 The Christian life is a war, a war against the sin in our hearts. It's a daily battle and fight to believe what the Bible says is true when our world wants us to believe otherwise. It's a daily battle and fight to wage the wars in our own hearts - the one telling us to do whatever we want no matter the consequences yet fully knowing that chooses whatever we want may lead us to a place we never wanted to be. When it comes to fighting sin, we need a battle plan, and we need encouragement in the fight. My friend and co-worker Andy Cimbala's new book, The Relentless Fight, offers a helpful battle plan in our war with sin.
Andy's new book doesn't offer new methods of fighting sin or twelve steps to overcoming that hidden sin in your life. What Andy's book offers is a reminder of the power of the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ, in the fight against sin. Andy's main point is that the gospel has all of the power that we need to wage our war against sin. The gospel is the battle plan. Not only does Andy point the reader to Scriptures that inform the power that we have in the gospel to fight sin, but he also shares honestly and vulnerably about his own fight with sin, and how the gospel has freed him time and time again. For a Christian struggling in the battle of sin in their lives, this book would be a helpful aide in the battle. This book has been years in the making, and I've enjoyed getting to read Andy's blog while anxiously anticipating the publishing of this book. But this helpful resource is now available, and I'm eager to recommend it. It's focused on the gospel and points to relevant Scriptures on the topic. It's immensely practical, even distilling down complex content into succinct points, and it's a quick read at around 120 pages. If you need some help and encouragement in the fight against sin, might I recommend you purchasing this book: The Relentless Fight: The Power of the Gospel in the Fight Against Sin. And in the words of Andy Cimbala's new book: "All of life is repentance. And that makes for a life of fighting. What will keep you going, especially when you fail? Answer: the gospel. The power of the gospel gives motivation for the fight against sin. If you forget the gospel, you will stop fighting. If you forget that you've been forgiven, you'll wallow in guilt. If you forget that you've been cleansed, you'll be shackled by shame and too broken to fight. If you forget that you are loved by God, you'll try to look for love in the wrong places. If you forget the power of God's Word given to you, you'll never pick up the sword of the Scripture. So remember the gospel, and keep fighting." Keep fighting, friends! Note: If you purchase Andy's book through one of the links above, not only would you support Andy's work, but this blog would receive a small commission at no cost to you or to Andy thanks to Amazon's Affiliate Program. Thank you for enabling me to purchase other books to read and review through your purchases. Also, I received a free book from Andy after reading the early manuscript, but all thoughts about the book are my own.
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 Welcome to "the good stuff" a collection of things I've discovered via the interwebs. It usually includes articles, books, movies, television shows, videos, or podcasts that I've enjoyed or found interesting. I've been doing a lot of reading lately, so there are a few links that include books.
Atomic Habits // James Clear Probably the best book I've read so far in 2019, and I'm not exaggerating. This book has been immensely helpful in navigating creating good habits and stopping bad ones in my life. It's amazing to think that God designed us to create habits in a certain way and that we can actually use self-control in creating an environment conducive to good habits. The Next Right Thing // Emily P. Freeman One of my favorite authors wrote this book prompted by her podcast by the same title. It's a soulful way of thinking through life's big decisions. I've been savoring this one, trying to read it slowly and enjoy every chapter. Highly recommend. How R.C. Sproul Blessed the Church by Preaching the Curse // Tim Challies Tim Challies dissects one of R.C. Sproul's most popular sermons. I appreciated Tim Challies analysis of the sermon, and it encouraged me to want to listen to the whole thing. Move Over, Sex and Drugs, Ease is the New Vice // Jen Pollock Michel Surprising connection with how the desire for ease is affecting our daily lives. Reaching the Unreached // Reality Santa Barbara A speaker shared this video at a recent student conference, and I thought it was masterful in highlighting the need to reach the unreached in a cinematic way.  Welcome to "the good stuff" a collection of things I've discovered via the interwebs. It usually includes articles, books, movies, television shows, videos, or podcasts that I've enjoyed or found interesting. I've been storing up some articles over the past few weeks, and really wanted to share them with you.
