I planted nine tomato plants in my very first garden.

Yes, you read that correctly, NINE.

I . . . didn’t know what I was getting myself into. Alongside some cucumbers, lettuce, and poorly supported snap peas, I crammed in nine little tomato plants that didn’t stay so small.

A family member had given me quite a few tomato starts that she had left over. And, I thought, “hey, why not, let’s throw them in the ground.” Flash forward to several months later, and I had so many tomatoes and no idea what to do with them. I made soup, spaghetti, pico de gallo, salsa, and shared lots of produce with family members. It was a fun summer, but also a learning experience.

And it was validating: “hey, I can do this.”

What began as a nine tomato plant garden has grown and changed into a new plan each year. Yet, while my crops have been more thought out, the garden continues to be a, “why not, let’s put it in the ground” scenario! Those nine tomato plants have inspired me to experiment and keep trying year after year. So far, over the course of four different summer gardens, I have grown cucumbers, green leaf lettuce, romaine, arugula, broccoli, corn, green onions, snap peas, bell peppers, strawberries, carrots, shallots, green beans, tomatoes, and a variety of herbs.

However, my favorite crop to grow continues to be tomatoes.

I love making salsa, fresh tomato soup, and spaghetti sauce. Tomatoes are so versatile, and there are many varieties. I love slicing them fresh as well as preserving them.

In my garden this year, I have six tomato plants, consisting of four varieties. (And, they are properly spaced this year!)

Roma

My favorite tomato so far to grow.

They are ideal for canning, as well as making salsa and sauces. Yet, they also are great fresh sliced on a sandwich or with fresh basil and a balsamic glaze. My husband loves to eat them by the slice with just a sprinkle of kosher salt and freshly ground pepper.

Early Girl

This is a variety I like growing simply because of it’s name and timeline – it comes on early!

Where I live, I don’t have a super long growing season, so I need to maximize my time. From the time of transplanting the start, I can expect to have fresh tomatoes on the vine within about 70-90 days depending on the weather. An early girl plant can produce fruit in about 50 days. But in my climate, I have cold nights in May and June that I think slow my tomato growth down.

Super Sweet 100 Cherry

Enough said.

Perfect for eating straight from the vine, on salads, or in a sheet pan dinner. My first time growing this variety, I planted three plants, and it was too much for just my husband and I. I was giving cherry tomatoes away like crazy, because they can’t be preserved (or at least, I haven’t found a way to preserve them).

This year, I just have one plant. . .

San Marzano

This is a new one for me! I have one plant this year, and they are supposed to be great for sauces, so I am giving this a try. If you have grown this variety, comment below what your experience is with it.

Regardless of variety, tomatoes are such a fun crop to grow.

It’s beautiful to watch the blossoms start, then green tomatoes form, and then watch the green color slowly develop into orange and then a deep red.

There’s beauty in the process.

Part of the joy of gardening is the process, not just the produce grown. From prepping the garden soil, to planting, to pruning, and watching with a hopeful eye, excitement is found in the experience.

And, it’s a stress relief.

When life has been stressful lately, I put on my gardening gloves, pick a podcast, and head out to the garden for several hours. Digging in the dirt and being in the fresh air calm the soul. And I believe this is a gift from God.

From nine plants and no idea what I was doing, to now six plants and only slightly more of an idea of what I am doing, I am grateful for the gift to be able to grow my own food!

What’s your favorite crop to grow or fresh produce to find at your local farmer’s market?

In Christ,

Lauren

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” - Galations 6:2, RSV-CE

“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” - Matthew 18:20, RSV-CE

On the blog, you will find a variety of devotions and reflections that are near to my heart and journey with the Lord. Topics include: mental health, grief, the seasons, chronic illness, faith, and more. Perhaps they are topics that may have also touched your life.

A Little Reintroduction

If you are new here, hi!

I’m Lauren, and I’m a persistent Christian. I am a cradle Catholic from the beautiful state of Oregon. I attended Carroll College in Helena, Montana for undergrad, and Gonzaga University for my master’s. As a former preschool teacher and youth minister, I have always had a passion for sharing the love of Jesus with others. After five years of sharing the Good News with the littlest members of the Church, I made the transition to writing for us “big people.”

My transition to writing was not an easy one. In the summer of 2023, I was diagnosed with chronic bartonellosis and Lyme disease. I learned that I had likely had these vector borne infections most of my life, and I had no idea these infections were a likely cause of my health issues. This prompted my resignation from my youth ministry position to pursue treatment. It was a major turning point in my faith life. Either I keep my struggling to myself, or I turn the pain into something beautiful in pursuit of Jesus. I felt the Lord calling me to Himself through writing.

I created The Persistent Christian as a place to share devotions from my walk with Jesus. My relationship with God affects all aspects of my health: physical, mental, and spiritual. Two years later, I continue to post devotions here on a regular basis, and I have also completed my first full-length, nonfiction manuscript.

You can find me spending my days writing, reading, baking, gardening, exercising, and playing with my corgi, Tank.

A New Section of The Persistent Christian

In my latest newsletter for the month of July, I posted a poll about gardening. If you missed the newsletter, check it out below:

In the poll, I asked readers if they’d be interested in a gardening specific section. In response, I will be launching a Gardening topic for The Persistent Christian.

Yay!

You can find this section by visiting the homepage of the blog, and the link is on the far right of the task bar. This section will explore gardening topics, as well as the relationship between gardening and the Christian life. Whether you are a seasoned gardener or just love fresh, seasonal produce, this section will be all about seeking conversation with God through the gift of gardening. You don’t have to be a gardener to read it, and I hope you will join me!

An Exciting Change Coming Soon

The Persistent Christian has always been and will continue to be completely free. I write because I enjoy it but also in obedience to the Lord. He has called me to be a writer, and this is my ministry and occupation.

