The man startled awake when he heard the sound of his name coming from the courtyard above. He raised himself to an elbow, then sat up on the dirt floor. He rubbed his face with the rags dangling from his arms. What day is it? How long have I been in this stinking prison? Again, the crowd was shouting his name…
Read MoreYou’re invited to join me and any other brave souls who are willing to take one single day to step off the crazy train and live present to their own lives.
Read More“It took so much courage for you to expose yourself like that!” commented a dear woman after I spoke at an event. Hmmmm… It never occurred to me that I was “exposing myself”.
Read MoreWe can’t determine how much fruit will come from our labor. We can only WAIT for it. In the waiting, it’s not just the seed that grows, but also our faith, our trust. Our self-confidence shifts to God-confidence.
Read MoreGlorious suffering - two words I wouldn’t pair together. I’ll take glorious victory, freedom, grace, or blessing, thank you very much! I’d even settle for a glorious sunset. I’ll pass on the suffering though. I’m not interested in lingering in the painful, the hard, the bitter. Glorious suffering? Is that even a thing?
Read More“Wherever you are, be all there! Live to the hilt of every situation you believe to be the will of God.” - Jim Elliot
Read MoreThis week, I made a list of 20 things that went right in 2019, and a bunch of things that didn’t. And for once, I’m ok with it. I’m even ok with my failures and shortcomings. In His mercy, God keeps reminding me to stop striving for perfection.
Read MoreGod knew that all our climbing would never ever get us close to Him. So He came down to us. The religious people of Jesus’ day couldn’t offer rest. They could only crack their whips and demand, “More!” Jesus offers rest because He CAN. He can offer rest because He ALREADY BORE the heavy load.
Read MoreFree fall is complete abandon. It’s full surrender to the one I’m strapped to, knowing He is trustworthy. It’s exhilarating and risky, and, wondrous. But oh so scary and I resist it, though it beckons me to freedom!
Read MoreGod sees, even in the most private places. In the most degrading and dark circumstances, He sees the wickedness being committed against His children. And God deals with it in His way and in His time.
Read MoreWalking through WalMart, I passed a large Barbie display with this broadside banner, “I can be anything!” There were Barbies of all kinds, dressed according to their chosen professions: pilots, doctors, lawyers, athletes and more. I didn’t see a “Mommy” doll.
Read MoreStitches hurt. They leave a scar. And they tell a story. The stories in our scars encourage others and offer them hope and healing. But only when we let them get close enough to see them.
Read MoreWhen I look around and see all the other servants, making the most of what they have been given, suddenly my “talent” seems very small. And fear picks up a shovel.
Read MoreWhy so many loose ends, so many gaps? Is it like that for everyone? Are my incomplete journal entries, unfolded laundry piles and unhung pictures a reflection of something deeper in me? If so, what?
Read More…16 For the clean house, as the dirty one will not be long remembered; the moment has already come when both have been forgotten. How the children of a mommy will destroy her work in a moment!
Read MoreIf it were up to us, most of us would erase, hide or cover up our scars, be they physical, mental or emotional… But maybe our scars are the very thing that God wants to use to resurrect the faith of someone else. Maybe our scars should be seen and celebrated because their stories tell of a God who has the power to bring life out of death, and beauty out of brokenness.
Read MoreThe stench of death still lingered in the air. The loss was not simply a teacher and friend, but the one in whom they had placed all of their hopes and dreams. They had left homes, families, and occupations to follow this Jesus. The one whose body lay cold and lifeless in a garden tomb, sealed and guarded.
Read MoreThough it seems that, when they were young, I was their life, now that they’re grown, they are my life. Elizabeth Stone could not have been more accurate when she said: “Making the decision to have a child - it is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.”
Read MoreWe are permitted rest because the work, the labor, the battle, the combat – those belong to God.
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