Starting The Day On the Internet Is Damaging Your Brain // Srinivas Rao I'm sure we all know this, but it's helpful to be reminded and understand the implications of starting our days on the internet. Strategies for Self-Control in the Digital Era // Drew Dyck Pretty helpful ideas and strategies. I think we're going to see more and more how self-control with devices and social media will actual help human flourishing. When You're Sharing Jesus As an Outsider // Amy Medina I appreciate this perspective from a cross cultural missionary and how it applies to Christians living in the United States. Digital Addiction Getting You Down? Try an Analog Cure // Cal Newport You might be sensing a digital theme with this edition of "The Good Stuff", and it's because I've been thinking a lot about my digital life, and I think we all should think about it more. Cal Newport offers some great thoughts, and I plan on trying some of these things myself! The Lazy Genius Morning Routine // Kendra Adachi If you need help creating a morning routine, you might find this podcast episode helpful. I'm a fan of the Lazy Genius and appreciate her ways of simplifying things, and this episode is no different. She really helps you break down a morning routine and building habits over the long term. Interested in some more "good stuff" take a gander at previous link shares. Or have some articles to share as well? Feel free to share them in the comments below.  Welcome to "the good stuff" a collection of things I've discovered via the interwebs. It usually includes articles, books, movies, television shows, videos, or podcasts that I've enjoyed or found interesting. I've been storing up some articles over the past few weeks, and really wanted to share them with you. On Being An Influencer // Juliet's Library Juliet has an Instagram that features beautiful photos of books, but I appreciated this post she shared on her blog on some of the struggles of being an influencer on social media. Millennials Have Adopted A Culture Of "Un-dating" And Frankly It Needs To Stop // Kaitlyn Pastor A friend shared this article on social media, and I found myself agreeing with the whole thing. This is an important article for such a time as this. Fortnight Isn't A Game, It's A Place To Hang Out // Owen Williams I gave workshop related to media a few months ago, and we talked about Fortnight in the workshop. Another friend shared this article, and I thought it offered some insights into why Fortnight is so popular with young people. A Tip For Having Better Conversations // Modern Mrs. Darcy I could probably write a whole book or blog series off of this article, which offers a very valuable tip on having better conversations and deeper, more intimate relationships with the people in your life. Disney Princesses with Careers Based Off Their Characters // Talia Lakritz An artist shared these renditions of Disney princesses in outfits and careers based off of their personalities. If you're a Disney princess fan, this article of photos will be a treat. Interested in some more "good stuff" take a gander at previous link shares.
 I'm joining Emily P. Freeman in her quarterly posts focused on reflecting over what we learned during the the past season. While winter doesn't "feel" finished where I live in Pennsylvania, I'm sharing this post with great hope that spring will come in mid-March. In the meantime, I have much to reflect on from this winter, but here are five things that I've learned so far. 1. I'm a mom!Brandon and I were surprised and delighted to find out in December that we're expecting our first child! Our little one is due around August 18th, and we couldn't be more excited! At the same time, it has been odd to realize that I'm a mom already and that I have a lot to learn as we enter this new season of life. Stay tuned for more on the Mama Madi front. 2. Structure is helpful in my time with Jesus.I once thought that "mature" Christians don't need to read devotionals during their time with Jesus. They just read the Bible chapter by chapter, right? (ha!) Well, I realized in January that I needed a different method for spending regular time in the Bible. I just can't focus mentally when it comes to reading the Bible chapter by chapter in this season of life. So I pulled out a devotional that I bought a few years ago called New Morning Mercies by Paul David Tripp. It has been such a help in my time with Jesus each day. Paul Tripp offers a reflection on the gospel for each day of the year and shares a passage of Scripture that pertains to the reflection. It has been so fun to just read different parts of the Bible and have someone challenge me to think about different ways that the gospel affects my life. If you are someone that also needs a little bit of structure or guidance in Bible reading, definitely look into New Morning Mercies or another devotional. 