We miss out on the gift of knowing God in a real, experiential way… When we always pretend to be okay, strong or together. When we hide in busyness, entertainment or crowds. When we can’t admit our need for help,…
vulnerability is my best and worst friend
Anna is sick and her normally active self wants to be held more minutes than not. Held because she is tired. Held because she doesn’t want to be alone. Held because she needs extra tenderness. Held because she knows I’m…
believing God vs. believing everything else
Every mental struggle, underlying worry or prideful tendency can be traced to what I’m believing about God in that moment. The same with every deep joy, grateful thought or confident decision. In every moment I have a choice to either…
discovering the God I could truly live for
It was when the cycle of striving, perfecting, worrying and pretending became too much and I was ready to give it up that God said, Finally. This is where we can start. Humble. Needy. Desperate for something outside myself to be the answer. Then I realize how much was lacking in my view of God. So I spent months asking, Who is God, really? Who is He to me? Who is He for me? What is He like? What does He sound like?
worry is what the world does
David Platt preached a sermon right when COVID-19 was blowing up all over the country and our computer screens, and many of his words have stuck to me like glue. He’s teaching from Matthew 6:25–33. Anxiety is carrying concerns in…
A personal story: the appearance of streams when inside is a desert
I’d like to tell you a story. A flyover at least. A story of a girl and her experience with God. I began an exile from Him – the Holy Creator Father God. As I grew, spending every Sunday within…
peace like manna from our tireless Father
Having a baby opened up an entire realm of possible reasons to be anxious. Granted, any new role or position in life can do that, right? New job, new city, new dreams… new battlegrounds for a peaceful heart. All praise…
Attributes of God Print
There is something joyous, comforting and meaningful about meditating on God. In a day, there is talking and listening to do in prayer; there is worship music as the home’s background or foreground soundtrack; and there is serving and ministering…
COVID-19: rerouting our dependence
I don’t know where you are in reference to COVID-19 — geographically, emotionally, mentally or physically — so this is simply me processing out loud, not hoping to heap more words onto your already full plate. Plus, only you and…
enjoy God because you can
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…
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…
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…