I have received multiple pledges for a future subscription, and I am excited to share that a paid subscription option will be available soon . The paid option will be completely optional. All subscribers, paid and free, will receive the same content. The paid option will simply be a way to support my writing and the continuation of The Persistent Christian!

I am grateful that I have received these pledges from some generous readers, and I will be launching the paid option at $5 per month or $50 per year on August 1, 2026. If you feel called to support The Persistent Christian in this way, you can submit your pledge below to be converted on August 1 to a paid subscription.*

Subscribe now

*Please note that I will not be enabling a founding tier. It is listed as an option when submitting a pledge, but it will not be utilized in the paid model going live on August 1. If you choose to pledge, please only select a monthly or yearly subscription. Thanks!

-Lauren

Weeds Among the Crops

8/30/24

“And he told them many things in parables, saying: ‘Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Let anyone with ears, listen!’”

- Matthew 13:3-9, NRSV-CE

Have you ever noticed how sneaky weeds can be? They grow absolutely everywhere! They have the ability to pop up unnoticed and grow until they are big enough to take over the space where a plant is growing. The weeds rob the plant of the essential nutrients it needs, and they can manage to grow among the crops.

In my own garden, I find that I am constantly battling the weeds. It seems just as I have spent an hour weeding, the next day I find more weeds sprouted up. They like to hide underneath the plant leaves and in spaces that are not easily noticed. I find myself having to resign to living with them in the garden!

I think the same can happen in the spiritual life. There are things in our lives that are robbing us of the spiritual nutrients we need. Yet, we have resigned that we simply just have to live with them. But, we have free will and there are choices we can make in life. We can choose to weed out the distractions in our lives, but we must continually do so, just as weeds constantly come back in garden soils.

So in this life, distractions will continually present themselves.

In the parable of the sower in Matthew 13, Jesus teaches about the foundation we need for the word of God to be able to bear fruit in our lives (Matt 13:23). Jesus presented several scenarios where the seed, representing God’s word, is attempted to be planted, but various circumstances of this world prevent it from taking root. Jesus taught that when seed falls among the thorns, the thorns choked out the seed, so it was unable to grow grain (Matt 13:7).

It is critical that we pull the weeds out of our lives. Weeds that choke out our ability to hear God’s gentle voice, and weeds that interfere with our ability to grow. Thorns are inevitable in this life, but it is important to recognize them for what they are: thorny, unwanted distractions.

What are some weeds and thorns in your life that need to be maintained? How can you ask Jesus for help in weeding these out today?

In Christ,

Lauren

I have been reflecting lately on how much the seasons impact our lives. Since starting The Persistent Christian, I have been drawn to centering my writing around the seasons of the spiritual life. This idea was first introduced to me by a campus minister in college. We talked about times of desolation and times of rejoicing in the spiritual life and how they can be compared to the four physical seasons.

This has stuck with me ever since, as the seasons truly impact things, whether in little or big ways. The seasons are a reminder that each peson’s walk with the Lord will have changes in scenery. Additionally, seasons are also honored in the Catholic faith: there is the beauty of Ordinary Time, the waiting and cleansing of Lent, anticipating in Advent, and celebrating in Easter.

God is unchanging, but our lives and circumstances do. The path sometimes winds, descends, and ascends. But, each day is a gift. And, the Lord promises to be with us always:

“And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

- Matthew 28:20, NRSV-CE

It is only natural that our days and schedules would adapt as circumstances change. In the literal sense, as the daylight has stretched into the late evening hours, I have been enjoying the cooler respite from the hot days. As the sun goes down, I have spent a lot of time with my hands and feet in the garden dirt. The 5pm sunsets are far in the rear view mirror for now, and my daily schedule is grateful for it!

While we continue to have our daily responsibilities to keep up with, the good weather and beauty of His creation draw us outdoors and into dialogue with Him through all that He has made for us.

And furthermore, we go through all kinds of seasons. Physical seasons like spring, summer, fall, and winter, but also spiritual and emotional seasons like despair, joy, and loss. As we grow and change, so does our spiritual life.

As the book of Ecclesiastes reminds us:

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted. . .”

-Ecclesiastes 3:1-2, NRSV-CE

I pray that this summer is full of God’s blessings for you. In the long, summer nights, I hope you find the signs of God’s hand all around.

He is here.

Gardening Questions

A big part of my summer is planting and nurturing a garden! I started my first garden in 2023, and each year I am learning and adapting. The survey below has a few questions surrounding the garden!

I think it would be fun to start a gardening section of The Persistent Christian. God is the master gardener, and how beautiful that we can participate in stewarding creation. The survey above helps me gauge interest in this topic.

Have any other gardening thoughts? Or suggestions for another section topic?

Drop me a line below!

Thanks for being here!

Thank you for subscribing to The Persistent Christian.

Your reading, supportive comments, and sharing of the blog means so much. I am grateful to be able to share my writing and love for Jesus. What once started as a simple way to post my writing has been growing and changing over the last 2 years.

As a subscriber, you can expect approximately 3-4 emails a month. New posts come out every other Thursday, and you will receive one monthly newsletter at the beginning of each month.

Have someone on your heart who might enjoy reading? You can share The Persistent Christian by clicking the button below.

Share The Persistent Christian

What’s new?

There were two new posts in the month of June. Click below to read them.

1. Summer praise

A brief imagery on the beauty of the summer season. Thank you, Lord for the gift of the warm season!

2. Reflections on directions

It is so hard to relinquish control to the Lord. Yet, it is necessary. This is a reflection on giving it all to Him.

In Closing…

Thank you for being here! It is a blessing to be able to share my writing, and I am grateful for your reading.

May the Lord shine His face upon you.