3. I miss blogging regularly and plan to continue blogging in 2019.A number of Christian bloggers wrote about the future of personal blogging in December, and they shared about how personal blogs are still valuable despite the boom in the big ministry blog and social media's micro blogging. I agree with them, and I found myself longing to blog again in December. I began 2019 with a resolve to blog more in this year, and I've been doing so. I missed blogging, particularly the joy and thrill of writing and sharing content. 4. Putting my phone in my kitchen at night saves my sanity in the morning.I have grown tired of my phone, and yet it feels like a necessary part of my life in allowing me to communicate with others. A few weeks ago, I decided to try leaving my phone in our kitchen at night to see how I felt in the morning, and the difference was amazing! It is a breath of fresh air to not wake up in the morning and check my phone right away, which is what I would do if I charged it by my bedside. I'm hoping this remains a habit in my life. 5. I need regular introverted time.I've been in denial about this for a long time, but I've finally come to terms with the truth: I need regular introverted time despite my extroverted tendencies. I started to realize this the first few months of being married, but my need for introvert time was solidified last week during a snow day. I had the whole day to work on projects and things that I normally do in the cracks between time with people or meetings. I didn't think a whole day focused on tasks could feel so refreshing until the snow gave me what I needed. This revelation has made me rethink my schedule and think through how to guard and prioritize regular introvert time throughout my week in order to flourish energy-wise. These are just a few things that I learned this winter. What are some things that you've learned this winter? For a number of years I took part in a 31 day writing challenge. Every October (except for 2017 and 2018) I would write for 31 days about a topic of choice. This challenge always proved to be a fruitful exercise for my writing, and it was a joy to finish the month with a cohesive series. I'd like to think that these series will one day pave the way for the discipline of writing books to be published. I have never put all of the series in one place before, so it's fun to see them all together. My personal favorites to read and write were Seeking the Kingdom and Confessions of a Creative Christian (my very first series). Follow the link of the blue title next to each year to view all of the posts for each series. Enjoy! 2018 - Longing For Home 2016 - Seeking the Kingdom 2015 - Faith > Fear 2014 - Confessions of a Creative Christian If you'd like to see more series on the blog or if you have an idea for a future series, feel free to leave comment below.  I like to think of myself as both a content creator and a curator of content on this blog. While I enjoy writing my own content, it is a joy to curate and share "the good stuff" that I've found in the midst of life. "The Good Stuff" usually includes articles, music, books, podcasts, movies, and television shows that I've enjoyed, thought about, and definitely talked about outside of the interwebs. Here are a few things I'd love to share with you this week...
Cultivating a Work-Wise Family // Hannah Anderson How do families in an increasingly digital marketplace prioritize the family, the home, and create wise boundaries that allow work and home to flourish? Second Wife, Second Life // Lore Wilbert I gladly read anything that Lore Wilbert writes because she has a way with words. In this article she shares thoughts about being her husband's second wife. Hormones, Surgery, Regret // Walter Heyer A former transgender woman shares about his experience with gender dysphoria. When Calls the Heart // Hallmark For most of January I enjoyed this sweet Hallmark series about a female teacher that takes a position in the Canadian frontier at the beginning of the 1900s. It's available on Netflix. Anne With An E // Netflix A new retelling of the classic novel Anne of Green Gables. I've been really enjoying this show on Netflix.  I can't tell you how many articles I read in 2018 that declared blogging to be a dying art. The belief is that social media has made less people want to start their own website or blog, and it's made many bloggers give up their websites for the ease of a social media platform.
