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The Opportunity You Can’t See Yet
You look around and nothing seems promising. The only way ahead, it would seem, is to keep trudging along. It feels wrong and it sounds hopeless. No opportunities have come up and you’re running out of ones to dream up. Hang in there. Nothing is impossible with God. That means that when there is no…
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3 Signs You’re Forgetting You’re Not God
If someone walked up to you and addressed you as “Lord” or “God of the universe,” I suspect you’d think it absurd. Most of us would never claim to be God or mistake ourselves as sovereign, all-powerful, or perfect. At least, not consciously. Without realizing it, though, we often act like we are God. That’s…
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The Value of Asking “Why Me?”
Reading straight through Scripture, I knew the book of Job was coming next. Sighing to my husband, I began to prepare myself. Job is one of those books that I stiffen up reading. His story begins like a fairytale- prosperity, happiness, abundance. That almost makes what happens next worse. Satan comes before God. He’s been…
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Cleaning Up Accumulated Sin
I dug around in the fridge trying to find space for yet another tupperware container. They were stacked to the limit because I’d been shoving leftovers I had no intention of eating in there just to put off dealing with the waste another day…and another….and another. We do the same thing with our hearts. Sometimes…
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Produce Or Consume?
Patience. A fruit of the Spirit we’d much rather consume than produce. Sometimes when we pray for help to get through our own trials, we forget patience is also part of bearing witness. As Moses prepared to climb a mountain and die when God said it was his time, he told Israel how much patience…
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A Sure Foundation
One by one. Ever so carefully. We stacked the pieces with fingers crossed. The tower stood tall, having occupied me, a teenage helper, and several nursery kiddos for most of our time together. All it took was one wide-eyed, deviously grinning four-year-old. He slipped through our grasp, and, with one swift kick, it all came…
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Are Your Gifts Getting in the Way?
For a time we had the joy of serving a sweet student couple a home-cooked meal once a month or so. It was especially fun when simple things like roasted broccoli lit up their faces because the cafeteria veggies were always soggy and steamed. One day, they asked if they could bring dinner to us…
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When It’s Not Over
“The end,” the story says. To successfully conclude the plot of a story, 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 “when will I will…
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The Goodbye We Never Have To Say
“See you later, alligator.” “Speak soon.” “Until next time.” Why do we find all sorts of creative ways to say goodbye, even if we’re only going to be apart for a few hours? “Goodbye” feels weighty, even when it isn’t final. It reminds us of the limits of relationships. There are always separations. We aren’t…
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Conquering By Peace
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…