In Christ,

Lauren

– Proverbs 16:9, NRSV-CE

Since the early years of my walk with the Lord, I have been comforted by the notion that I don’t have to have it all figured out. The Lord doesn’t expect us to know what to do all of the time - quite the contrary. One of my all-time favorite verses is:

“for we walk by faith, not by sight.” - 2 Corinthians 5:7, NRSV-CE

This verse is comforting, because it reminds us that we will not always be able to see what’s up ahead. There will be many instances when following the Lord requires walking by faith.

Simply put, we must persistently rely on Him.

This is a common sentiment, so common that it may pass us by every time we hear it. It may seem simple, but for myself, it has been anything but simple. As a planner, chronic worrier, and lover of order, allowing the Lord to direct my steps is truly difficult. I like to make my own plans and be in control! But, I am not in control.

The Lord is.

Recognizing that I don’t have complete control over my life doesn’t mean I am not a participant in my own life. It’s not an invitation to never make any plans. And to clarify, I do have some control. We have the gift of free will, and let us not forget that.

Rather, recognition of God’s sovereignty is a reminder of who is ultimately the Author of my life. He is the source of everything I have. And, I must remember to give thanks and all praise to Him all the days of my life.

It is an acknowledgment that I am not the most important part of my life.

God is.

He influences everything I do. He is the Creator, Healer, Lover, and Author of all.

wrote in an article recently about the importance of obedience to the Lord even when we are not sure what lies ahead (read more here: You Can Move Forward While Still Feeling Afraid). This article was a beautiful reminder that we don’t have to be fearless on our walk with the Lord. Quite the contrary.

On the days I don’t know what to do: Lord, show me the way.

In the moments I am afraid: Lord, give me peace.

When I find myself losing hope: Lord, remind me that it is precisely hope that anchors the soul (Hebrews 6:19).

Today and every day, Lord, show me the way.

Amen.

In Christ,

Lauren

If you liked this post, you may also like:

The smell of burgers on the BBQ.

The squeals and splashing of the kids in the pool.

The distant murmurs of loved ones and the clinking of glasses.

The crunch of pebbles underneath well-worn hiking boots.

The gentle footfall of a deer nearby.

Labored breathing, followed by relief as the summit comes into view.

A tent being pitched beside the crackle of a fire.

The smell of fresh coffee and the morning dew.

He is the Author of all of this.

This season is a gift from Him.

As the mountains come into view:

“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—

where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord,

the Maker of heaven and earth.”

- Psalm 121:1-2, NIV

The time is now.

What are you waiting for?

“The Maker of heaven and earth” is calling to You through His creation.

He desires to speak to You.

It’s time to pursue Him.

And it’s time to let Him pursue you.

In Christ,

Lauren

More devotions from The Persistent Christian

Happy June!

It is hard to believe we are approaching summertime. As the days warm and the sunlight stretches into the evening hours, I thank God for the gift of living a life in service of Him.

Even on the hard days, He is there waiting for us to consult Him. He has plans for us. They may not be what we expected, but they are good.

“For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.”

- Jeremiah 29:11, NRSV-CE

The month of May was a busy one

The garden was planted!

As spring goes, after planting I proceeded to “tuck the garden in” many cold nights under a frost cover (and had a little regret planting the vulnerable seeds and starts so early! I was excited…).

Nurturing a garden takes so much time, yet its so rewarding.

For my gardening friends: I am in zone 6b. If you have any tips for zone 6b gardening, please send them my way! This is my 4th year gardening in this zone, and every year is different.

I attended my first in-person writers conference in Chicago.

After one tiny flight from my small regional airport, to my state’s main airport, then to Chicago O’Hare, I got to experience big city life (a bit overwhelming, but fun for a short time)!

At the writers conference, I connected with so many other wonderful people in the publishing world who also love Jesus.

I learned a lot and left the conference feeling excited for the future and for writing for the Lord.

Fellowship is so important.

Thanks for being here!

Thank you for subscribing to The Persistent Christian.

Your reading, supportive comments, and sharing of the blog means so much. I am grateful to be able to share my writing and love for Jesus.

As a subscriber, you can expect approximately 3-4 emails a month. New posts come out every other Thursday, and you will receive one monthly newsletter at the beginning of each month.

Every other Thursday - New devotion. My regular topics are seasonal reflections, chronic illness, grief, and Catholic faith. However, I always look to the Lord for help about what to write, so each devotion that comes out is unique to the time it’s being posted.

Monthly - Newsletter about what’s going on with The Persistent Christian. Receive an update with links to last month’s posts, a little blurb about the latest, and an opportunity to submit prayer requests.

Have someone on your heart who might enjoy reading? You can share The Persistent Christian by clicking the button below.

Share The Persistent Christian

What’s new?

There were two new posts in the month of May. Click below to read them.

1. A personal reflection on my battle with anxiety.

This post is near to my heart. I have struggled with anxiety since I was young, and this is a reflection on how social media affects mental health.

2. Thoughts on growing where you are planted

Growing where you are planted takes time. In gratitude for those who came and went before me, this is a reflection on how roots can take generations to form.

Prayer Requests

If you would like to submit a prayer request directly to me, please click the button below to send me a message. I will write your prayer in my journal and offer it up to the Lord.

If you would like to submit a prayer that other subscribers can see and pray for as well, join The Persistent Christian subscriber chat. A new thread went out this morning in the chat that subscribers can reply to with prayer requests.

Your Feedback is Requested…

In Closing…

Thank you for being here! It is a blessing to be able to share my writing, and I am grateful for your reading.

May the Lord shine His face upon you as we approach the summer season.

In Christ,

Lauren

Yet, roots take time.

They don’t form overnight.

Patience and trust in the process is required.

Recently, I attended a funeral, and the graveside service was in a small, old country cemetery. I knew that some of my relatives were buried here in this peaceful place. What I came to learn is that my great-great-great grandparents were laid to rest here over 100 years ago.

