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Seeing People as People
They didn’t see a man. They didn’t see his pain. They didn’t notice his need. They didn’t care that he was in the house of the Lord. What they cared about was entrapping their perceived enemy, the one who threatened long-held traditions and the law that elevated them to a pious, powerful place. They wanted…
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The Value of Asking “Why Me?”
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.…
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If You Had a Superpower…
You’ve probably answered the question before: if you could have one superpower what would it be? That’s a fun question, and it’s one that many of us have an equally fun answer for. “I would fly” you say. She might say that she would make herself able to freeze time, whereas her husband might suggest…
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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…
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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…
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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 myself, 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…
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How to Talk to People
“Christian college,” was sandwiched in the middle of the sentence I said to the hair dresser as she sprayed and combed. We were about two minutes into my haircut and she was asking why I’d moved to the area and what my husband’s new job was. Her flinch was made more noticeable by twitch of…
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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…
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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…
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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…