Tag: god
-
Standing Out and Standing On His Promises
No vacation will ever beat our honeymoon in my memories. I’d just turned 21. He was fresh out of college and I had one semester left. The two pennies we had to rub together reflected our motto the day we said I do: In God we trust. Generous loved ones let us stay in a…
-
Not My Circus, Not My Monkeys
I was taking a month-long class in Ecuador. We traveled around the beautiful country- even into the Amazon rainforest. There, a few monkeys determined to do what non-cartoon monkeys in tourist traps do: harass people. The agile creatures stole anything loose they could grab. We tried to ask how to get our stuff back. A…
-
God-Sized Dreams Takeaways
Are you a dreamer? Do you have God-given dreams? Last week I got to wrap up a book study of You’re Made for a God-Sized Dream by Holley Gerth. It’s been convicting and encouraging to read along with everyone. Even if you haven’t read it, I hope you’ll benefit from the highlights I’ve learned along the…
-
God’s Good Gift of Friendship
Do you ever feel like asking God for a friend is too small or silly a request? I did, but I asked anyway. A few years ago, God answered with the girl who is still one of my best friends! It’s a story I love to tell. I hope you’ll be encouraged that God cares…
-
Ecclesiastes and The Wise Fool
“Have you ever read Ecclesiastes?” my friend asked. We’d been talking about philosophy and that question we all face sometimes: does any of this matter? I hadn’t taken any drastic measures yet. A nose piercing was about the least risky thought I’d entertained in my crisis of purpose. “What’s Ecclesiastes?” I replied, expecting an explanation…
-
Spring Starts With a Thaw
Some seasons feel like just getting by. Though God provides what we need, we receive His gifts coolly. Like the frozen ground in winter, we see the blessings drifting down as a mere covering until at last the sun comes again. We’re numb with the cold of same old, same old. Habituated to our hurts…
-
When It’s Not Over
“The end,” the story says. Script writers know that to successfully complete a TV series or movie, you must wrap up the loose ends. At the end of a person’s life, there is a service to conclude their time on earth. When you get sick, one of the first questions you ask the doctor is…
-
Wasn’t Always
I’ve never met a happily married person who’s always been happily married. I’ve never met an adult who wasn’t once a child. I’ve never known a Christian who hasn’t been without Christ. When Jesus said He came to call the sick, not the healthy, His point was this. None of us has always been righteous….
-
Give Me My Due or Else…
During one of my experiences working in a school, I encountered a new disciplinary system. Operating under the philosophy that positive reinforcement would encourage students to do their due, the school offered students tickets. A small “store” was open during lunch so students could exchange their tickets for various goodies. Although possibly a good idea,…
-
Conquering by Force
Can you think of a victory in a game, a sport, or even a war that is owed to more to blunt force than to strategy? The weapons used, the position of troops, and the element of surprise are all vital to winning. Underdog teams win by crafty plans and perseverance, not force. Naturally, victories won…