Also in this peaceful setting, my great-grandmother was buried, alongside her brothers.

As well as their parents: my great-great grandparents.

A long line of my ancestors are all buried in the same place.

Written on my great-great-great grandmother’s headstone were two lines in German. A quick online translation of the lines indicated in English that they said:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and strengthful, I will refresh you.”

While online translators are not always the most accurate, it was undeniable that my great-great-great grandmother’s headstone had a translation of Matthew 11:28 written on it in German.

This verse has always resonated with me. I find it beautiful that an ancestor of mine, who was born 160 years before me, also may have found comfort in this beautiful verse. What I know about her is that she and my great-great-great grandfather came to America from Germany to start a new life.

I can’t imagine beginning life again on the other side of the world from where I was raised, with a new language, environment, and culture.

They planted roots in a new place, and those roots have formed over generations.

Jesus said in scripture: “I am the vine, you are branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” - John 15:5, RSV-CE

Wherever we decide to put down roots, it is important to stay close to Jesus. We must stay connected to Him to have strong roots, like a tree planted beside the waters (Psalm 1:3).

Jesus will help us grow.

In honor of Memorial Day coming up next week, I thank God for those who came and went before me.

I had no idea my great-great-great grandparents were buried in a quaint, country cemetery 20 minutes from where I was raised. Yet, it reminded me of the brave choice my ancestors made over 150 years ago to make a new life for themselves in America.

My roots come from their choice.

As my great-great-great grandmother’s headstone reads: come to me all who are weary and heavy burdened and I will give you rest.

While I don’t live near where I was raised anymore, I am reminded that my true roots are found in Him.

Lord, help me to cultivate roots where You have planted me.

Amen.

In Christ,

Lauren

If you liked this post, you may also like:

Anxiety is, unfortunately, very common.

And, it is on the rise with the technological age.

Information overload leads to overwhelming expectations and unending comparison.

Technological Age

We have too much information at our fingertips. Many days, I am finding myself wanting to stay away from social media all together. Being informed is good, but there are times when it is essential to step away.

Information Overload

We often worry more when we have too much information. It is simple as that.

I used to think that researching and information gathering would alleviate my anxiety. In some cases, it still does. However, much of the time, it actually makes it worse.

Overwhelming Expectations

With more information comes more expectations: of others, ourselves, and what our lives should look like. Expectations are important and good when we define them clearly and ensure they are realistic. However, when they are based solely on social media or on what others think of us, they may end up doing more harm than good.

Unending Comparison

In the age of social media, comparison runs rampant.

“Look at what she has.”

“She is so beautiful.”

“Her kids are so well-behaved.”

“Wow, I don’t eat that healthy!”

I remember when we used to just share badly filtered latte art and ocean sunsets on social media without a care in the world! Social media used to be fun. Now, it’s often a comparison game.

Am I still on social media? Yes.

Do I still enjoy it sometimes? Yes.

I love a good comedy reel or inspirational post from one of my favorite Christian creators.

BUT

Anxiety is still real.

And it can be all consuming (spiraling out of control, loss of focus, reality, and time).

It is exhausting.

Yet, I have been learning that I have a choice.

For many years (and still today honestly), I have let anxiety be a part of who I am and define my personality.

Anxiety is something one has, yet it does not have to be a defining characteristic.

Today, I am challenging myself to re-frame my thinking.

I HAVE anxiety. Not, anxiety has a hold on me.

I struggle with overthinking and anxious thoughts.

Those thoughts don’t have to define me.

And, most importantly, there is Someone who I can run to in my most anxious moments.

When I am anxious, it helps me to say: Jesus

And then I wait for His peace that surpasses all understanding (Phil 4:7).

In Christ,

Lauren

The flowers are blooming (*cue sneezing*), the sun has been out, there have been rain showers, and the home projects continue. In the month of April, I traveled across the country from Oregon to Florida, did some home painting, and prepared my garden space for planting.

It is amazing to look back at a month and consider how much did (or didn’t happen). There are some months where it feels like a lot was accomplished and other months where time seemingly inched by.

Whatever season you find yourself in, please know of my prayers for you. God is present in every season, in every high and low, and in each sunrise and sunset.

Some days are long.

Some days fly by.

But, it is a treasure to spend them in the company of the Creator.

The One who knows each and every one of us best.

Each day is a gift.

May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month

It has been almost 3 years since I was diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease and bartonellosis, and May is Lyme disease awareness month.

Lyme is often an invisible battle.

Lyme disease has been nicknamed “The Great Imitator”. It can be misdiagnosed as something else, and that is exactly what happened to me. It is unclear how many years I went misdiagnosed, but it is clear that the true cause of my health issues was missed for quite some time. I am grateful I finally received the correct diagnosis, and I have been continuing on the long road of recovery.

To all those battling a chronic illness: you are strong and the Lord is with you.

To read more about my journey with Lyme:

Hey you, thanks for being here!

As a subscriber, you can expect approximately 3-4 emails a month. New posts come out every other Thursday, and you will receive one monthly newsletter at the beginning of each month.

Every other Thursday - New devotion. My regular topics are seasonal reflections, chronic illness, grief, and Catholic faith. However, I always look to the Lord for help about what to write, so each devotion that comes out is unique to the time it’s being posted.

Monthly - Newsletter about what’s going on with The Persistent Christian. Receive an update with links to last month’s posts, a little blurb about the latest, and an opportunity to submit prayer requests.

What’s new?

There were two new posts in the month of April. Click below to read them!

1. A reflection on the difficult work of painting a closet:

2. A West Coaster’s first time walking on an Atlantic Ocean coastline:

Prayer Requests

If you would like to submit a prayer request directly to me, please click the button below to send me a message. I will write your prayer in my journal and offer it up to the Lord.

