millimeter of personal space and time that previously existed. Some days you can't wait for them to go to sleep, only to stay up late watching videos of them or praying for them.

Chris showed his true colors on stage this week. Not like he did the week before when he cried through his message. This time he opened up with a comedy routine that exposed his love for organization and label makers. This is who I live with. The message will make you think and is a reminder about the power of labels and how we think. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

Life seemed extra life-ish this week. There were extra-high highs, extra-low lows, and a lot of situations where I found myself thinking, "I have no idea what to do here." Need, questions and sometimes fear wrapped around me, so I started waking at 4:30am to beat my toddler to the start of the day. I simply worshiped in the quiet moments before life woke up.

This one makes you think. This message creates freedom, and I think it will have a huge impact on you! Lifa said it was one of the first times he felt like he heard God speak to him during church! Check this one out.

There was a day this week that I put my sick toddler in front of a screen and fell asleep on the floor next to him. I bribed him with a smoothie to get through a doctor's appointment, and after 1 hour and 3 meltdowns in a pharmacy (not telling whose meltdowns), I gave him a popsicle in the bath tub if he would JUST TAKE THE MEDICINE. I limped to the finish line of that day.

Southpoint Prays is still going strong! When we started leading Southpoint Church in January, we weren’t even meeting in person. We have spent the majority of this year on some form of a lockdown, unable to meet corporately as church. The only thing I knew to do was keep gathering in prayer! So I started Southpoint Prays through Facebook Live. It took a while for the church to warm up to the idea of sharing prayer requests online, but since the beginning of the year, we’ve walked through new life, new jobs, loss, sickness, and much more. It’s so powerful to know someone is going to be there to pray - same time, same place every week. Show up if you can. Here’s this week’s prayer time. Tell me how we can pray for you!

I tried to conceal the baby bump to no avail this week! I just re-watched myself introduce Chris… and those camera angles. 🤦‍♀️

I loved this message. Chris was real, raw and spoke the truth for what it is. It wasn’t a convicting message but an invitation to understand your options and make your own decision as to whether or not you want to follow Jesus.

Happy Heritage Day, South Africa! 🇿🇦 Many South Africans will fire up their braai's today, and some will don traditional clothing and dance as we celebrate the cultural wealth of the nation. Cultural celebrations resound with belonging as we come around shared history, songs, food, and clothing that remind us of where we came from.

I remember tearfully leaving my grandmother's house the day I moved to South Africa in 2010…

Have you ever known "Smash Into A Wall Grace"? It's a real thing. Chris and I have learned over the years to think differently when life starts feeling upside down. We do a double-take when a perfectly life-giving routine suddenly feels like repeated toe-stubbing... or bull-dozing.

We are all leaders of something or someone. Even if it is something as simple as leading yourself. We are also all being lead by something. Wether we know it or not there is something in us all that leads us. Addiction, desire, hurt, fear, the pursuit of fulfillment. When you think about it that way, we might as well lean in to a leadership lesson from Jesus and learn a few things!

Has the weight of the world ever kept you up at night? I'm pregnant while raising a toddler and a teenager - the perfect combination to need sleep and to lose it! I've tearfully prayed through many nights this week for my children and the world they are inheriting. The darkness seems to shout louder and louder with confusion and temptation coming from every direction. But God is not surprised at the world He is entrusting our children to. He is not lacking in wisdom, compassion, or omnipotent love.

Chris told “the other side” of the infamous story of Judas the betrayer this week. It opened my eyes and made me think. I am the queen of creating expectations and agendas, so this one his me hard!

We all have an agenda. Life almost never follows that agenda. What happens when we put our agenda up against God’s agenda?

Yesterday, we had a "How the heck do you parent a teenager!?!" day. It was normal, non-extreme growing up stuff that leaves a mom awake through the night wondering if she's single-handedly ruined his life. My emotions are exponential right now thanks to pregnancy hormones, so Chris had to be the sole adult and handle the situation with grace and wisdom. He nailed it. He's an awesome dad, and Lifa is an incredible young man.

It's earlier than "they" say we should share the news. But this is what we do. We share life as it happens, and we go through the lows and highs together. We use this space to stay connected to friends and family all over the world, and we want to share the news!

I’'ve always loved tables and what happens at them. There's nothing better than spreading out a beautiful table cloth and sharing a meal with loved ones.
While my husband and I were having the conversation that led us to building God's Church, I saw a picture in my mind of a white flag flying. Black, bold letters spelled out "The Table" on the flag. Over a year later, I got another picture when we visited Cape Town…

Our relationship with prayer reflects our understanding of our relationship with Jesus. But do we really know Jesus? If we could understand more about Jesus then how would that change how we pray. Does prayer really do any good? Well, that depends on how well you know Jesus.