

Cultivating a Thankful Heart
When my kids were little, I started a habit with them at bedtime. We called it “Three Thankful Things.” Every night when I tucked them in, I would ask them to tell me three things they were thankful for that day. Some nights naming thankful things came easy to them, and other nights they did it begrudgingly. Either way, our goal was to teach them (and me) the spiritual discipline of giving thanks in all circumstances. (1 Thess.5:18)

Andrea Lyford
Nov 18, 20244 min read


Is It Really Worth It? The Value of Spiritual Disciplines
Lately, I have been in a season of distraction. It’s been a busy summer for our family with one daughter graduating from high school and our other daughter getting married, all within the span of 10 days. We have a few weeks to catch our breath and then we will move our youngest daughter to college 1,000 miles away. I have still been in the Word, doing my daily reading and regular “quiet time” routine in the morning, but my mind has not been as focused. I have been going thro

Andrea Lyford
Jul 21, 20232 min read


The Gossip Test
“Well, it’s true!” my daughter exclaimed emphatically.
“Just because it’s true, doesn’t mean you need to say it,“ I replied.
This was a repeated exchange in my house as we raised two girls who are only two years apart in age. As you can imagine, words and accusations flew around our house like flies around manu--, well, you get the idea. Sins of the tongue were a constant, and I often resorted to old school training measures, such as a dab of soap or hot sauce on the to

Andrea Lyford
Mar 30, 20231 min read


Can You Accept the Holy "No"?
Do you remember a time when your parents told you “no” and you were furious? A trip down memory lane to your teen years will likely yield a story. Looking back now, you can see their wisdom, but you also vividly remember how angry, frustrated, and upset you were with them.

Andrea Lyford
Oct 25, 20221 min read


Where Is Your Refuge?
Excerpt from an article I wrote for Machias Valley Baptist Church : Psalm 46:1-2a Have you ever been through a season when it seems...

Andrea Lyford
Oct 6, 20222 min read


The Goodness of God Follows You
When I first heard these words, I thought that was a strange way of putting it. Your goodness is running after me? Then I recalled that Psalm 23:6 says, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life…

Andrea Lyford
Sep 1, 20221 min read