If you would like to submit a prayer that other subscribers can see and pray for as well, join The Persistent Christian subscriber chat. A new thread went out this morning in the chat that subscribers can reply to with prayer requests.

Your Feedback is Requested…

In Closing…

Thank you for being here! It is a blessing to be able to share my writing, and I am grateful for your reading.

May the Lord shine His face upon you as we continue through spring.

In Christ,

Lauren

If you like The Persistent Christian, click the button below to share it with a friend!

Share The Persistent Christian

The United States is an incredibly unique, diverse, and large country. The size of the country truly can’t be appreciated by simply looking at a map, but rather from traveling coast to coast. A west coast resident can go their entire lives without visiting the east side of the country, and vice versa.

I have been fortunate to have flown across the entire country several times. While the flights are long, it is exciting to travel. From these flights, I have come to appreciate that the size of the United States is massive!

Where I was raised in Oregon, I lived less than 2 hours inland from the Pacific Ocean. Many cherished hours of my life have been spent walking along the coastline, admiring sunsets over the ocean horizon, and weaving my way in and out of coastal shops.

I have comforting and happy memories of the sounds of seagulls and crashing waves, the sight of kites in the endless blue sky, and the gentle feel of the ocean mist on my face. While I reside in the mountains currently, I am partial to a coastal Oregon summer.

On a recent trip to Florida, I walked alongside the Atlantic Ocean for the first time. After spending all my life beside the Pacific, walking alongside another ocean was truly a treat. Sure, it’s just another ocean, but this was a fun and exciting experience. The Atlantic even appeared a different shade of blue-green to me than the Pacific!

While my husband and I enjoyed dinner overlooking the ocean, a funny thing happened: the sun was NOT setting over the ocean. Of course, I know that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, the same thing every day. Yet, it was such a new experience for me to witness the sky over the ocean slowly darken and the many colors of the sunset reflect in the clouds, without the sun sinking down over the ocean horizon.

I imagine a life-long east coast resident would feel similar watching the sun set over the Pacific. When we are so used to seeing something from the same angle, we stop and look when that angle changes.

God sometimes gives us new perspective just when we need it most.

Psalm 113:3 says, “From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the Lord is to be praised!” Every day, from the morning sunrise to the evening sunset, there is opportunity to praise the Lord! And, no matter what view you have of the rising and setting of the sun, the Lord is present there and worthy to be praised.

From coast to coast, I have had the honor of witnessing the beauty of God’s creation. He is present to His creation in every gentle sunrise and each vibrant sunset. We have a truly beautiful world.

How amazing is it, that Heaven is even more beautiful than this?

In Christ,

Lauren

My house has been a construction zone lately. Almost a year ago, my husband and I closed on our new-to-us home: a two-level house, built in 1978, that had only had one owner for 47 years. The house “spoke” to us from the moment we walked in, and there were many projects we envisioned when we bought this house.

In this last year, what started as a bathroom remodel, slowly evolved and changed into multiple home projects (some being the result of a major leak, see my post: Hawaii, Home Emergencies, and God’s Faithfulness for more of THAT story!). Life has been full of early mornings, displaced furniture, picking out paint colors, flooring, windows, and lots and lots (did I mention, lots?) of construction dust!

Recently, my husband and I tackled our next project: painting our master bedroom and closet. While some do not enjoy it, I on the other hand truly enjoy painting. It is hard work, but is beautiful watching an old, scuffed up wall become new again. Something as simple as a fresh paint color can completely transform a room. With the windows open and the sun shining, we worked on painting the old white walls with a new, warm tan color.

When it came time to paint our walk-in closet, I really did not realize how hard it would be. I thought, surely this is a smaller space than the whole room, it won’t be too bad.

I was wrong.

8 hours later, I was out of energy, covered in paint, sweating, and staring at my freshly painted closet.

And in the process, I learned a few things.

First and foremost, closets are not easy to paint! There are so many nooks and crannies, and areas that probably don’t need to be painted, but for the sake of uniformity, get painted anyway. You need a small brush, a big brush, a roller, the kitchen sink…. lots of tools needed!

Second, because of the lighting, I had to use a flashlight and extra lamp, in addition to the overhead light, to make sure I could actually see what I was doing. Just when I thought I had gotten a surface fully painted, when I shined a light on it, there was a big white spot that I missed.

Third, painting a closet is like examining the interior of one’s heart.

We just celebrated Easter this past Sunday (yay!), and came out of a 40 day journey in the desert. During Lent, it is a time to examine our hearts and identify what needs to be made new. In transforming and renewing our hearts, we have to take a light to the darkest corners to illuminate the areas that need Jesus.

Jesus is that light that will illuminate the darkest corners of our hearts.

Like painting a closet with fresh new paint, Easter is a beautiful season to let the love of Jesus into the dusty, cobwebbed corners of our hearts. And it’s okay if those corners look a little scuffed up. Jesus will illuminate them with His soft, gentle light, and help us be made anew.

We just have to invite Him in.

In Christ,

Lauren

First of all, WELCOME if you are new here! My name is Lauren Seymour, and I started The Persistent Christian as a place to share devotions from my walk with the Lord. I am grateful to have this space to share, and I just transitioned The Persistent Christian over to Substack from another platform in December 2025.

On my previous platform, I sent out monthly updates to subscribers. It took me some time to get settled in on Substack, and I finally have created a separate section to my blog where monthly newsletters will reside.

You are automatically opted into these monthly newsletters as a subscriber. If you would like to update your email preferences, you can head over to your settings page by clicking here. Simply click on “The Persistent Christian” to manage your email notifications.

What to expect…

As a subscriber, you can expect approximately 3-4 emails a month. New posts come out every other Thursday, and you will receive one monthly newsletter at the beginning of each month.

