Blog
Summer Sampler: Walk Forward Faithfully
Are you constantly wondering "what's next" in life? In our latest Summer Sampler feature, Sarah Gastineau shares her powerful journey of waiting on God, tracing His path like a pilgrimage, and learning that faithfulness matters far more than success.
Summer Sampler: Our Challenges, God’s Invitation
When crisis disrupts our long-term goals, is it a roadblock or an invitation? 🛑 Minnie Lee shares her experience with sudden health challenges in seminary and how Jesus met her confusion with a peace the world cannot give.
Summer Sampler: The Grass is Always Greener
"The grass is always greener..." We’ve all heard the phrase, and if we're honest, most of us have felt it, too. 🌿In today’s edition of our Summer Sampler blog series, writer Aimee Dirkx opens up about her own long-running battle with comparison and envy — and how it secretly robbed her of joy, peace, and contentment. From moving across the country to dealing with a severe back injury, God used the shifting seasons of her life to teach her a profound truth from 1 Timothy 6:6: “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” Discover how shifting her focus toward daily, intentional gratitude completely transformed her heart posture — and how it can do the same for you!
Have you ever struggled with the comparison trap? How do you practice contentment in a world that always wants "more"? Let us know in the comments! 👇
Summer Sampler: Lemonade in the Hands of Jesus
"When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." We all know the saying, but how do we actually do it when life gets heavy?
In today’s Summer Sampler feature, Abigail Chrisicos shares her personal journey of navigating a difficult autoimmune diagnosis. Instead of letting a bitter season harden her heart, she invited God into her pain. The result? A deeper, sweeter intimacy with Christ than she had ever experienced before. 🙌
Whether you are lounging by the pool or walking through a season of quiet suffering, remember that God is actively working all things together for your good (Romans 8:28). He is ready to turn life's sour moments into something refreshing.
Summer Sampler: You Can’t Trust What You Don’t Know
Why do children leap into their father's arms without fear? Because they know him. In our latest Summer Sampler post, Sharon Gamble shares how deep intimacy with Christ fuels absolute trust, even through her husband's current battle with brain cancer.
Summer Sampler: The Value of Story
What happens when life takes an unexpected hairpin curve? By Design’s Executive Director, Kim Findlay, shares her personal journey through loss and restoration, reflecting on how God weaves threads of hope through our darkest chapters. No matter what chapter of life you are writing today, your story matters to God and to this community.
Along the Way
How often do we miss what is right in front of us because we’re too focused on where we’re going? 🏃♀️💨
By Design’s Executive Director Kim Findlay dives into the story of the woman at the well and reminds us that Jesus never missed a person, even when He was "along the way" to somewhere else. He didn’t rush people; He walked beside them.
Are you focused on the destination, or are you leaving room for the transformation happening right now?
He Is Risen
"Because He is Risen, I don’t need to fear my own inadequacy, because the power to do His will was never dependent on me." ✨
As we approach Easter, let’s remind our hearts that the Resurrection isn't just a historical event; it's our current reality. If you're feeling "not enough" today, come read this reminder of whose power actually matters.
10 Reasons to Attend Chosen for His Glory — a By Design Ministries Retreat
Leading others starts with a heart that is rested in Him. 🕊️
We are so excited for our upcoming retreat, "Chosen for His Glory," and our new Executive Director, Kim Findlay, is sharing exactly why this weekend is so vital for women in this season.
When Someone You Love is Deconstructing Their Faith (and it’s breaking your heart)
If your heart is heavy for a loved one who is struggling with their faith, this post is for you. You are not alone, and neither are they.
5 Tips for InTENTional Living
Growing up, my younger brother, sister, and I made the coolest living room tents. Couch cushions, pillows, blankets, heavy books, the coffee table, and every chair we could take by eminent domain were brought for the building of these subcommunities. As the oldest city planner, I calculated the most efficient placement of the tallest pieces of furniture for maximum living space. We brought in amenities such as snacks, flashlights, and books, and we visited each other’s caves by wriggling our little bodies forward on the carpet like worms with elbows. The quality of life in these spacious tent cities was ranked very high, often attracting
5 Ways to Deepen Your Bible Reading
Have you ever sat down with your Bible, a fresh cup of coffee in hand, and a heart ready to connect with God, only to realize five minutes later that you’ve been reading the same sentence about genealogical records while mentally adding “buy more laundry detergent” to your grocery list?