Despite so many naysayers, I've committed myself to continue writing and blogging here in 2019 and beyond. This past year was a year full of life transitions for my husband and I, and with so many transitions I did not write on here as much as I have in the past. The time away from blogging regularly gave me time to think about this space and to truly consider if I wanted to keep blogging. As 2018 came to an end, one thing was certain in my mind. I want to keep writing in this space, and I feel as if personal blogs are still as helpful and relevant today as they were ten years ago. This belief was solidified while reading an article that blogger Tim Challies wrote: Why You Shouldn't Stop Blogging (or Why You Should Consider Starting). It's an excellent article, and it reminded me of why I started this blog five years ago in my college dorm. Challies gives several convincing reasons for why personal blogging is still important and relevant, especially in a world of ministry and news article sites, decreased sharing of articles found online, and changing algorithms on social media sites. I started this blog in 2014 and called it "Engaging Culture" and that's what it was about; engaging and talking about culture in light of being a new follower of Christ. This blog has grown and changed since then (even receiving a new name), but it has always been a place where I can share freely and without censor about what God is teaching me or what I am learning about Jesus, the Word, and the world. And I hope that it remains to be a space of sharing honestly in the future to encourage other people in their walk with Jesus or for others to understand how a Christian might think or respond to certain things. I'm thankful for all of you that have followed this blog from the beginning and those of you that have joined along on the journey. I hope you will continue to be a part of the community and conversation here, even if you remain silent in the comment section. But for now, I just want to share that I fully plan on continuing to write on here for as long as God gives me the desire to use my talents in this way, and I hope that 2019 proves to be a fruitful year for She Laughs Without Fear.  While I haven't written much lately due to life just moving faster than I can process, I have been regularly reading and enjoying the writing of others. Over the past few weeks, I've read a few articles and books that are too good not to share, and so I would love to share them with you now.
THAT Person is More Important Than Your Phone // from Becoming Minimalist I couldn't have written it better myself - people have more value than your phone. Convicting reminder for me and a fitting reminder for us all, especially with Christmas gatherings on the horizon. Reading the Jesus Storybook Bible in Iceland // from Christianity Today We often take for granted the access we have to Bibles and Christian literature, but in the country with the highest number of books published per year, Christian literature is rare. But Lord willing the tide is changing. A Cozy Christmas Cautionary Tale // by Shannan Martin A humbling reminder that Christmas isn't about stuff. 18 Pieces of Goodness in 2018 Pop Culture // from Gospel Coalition There are a number of pieces of goodness in pop culture this year, and I'm thankful for the reminder goodness should and is still valued in pop culture. It's hard to believe that November is almost over and 2018 with it. It has been quite a year, and the Lord has proven faithful through all of it, even if it has turned out far different from what I expected or planned. December is on the horizon with the longing and anticipation of the Christmas season. Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year. But the older I get the more the consumerism, hustle, and busyness of the season seeks to crowd out the peace and joy that so many Christmas songs celebrate. I'm learning more and more that peace, quiet, and joy isn't something that just happens to us, but rather something that we have to intentionally seek and guard space for in our lives. Peace and joy ultimately doesn't come from our circumstances or everything getting crossed off our to-dos or wish lists. Peace and joy are ultimately found through resting in the love and grace of Jesus Christ. I've been thinking about peace and joy as my to-do list grows and the plans with family and friends keep rolling in. I want to intentionally carve space for peace and joy in this season through carving space to spend time resting in Jesus. It's difficult to guard that time in this season and in regular life, but I know that it will make this season all the more enjoyable. One way that I've been preparing to spend time resting in Jesus in this season is by choosing a devotional to read for the Christmas season. This year I am reading Waiting Here for You: An Advent Journey of Hope with my mom, and it started a few days ago. It has been very helpful so far in preparing my heart for this season and intentionally setting aside time to rest in Jesus. It's just one of many different devotionals and tools to help prepare our hearts to remember from where true peace and joy comes. If you are looking for peace and joy in this season, might I recommend intentionally seeking it through guarding time to spend with Jesus. One way to do that is through reading passages of the Bible or even devotionals that help point our hearts towards peace and joy. Waiting Here for You is one such devotional, but there are many others. If this is something you are interested, I'll share a few other resources below. I pray that they bless you in this season. She Reads Truth Advent Study: Until the Son of God Appears Come, Let Us Adore Him: A Daily Advent Devotional The Greatest Gift: Unwrapping the Full Love Story of Christmas The 25 Days of Christmas: A Family Devotional to Help You Celebrate Jesus  Some of the links above are affiliate links, which means that if you click on them and purchase a product, this blog will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for helping to support She Laughs Without Fear!
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Welcome! I'm Madi, a laughter-loving, movie-going, spontaneous-dancing, follower of Christ. Join me as I seek glimpses of God's grace in the ordinary and everyday.
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