Every other Thursday - New devotion. My regular topics are seasonal reflections, chronic illness, grief, and Catholic faith. However, I always look to the Lord for help about what to write, so each devotion that comes out is unique to the time it’s being posted.

Monthly - Newsletter about what’s going on with The Persistent Christian. Receive an update with links to last month’s posts, a little blurb about the latest, and an opportunity to submit prayer requests.

What’s new?

In the month of March, I posted two new devotions. The devotion “Grief Tells a Story” is particularly near to my heart, as it is a reflection on three things I have learned in the first 18 months of my grief journey since my twin brother passed away.

Follow the links below to read March’s posts.

Prayer Requests

If you would like to submit a prayer request directly to me, please click the button below to send me a message. I will write your prayer down in my journal and offer up your prayers to the Lord.

If you would like to submit a prayer that other subscribers can see and pray for as well, join The Persistent Christian subscriber chat. A new thread went out this morning in the chat that subscribers can reply to with prayer requests.

Your Feedback is Requested…

In Closing…

Thank you for being here! It is a blessing to be able to share my writing, and I am grateful for your reading.

May the Lord shine His face upon you as we approach the Easter season!

In Christ,

Lauren

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Everyone’s grief journey is different.

Whether you’ve lost someone yesterday, 10 years ago, or are anticipating a loss, your grief matters. If you have lost one person, or seemingly everyone close to you, God sees you.

Your grief tells a story.

On a late summer day, 18 months ago, my twin brother passed away. After a 25-year battle with a rare form of epilepsy, and one week after turning 28, the Lord called him home. He was my best friend, and one of the strongest people I have ever known.

These past 18 months have been uncharted territory. In fact, the entire grief journey has felt like navigating through uncharted waters. I thought I was prepared for my brother’s passing, because he had been ill for quite some time, but I simply wasn’t. And I had no idea what was up ahead as I began grieving.

I am no grief expert. However, as I have been processing my own grief, 3 things I have learned and observed on this journey are:

1. Grief is biblical.

2. Grief can be random.

3. Talking about grief is healing.

Grief is biblical

A story that has resonated with me greatly over the last year and a half is when Jesus wept with Mary about the death of Lazarus. Mary was Lazarus’ sister. After Lazarus died, Mary wept at the feet of Jesus and talked to Him about the death of her brother, and then:

Jesus also wept (see John 11:28-37).

I think this is such a powerful image. In my grief, I am reminded that Jesus knows what I am going through. Jesus was friends with Lazarus, and He experienced grief when He witnessed Mary weeping over the loss of her brother. Grief is biblical, and Christ understands grief, because He too experienced it. How comforting it is to know that the Savior understands.

When grief gets heavy, I can look to Christ to help me.

Grief can be random

Not long ago, I was with friends, and we decided to watch a movie. When the movie started, I suddenly felt sad, and I felt like I couldn’t be in the room. It turned out that the movie put on was one of my brother’s favorites. Out of nowhere, I felt like I was going to cry. I had not been thinking too much about it at the time, and suddenly it all came rushing back, as I heard the sounds of one of my brother’s favorite movies.

Grief can truly be triggered at the most random times. And that’s okay. There are things in this world that we won’t even realize remind us of our loved one.

I choose to see these reminders as signs of my love for my brother. They are a part of his story.

When things remind me of him, I remember how much I loved him on Earth, and how much I continue to love him as he spends eternity with the Lord.

Talking about grief is healing

About a month after my brother passed away, a friend of mine recommended that I try attending a grief support group. I am normally a very introverted person, but something pushed me to go to this group. Through attending this weekly support session, I found healing and understanding in others who have walked the journey of grief too. While no two people will ever understand fully the other’s loss, it is validating and helpful to hear from others who have been grieving, too.

We were not meant to walk alone.

Grief tells a story. Reminders of our loved ones show us just how important our story is, and talking about it is healing.

Your grief is important too. I pray that in the times you have been grieving, that you will draw closer to the Lord. He knows what you are going through.

Christ’s love is part of the story, too.

“In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.”

– John 14:2-3, NRSV-CE

In Christ,

Lauren

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– Psalm 34:1, NRSV-CE

I long for spring.

Yet, I also love winter.

I love the fresh sparkling snow on a cold, crisp morning, but the gray, rainy days that follow a thawing of snow can be long.

I love waking up to a frozen yard and a pink, mountain horizon, yet the icy roads that follow can be treacherous (see my post, Icy Coastal Morning for how an icy road reminded me of my walk with the Lord!).

Winter is beautiful, yet it is always wonderful when spring finally arrives. When the warm days begin to show up and the sunlight stretches into the evening hours, it feels like we are coming out of hibernation. As the seasons slowly change, there is beauty to be found in the transition.

Where I live in the Pacific Northwest, we have what we call “Fake-Out Springs”. The weather warms and daffodils start poking up, only for a layer of frost to come a few days later. It will seem as if spring is upon us, but then the temperatures drop and winter shows its face again. It can be quite hilarious, yet confusing to not know what the weather will do.

“Should I plant my bulbs now?”

“What should I wear today? I am cold now, but it is supposed to warm up later.”

Even though the weather changes, the seasons change, and my mood changes, I can still choose to continually praise the Lord. The book of Psalms says: “I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth” (Psalm 34:1, NRSV-CE). In all things, gratitude can be found.

Even when I do not feel like giving thanks, when my mood is down, and the weather is gray, God is there.

It is important to continually offer up praise to Him: the Creator, the Author, and the One who knows what is going on in our restless hearts.

He, “ . . . is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1, NRSV-CE). When I read this verse, what comes to mind is a snowstorm on the side of a mountain, and God is like the shade under a tree canopy, where we can take refuge from the storm. As the snow continues to fall, we can find warm safety under the Lord’s protection.

In life, it may sometimes feel like the snowstorms are endless. You may be turning to the Lord constantly for refuge. God is our loving Father, who we can run to daily.

