God likes me. And I like God. This wasn’t always true for me. (Rather, I struggled to believe it was true.) Sure, I knew from the Bible that God loved me, but somehow Him liking me felt a little farther…
the fire I hope my daughter catches and keeps burning
I pray every day she will come to see God as her greatest decision and lifelong pursuit but the decision is hers, not mine. Confession. As a helper and fixer, I will probably wrestle often before God that I can’t…
something better than easy belief
I’m noticing a pattern in my relationship with God: not only do I learn new things, but He takes familiar truths and redefines them. For example, in high school, I absorbed the term sanctification as God’s shaping me to be…
from ‘religiously right’ to Jesus, only Jesus
I sat in the pew, taking notes, attentive to the pastor in front of me reading the story of a Canaanite woman’s encounter with Jesus (Matthew 15:21-28). I confess the story is one I mostly glaze over, because it seems…
freedom is more than an optimistic sentiment
While seeing friends in North Carolina we visited the Billy Graham library. Walking amongst items and testimonials of those Graham served alongside and those to whom he served up the transforming person of Jesus, I couldn’t help but marvel at…
four questions that help activate faith in my life
It was one weighty situation after another, and I felt paralyzed by the need to think, feel, and decide wisely. Choices of when to speak and when to be quiet, how to wade unfamiliar relational waters, and how to listen…
a high view of God is our stability in any situation
It’s a week where multiple out of control things have crossed our path – a scary diagnosis, an uncontrollable wildfire, difficulty among relationships. Out of control being the key phrase. I can’t change hearts. I can’t send rain. I can’t…
the miracle of being kept by God
I turned 26 this week, and the day was great. As many do when their birthday rolls around, I tend to be reflective. Looking at the past year – how have I grown? what I have learned? what am I…
the wonder of simple prayers
“Prayer is the quiet, persistent living of our life of desire and faith in the presence of our God.” Andrew Murray The Bible says we have God’s Spirit inside us. In other words, there is someone by your side every…
resurrection vision: letting every sense of your humanity send you deeper into Jesus
I was teaching a group of 7th-8th graders, reflecting on Easter’s truth, and it came out of my mouth before I even really knew what it meant: “in my time as a Christian, I have had a difficult time reconciling…
longer, slower, simpler in 2018
These are disciplines I feel God directing me. I have spent the past few years devouring many books, articles, podcasts and sermons. While stimulating and inspiring, I found myself mentally and emotionally bloated by all the information. I wasn’t experiencing…
Thoughts After El Salvador
A few days back in the USA and my mind often drifts to last week in El Salvador. It was a rich week — rich in laughter, diligent work, challenges, and leaning into God minute by minute. It was truly…