I have been there more times than I care to admit. Once, during a particularly quiet morning, I found myself so deeply distracted that I actually started wondering if there was a biblical Greek word for “espresso.” Spoiler alert: it is not in there.
7 Ways to Love People into the Kingdom
We want to tell people about Jesus. What in life could be better than knowing Him? I’m sure that, like me, you want so badly for every single person on the planet to know the freedom and joy and peace and forgiveness and sheer transformation that comes from life in Christ. But let me be real here for a second. People are sometimes wary of Christians.
5 Ways to Grow in Your Prayer Life
Sisters, as women who are called to lead, we often operate from a deep place of competence and capability. We manage the budget, we coordinate the volunteers, we run the Bible study. We are experts in execution. But prayer is where we lay down our expertise and surrender control to the One who guides our steps. It is the core of our spiritual practices, not just a line item on our spiritual to do list.
Here in New England, we are used to rugged independence. We are good at getting things done ourselves. But prayer is the exact opposite. It is an invitation to depend entirely on God, to bring Him our requests, our praise, and even our complaints. It is not about our effort; it is about His presence. A strong prayer life is not just a nice spiritual extra; it is the very breath of effective, Spirit-led leadership. Without it, we are just running on fumes.
5 Ways to Not Burn Out in Ministry
Let’s be honest, friends. Serving in ministry here in New England requires a special kind of stamina. We have that famous Yankee work ethic, combined with a deep spiritual need in our communities. As women leaders, we often add another layer to that: the instinct to nurture everyone, fix every problem, and bake homemade gluten-free muffins for the volunteer appreciation breakfast at 2 a.m.
I remember a distinct moment early in my ministry when I hit a wall. I was juggling leading a Bible study, preparing four hour-long sessions to teach at a retreat, and organizing a women’s luncheon at my church. I found myself crying in the church storage closet because I couldn't find the “right” kind of centerpieces for the luncheon. It wasn't about centerpieces. It was about having nothing left in the tank.
5 Ways to Be Peaceful in Turbulent Times
If you live in New England, you know the specific kind of panic that comes with navigating a rotary in a blizzard. Sometimes ministry leadership feels exactly the same way. You are spinning in circles, visibility is low, and you are pretty sure nobody used their blinker. We wrote our latest blog post for every leader who feels like they are white-knuckling it through a storm. We are sharing 5 practical tips for finding peace when the waters (or the roads!) get choppy.
5 Ways to Carry Christmas into the New Year
The lights are coming down, but the Light stays on. Don't let the wonder of Christmas fade into a New Year routine! Our latest blog post has 5 simple, soul-filling ways to carry the spirit of Immanuel (God with us) into your daily life and leadership. Tap the link in bio to read: “5 Ways to Carry Christmas into the New Year.”
Am I Really Grateful?
We often wonder if we're truly grateful, especially when longing for "more" leaves us discontent. But nothing in this world will satisfy. Find true, lasting satisfaction by taking the advice of Hebrews: look to and meditate on Jesus Christ.
Sabbath Rest
God’s call to rest, to be still and know that he is God, is a calendared event as well as a disposition of the heart. For my husband Dave and me, in addition to our daily quiet times, it is the primary spiritual discipline that has set the sails for our marriage, family life, and ministry. It includes Sabbath rest, commanded and modeled in Genesis 2:2-3, where the pattern of six plus one in the week was established. But it is also nestled against the backdrop of …
Fasting That Transforms: A Sacred Rhythm for Real Breakthrough
Fasting is a powerful but often neglected spiritual discipline. In a culture full of noise, indulgence, and distraction, fasting helps us realign with God’s heart.
Jesus said, “When you fast …” (Matthew 6:16). Not as a suggestion, but as a rhythm of spiritual transformation and intimacy.
While fasting is typically associated with completely refraining from food for a set period of time, that is only one of the ways to fast. There is also, for example, a