In the valleys and in the mountains, we can praise Him continually.

So, when we long for spring amid the heavy winter storms, take refuge in the Lord’s embrace.

And when the snowstorm settles, there is still beauty in the sparkling snow.

In Christ,

Lauren

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I think we have all experienced this at one point or another … maybe multiple times (guilty).

Plans are simply that: plans. They are not set in stone. Things will not go as thought all the time, and that is completely okay.

Yet, I am still learning daily to relinquish my plans to the Lord. I know it’s what He wants me to do, yet I continue finding myself drafting out a course of action before consulting the One who knows what is best for me. I can get pretty carried away with my own plans, only for the Lord to gently say to me, “Not that way, this way.”

Daily, it is important to turn plans over to the Lord. It doesn’t mean, “oh yay, I don’t have to plan anything” but rather, it is important to invite the Lord into the day. It is good and beautiful to make plans, but it is important to consult Him constantly with minor and major decisions alike.

A prayer that comes to mind about offering our plans up is the “Morning Offering”:

“Oh Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day, for all the intentions of your Sacred Heart, in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, in reparation for my sins, for the intentions of all my relatives and friends, and in particular for the intentions of the Holy Father.”

Furthermore, Proverbs 16 says to: “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established” (Proverbs 16:3, NRSV-CE).

Also, “The human mind plans the way, but the Lord directs his steps” (Proverbs 16:9, NRSV-CE).

There are so many times I have planned out my own way, but then it ends up being that the Lord had a different path in mind.

When planning this week’s reflection, I had planned to write about something completely different. However, then the words that came to my mind and heart changed. Words don’t change, but the order in which they come to mind does.

So maybe the beauty is not in making the plans, but in witnessing what the Lord has in store for the instances we didn’t plan, but rather offered to Him.

In Christ,

Lauren

However, while visiting the Oregon Coast this week, winter arrived! On a cold morning, I got up early to take the dog out for a walk. It was icy and just above freezing. I bundled up, leashed up the dog, and off we went.

When we got out to the steep road in front of the house, I quickly realized it was iced over. As I started walking up the incline along our usual route, it occurred to me: “Maybe, this was a bad idea.” However, the dog pulled me up the hill gently and guided me to a flat area. We turned and walked down a flat road. It then occurred to me: “How am I going to get back down to the house? The road is iced over! I should not have gone this way.”

After we walked along the flat road, we turned around and came back to the steep area that leads down to the house. I decided to walk on the crunchy, icy grass on the side of the road for traction, rather than the “ice rink of a road” that I came up. However, the grass was on the opposite side of the road from the house, so I then thought: “Okay, now how do I cross the road?”

I walked a little further down and found a spot in the road where it was not iced over. After much careful tiptoeing and cautiously walking back uphill, I finally made it, thinking: “Well, that was interesting.”

This whole time, I had a sweet dog walking along with me. She guided me up the hill gently when I was afraid I would fall on the ice. And, she escorted me back down the hill, walking with me and patiently waiting for me to find my footing.

Dogs have textured paw pads, so she was not having any issues walking. Yet, she didn’t rush me down the hill. She waited and walked with me.

I believe the Lord walks with us much in the same way.

He is the gentle guide who leads us up the hills of life that seem so steep. And, He is the calming presence that escorts us back down safely. He knows the way, and He could walk so much faster than us.

Yet, He chooses to walk WITH us.

Lent just began this week. It is a beautiful, yet challenging time where we are invited to examine what in our lives is hindering our relationships with God. We are invited to fast, pray, and give alms.

I didn’t realize that an icy coastal morning walk (before having coffee!) would turn into a lesson about the Lord. Yet, it reminded me that He is always there, waiting for me. He knows the way, and He wants me to walk with Him.

The season of Lent helps us to identify the icy spots on our walk with the Lord. When we identify them, we can walk closer to Him.

In Christ,

Lauren

February 14 elicits different emotions. For the single heart, it can be a day of loneliness. For the dating and married, it is a day to show one’s love. And yet for others, it’s somewhere it between the former and the latter.

Yet, regardless of how one celebrates February 14, Valentine’s Day is a reminder that we are each loved deeply, intrinsically, and fully by God.

The love we celebrate on Valentine’s Day prepares us for a journey towards remembering the ultimate act of love – when Jesus died and rose for all.

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, and this marks the beginning of a 40 day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Ash Wednesday is always around the time of Valentine’s Day. Some years Valentine’s falls before Lent begins, some after, and even sometimes on the same day as Ash Wednesday (which is sad for chocolate lovers everywhere)!

Lent is a time prepare our hearts and to reflect on the ultimate sacrifice – God sending His Son into the world to save us from all our wrongdoings. On Valentine’s Day, we show our love for others through gifts, kind words, and thoughtful gestures. During Lent, we give up things that bring us comfort, in an act of denial of self and pursuit of closeness with the Father.

Both Valentine’s Day and Lent are opportunities to share love. On Valentine’s, we show our love for others. During Lent, we are invited to love God and others through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

And when it comes to fasting, this doesn’t always mean from food. We can fast from the things that distract us from God, so that we can hear His voice better during the Lenten season.

This Valentine’s Day, remember how much the Father loves you: enough to send His only son into the world to save you.

He went on a rescue mission.

Let us prepare our hearts and make space for Him.

In Christ,

Lauren

Despite what social media often portrays to us, every day life is not multi-course meals, the latest product, or an extravagant trip to Europe. While these things are fun and a blessing every now and then, it’s not the norm. And social media is just the highlights.

Life, for most of us, is ordinary. And there is beauty in the ordinary.

Christ meets us in the ordinary.

