Acknowledgments
Jesus: You’re funny. I never, ever would have thought I’d write Bible studies. But the other day when I asked You, “Why did I waste so much time on an art history degree if that wasn’t even the plan?”—remember what You whispered to my heart? Nothing is wasted. You now study the Bible exactly the way you learned to study art—digging into culture, society, politics, and everything in between—except now you’re doing it to figure out what inspired Me to include each story, parable, psalm, person, or tiniest little detail.
No experience is ever wasted. I pray, Lord Jesus, that none of me is wasted either.
Benny: Thank you for helping push me out of bed each morning so I have time to write, study, and spend time with Jesus before the kids wake. Thank you for taking them on fun “daddy dates” on some evenings and weekends so I can do that some more. Thank you for being my sounding board, my encourager when I thought, Who am I to do this?, and the love of my life. I am so overwhelmingly in love with you.
Momma and Daddy: Thank you for creating a home in which I saw both of you read and study Scripture. Daddy, you and your color-coded, highlighted pages—and Momma, you at the dining table, workbooks and Bible spread in front of you on warm days . . . and on the floor next to the heating vent when it was cold. Thank you for being living examples to me.
Elsabet, Imani, Laith, Anton, Ezekiel, and Abreham: I have no idea if you’ll ever sit down and do the studies I write, but I do pray that Jesus captivates you the same way He does me. I pray that seeing me constantly pour over Scripture lights a fire in you, too. Loves, dive in. Don’t live on what others regurgitate to you about God’s Word . . . figure it out yourself. See and learn about Jesus yourself. If you ever don’t know where to start, ask Jesus. He’ll teach you. He is, after all, the original Teacher. I love every one of you and am so proud to be your mom. XO
Kiesha Yokers: Thank you for loving and encouraging me well. I’ve never met anyone who makes me laugh harder and yet challenges and encourages me so deeply. I love you, girl.
Nirup Alphonse: This is all your fault. Thank you for . . . challenging me? telling me? ordering me? to stop leading Bible studies that I’ve purchased and instead write them myself. Thank you for telling me I really could do this. Thanks for believing in me, dear friend.
Jana Burson: Thank you for taking a chance on me in so many ways. And thank you for being the type of agent who isn’t just about business but loves on me well. You’re amazing.
Don Pape: I’m still pinching myself that you believed in me enough to sign me for three studies. Not only that, but for standing with me while sharing that we need to “skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been” (Wayne Gretzky). You’re a true visionary. Thank you for your emails and texts saying you’re praying for me and for taking us all out to fun dinners because I’m not just your author, I’m family.
Caitlyn Carlson: Who’d have known a cup of coffee to talk about my proposal would lead to acquiring not only three books but also a deep friendship?! The BEST. Thank you for both pushing and having grace with me as you edited my one billion words. I adore you, girl.
Elizabeth Schroll, Olivia Eldredge, and Dave Zimmerman: Thank you for sharing your editorial giftings, your granola bars, your dried mango, and your jumper cables. You are amazing friends and fantastic talents. Thanks for loving me well. (PS—When can we go back to that Thai place?)
David Geeslin, Madeline Daniels, Isabella Cortes, Linda Schmitt, Adam Graber, and Libby Dykstra: I’m overwhelmed to have not only the incredible team over at NavPress but you at Tyndale, too. You, dear friends, heard me. I had a vision and you caught my excitement, even though it’s not necessarily “the way things are done.” Thank you for jumping in and sharing the message of Jesus in the way I felt Him asking me to. I’ve enjoyed every second.
Creighton Petro: I love that one day I’m walking into Chauncy’s office, meeting her for the first time, and the next day she tells me, “You have to meet my husband.” (Chauncy, you were SO right.) Thank you for believing in me enough to jump on board with Let’s Party Like Girls first and now all the video fun for our Get Wisdom series. I hope this is just the beginning!