Natalie Maki, Author at Missionary Mama http://lauramthomas.com/author/natalie-maki/ Missionary Mama Homeschool Blog Fri, 19 Jul 2019 22:41:44 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1 97442083 Doubts about Prayer: You’re Not Doing it Right. He Can’t. He Doesn’t Want to. http://lauramthomas.com/2019/07/19/doubts-about-prayer-youre-not-doing-it-right-he-cant-he-doesnt-want-to/ http://lauramthomas.com/2019/07/19/doubts-about-prayer-youre-not-doing-it-right-he-cant-he-doesnt-want-to/#respond Fri, 19 Jul 2019 22:41:44 +0000 http://lauramthomas.com/?p=20767 “Ok, let’s pray this afternoon.” I clicked send on my text and hopped in the shower, my mind whirring. Looking ahead to our prayer date, anxious thoughts began to assail me. “What if nothing changes? What if it gets worse after we pray? What if...

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]]> http://lauramthomas.com/2019/07/19/doubts-about-prayer-youre-not-doing-it-right-he-cant-he-doesnt-want-to/feed/ 0 20767 The Loveliness of Liturgy http://lauramthomas.com/2019/05/07/the-loveliness-of-liturgy/ http://lauramthomas.com/2019/05/07/the-loveliness-of-liturgy/#respond Tue, 07 May 2019 17:33:52 +0000 http://lauramthomas.com/?p=20674 The forms of these flowers are the intentional designs of a Creator who has not abandoned his broken and rebellious creation, but has instead wholly given himself to the work of redeeming it. He has scattered the evidences of creation’s former glories across the entire...

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]]> http://lauramthomas.com/2019/05/07/the-loveliness-of-liturgy/feed/ 0 20674 Pick Up Your Shield of Faith http://lauramthomas.com/2019/04/05/pick-up-your-shield-of-faith/ http://lauramthomas.com/2019/04/05/pick-up-your-shield-of-faith/#respond Fri, 05 Apr 2019 22:31:05 +0000 http://lauramthomas.com/?p=20646 Alarm bells started dinging in my head as I listened to the conversation across the table unfold. The decades old narrative kicked into gear as I sat with a polite smile pasted on my face, “Oh, you did that thing I love to do but...

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]]> http://lauramthomas.com/2019/04/05/pick-up-your-shield-of-faith/feed/ 0 20646 REDEEM THE TIME http://lauramthomas.com/2019/03/04/redeem-the-time/ http://lauramthomas.com/2019/03/04/redeem-the-time/#respond Mon, 04 Mar 2019 06:00:48 +0000 http://lauramthomas.com/?p=20613 I spent most of my twenties wallowing in discontentment. I longed to be rid of each difficulty du jour so that I could move on and be happy. Recalling all the breath I wasted complaining about hard seasons (perceived or real) makes me cringe. If...

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]]> http://lauramthomas.com/2019/03/04/redeem-the-time/feed/ 0 20613 Pruning to Produce Fruit http://lauramthomas.com/2019/02/08/pruning-to-produce-fruit/ http://lauramthomas.com/2019/02/08/pruning-to-produce-fruit/#respond Fri, 08 Feb 2019 22:44:01 +0000 http://lauramthomas.com/?p=20579 Sunlight sparkled on the translucent ice enveloping the landscape. Gleaming dollops of white drifted across a cerulean sky as the day broke shimmering and clear. A fresh morning; a new beginning. We received some glorious answers to prayer this week. For years, it seemed like...

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]]> http://lauramthomas.com/2019/02/08/pruning-to-produce-fruit/feed/ 0 20579 New Year, Same You http://lauramthomas.com/2019/01/07/new-year-same-you/ http://lauramthomas.com/2019/01/07/new-year-same-you/#respond Mon, 07 Jan 2019 06:00:08 +0000 http://lauramthomas.com/?p=20534 Rich, golden rays shone through the kitchen bay window, flooding the room with late afternoon light. I love the light right before the sun kisses the horizon and twilight falls. As I stopped to bask in the warm glow, my eye caught the thin layer...

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]]> http://lauramthomas.com/2019/01/07/new-year-same-you/feed/ 0 20534 Reclaiming Our Peace http://lauramthomas.com/2018/12/03/the-enemy-of-our-peace/ http://lauramthomas.com/2018/12/03/the-enemy-of-our-peace/#respond Mon, 03 Dec 2018 06:00:01 +0000 http://lauramthomas.com/?p=20494 Reclaiming Our Peace “I just want to be peaceful, Mama.” Me too, baby, me too. “I just want to be peaceful”  is Penny speak for “I just need to curl up on the couch with you and read a book,” or “I need be alone...

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]]> http://lauramthomas.com/2018/12/03/the-enemy-of-our-peace/feed/ 0 20494 Your Day of All Days http://lauramthomas.com/2018/11/05/your-day-of-all-days/ http://lauramthomas.com/2018/11/05/your-day-of-all-days/#comments Mon, 05 Nov 2018 06:00:04 +0000 http://lauramthomas.com/?p=20433 I wish we could do what they do in Katroo. They sure know how to say “Happy Birthday to You!” In Katroo, every year, on the day you were born They start the day right in the bright early morn When the Birthday Honk-Honker hikes...

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]]> http://lauramthomas.com/2018/11/05/your-day-of-all-days/feed/ 1 20433 I Saw You Here http://lauramthomas.com/2018/10/01/i-saw-you-here/ http://lauramthomas.com/2018/10/01/i-saw-you-here/#respond Mon, 01 Oct 2018 23:01:56 +0000 http://lauramthomas.com/?p=20378 A faint gurgle of toddler laughter drifted up the stairs as Penny danced and giggled with her Mimi. The sound was music to my ears as I nursed my sweet son before his nap. I cradled my growing boy (97th percentile for height!) and studied...

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]]> http://lauramthomas.com/2018/10/01/i-saw-you-here/feed/ 0 20378 Don’t Stop Meeting Together … Instead, Encourage Each Other http://lauramthomas.com/2018/09/05/dont-stop-meeting-together-instead-encourage-each-other/ http://lauramthomas.com/2018/09/05/dont-stop-meeting-together-instead-encourage-each-other/#respond Wed, 05 Sep 2018 21:24:05 +0000 http://lauramthomas.com/?p=20276 Indecently clothed from nursing, I hurried to unlock the door for my mom. “Hi, I’m so glad you’re here,” in that desperate tone of voice particular to moms trying to get out of the house. She had graciously offered to watch my “napping” son while...

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