In the Catholic tradition, there is time in the Church calendar literally called “Ordinary Time”. This is time in the year in between major celebrations and fasting periods like Lent, Advent, and Christmas. In fact, Ordinary Time makes up a majority portion of the Church calendar. We live much of the year in Ordinary Time.

So, how do we embrace “the ordinary”?

I think we can learn how to embrace the ordinary by looking to the One who is quite extraordinary! God sent His Son to save us from our sins. Jesus became a human like us. He lived a human life. However, we don’t meet Jesus in the gospels fully until he is approximately 30 years old.

For 30 silent years (excluding the story of his birth, and in Luke’s gospel, his encounter in the temple with teachers at age 12), we don’t know quite what Jesus was up to.

Presumably, he was living a fairly ordinary life.

It was only when God the Father signaled him that it was time, that his ministry began. So, for 30 years, our Savior presumably lived a relatively normal life, likely as a carpenter. Can you imagine meeting Jesus on a normal day prior to when his ministry began? What would that have been like?

We can’t know for sure what went on prior to Jesus’ ministry because it is not documented. What we can know for sure, is that Jesus served God the Father fully. Jesus said to God the Father in prayer towards the end of his three year ministry:

“I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do” - John 17:4, NRSV-CE

In the ordinary of our lives, we can still serve God fully. We can serve him in the mundane, in the seemingly unimportant, and in the daily.

Every day was not meant to be a big breakthrough in faith or miracle or answered prayers.

Quite the contrary.

I believe we are called to find God in the ordinary. He is everywhere. Signs of Him are all over, because He created this world. We must simply be attentive enough to the details to see Him.

So, if life has felt too ordinary for you lately, remember that there is beauty in the ordinary. God meets you in the ordinary. Simply be open to looking for Him in places you may not have considered before.

In Christ,

Lauren

Recently, I went on vacation to the beautiful Big Island of Hawaii. This trip had been planned for many months, and it came at a wonderful time. In the middle of cold and dreary January, I got to experience the island sunshine and warmth. Every day was beautiful.

It was a week full of friends, shave ice, sandy toes, local fish, and ocean air. There were slow mornings drinking Kona coffee, many board games, and lots of reading for fun. At the end of the week, with a rejuvenated, yet sad that the trip was ending heart, I boarded the plane home to the cold Pacific Northwest.

I planned to center this devotion on how visiting a tropical place in the middle of winter is like looking for God’s warmth in a spiritual winter. Lately, I have felt like I have been in a spiritual winter. Life’s circumstances have been difficult recently, and sometimes it is hard to feel and recognize the warm gaze of my Creator.

I know He’s there, waiting patiently for me to tell Him about my trials. However, I had been struggling to feel His warmth.

Then, I came home to an emergency.

When I returned to my home after a week in island paradise, my husband and I found a water leak that had caused extensive water damage to our basement. Carpets were soaked, the ceiling was bulging, walls were wet, and things did not look good.

Why did this have to happen while I was gone? What’s going to happen to the house?So many thoughts were swirling through my head.

In 48 hours, I went from sitting in a beach chair in the warm sun of an island paradise, to standing in a water damaged, cold basement.

My circumstances had drastically changed.

But, God hadn’t.

Coming home from vacation to a water damaged house is stressful, no doubt. This situation reminded me just how blessed I am to own a home, and that at any moment, something could happen.

And while I am not a huge fan of the phrase “it could be worse”, this situation was fixable. My entire basement had not flooded. My house had not caught on fire. A tornado had not come through and destroyed everything. Rather, a large leak caused water damage that was, inconvenient, but fixable.

In the midst of all of this, I was reminded that God never changes.

Even though my circumstances change, even though I change, I sin, I fall and get back up again. . .

He doesn’t.

The same God who sat with me on the sunny beach in Hawaii stood with me in my cold, water damaged basement. The same God who sits with me when I cry and rejoices when I succeed continues to be present with me. It is my choice when I choose to praise Him.

I could only turn to Him in the happiness of my life, like sitting on a warm beach in Hawaii. When things are going my way, I could choose to talk to Him only then.

Yet, I am called to praise Him always.

The first letter to the Thessalonians reminds us:

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances;” - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NRSV-CE

In all circumstances, even when it’s hard, even when I don’t want to, I must choose to give thanks.

He is the Author of all. He is my Creator. I have so much to be grateful for.

From the beaches of Hawaii, to cold, waterlogged basements, He is faithful.

He never changes. He is consistent. He can be trusted.

In Christ,

Lauren

Each day can be unpredictable.

One day feels great! Many tasks get done, the day feels good, and it’s great to feel “normal”. However, the next day, the fatigue sets in. Symptoms flare, and suddenly you’re sick. Not the communicable kind of sick with a fever, sniffles, and cough. No, the kind of sick you’ve been living with for so long. It showed up today, uninvited, making the most simple tasks feel incredibly difficult. Plans get canceled, you rest, and in a few days the flare subsides.

And then the cycle repeats.

Chronic illness is experienced by SO many, yet understood by few. We do the best to manage symptoms, find the cause, and try to get healthy again. But, there is illness that still remains chronic.

In the midst of a chronic illness flare, it can be easy to forget to turn to God. The pain of the present moment can easily blind us from the love that is always present to us. It is difficult to see forward, when the current day’s troubles weigh so heavily.

Yet, even when the symptoms are bad, even when life feels so difficult, He is there.

We can call out to the Lord when we need Him; “From the end of the earth, I call to you, when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I; for you are my refuge, a stronger tower against the enemy.” – Psalm 64:1-3, NRSV-CE

When life gets dark, God illuminates. He is our refuge and who we must look to for strength.

And God’s love is unchanging. It will not cycle like chronic illness symptoms do.

It stays consistent.

When life is changing, when illness becomes chronic, and when things seem so dark, God stays the same.

We can trust in God’s consistent love for us.

He is faithful.

In Christ,

Lauren