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The Milestone That Wasn’t
In Genesis 27, we read about a milestone that should have been, but wasn’t. Imagine what Esau looked forward to the day his dying father told him to get ready to receive the blessing. Esau, Isaac’s older son, had been expecting to receive this blessing from his father for his whole life. It was an…
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Taking Fear Personally
Someone lied to you and you found out. Someone rejected you flat out. Someone ignored you, someone hurt you, someone who was supposed to care for you didn’t. We all have our someones. If we’re honest, everyone we know is a someone; everyone gives us cause for suspicion. I’m not paranoid- many of our fears…
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Deja Vu and Milestone Moments
You’re sitting on the side of the road in your car. It’s just broken down. As you sit and wait for the tow, you think of all the mess of your life of late. The list of complaints is probably long. Then you remember the last time your car broke down. It almost feels like…
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You Brought Me Here Why?
I remember the excitement when the phone call came. “We just have to finalize it, but you can schedule that moving truck,” the Midwestern man’s voice exclaimed. Expectantly, we did. We waited. But the paperwork never arrived. Weeks later, the same voice apologized on the phone. Unforeseen circumstances arose. The position was cancelled. We’re weren’t…
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Waiting Isn’t Passive
Our days and lives are filled with waiting. For good, for bad, for new, for people, for change. Waiting is a God-designed practice. However, as the worn, torn magazines in waiting rooms around the world can attest, patience in the waiting isn’t a natural virtue. Waiting makes some of us crazy. In fact, I’m pretty…
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Lie 8: Sin Should Be Left In The Dark
(A series on lies sin tells us to tempt us and trick us. Read the whole series here.) We don’t like to look sin in the face and see it for what it is. We’re tempted by it, yes. We have a propensity for it, yes. But we really hate to face it. I remember…
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Marital Spats and God’s Plan (Giveaway)
**Giveaway details at the end of the post!** The day our premarital counseling workbook began addressing arguments, my husband and I were relieved. We have always been really good at arguing. It’s one of our unexpected spiritual gifts (ha!) We even told the pastor counseling us. He was surprised. Apparently, most couples get married believing…
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Lie 7: Sin Is Too Personal To Talk About
(A series on lies sin tells us to tempt us and trick us. Read the whole series here.) We like to keep sin hidden. It’s only natural. Our enemy knows this and encourages this. Sin is ugly, shameful, and feels very personal to us. Sharing about our sin feels threatening, putting us at risk of…
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Lie 6: Some Sin Doesn’t Count
(A series on lies sin tells us to tempt us and trick us. Read the whole series here.) We like to restrict God’s definition of sin to make it more manageable. God doesn’t define sin manageable as just “doing bad stuff,” or “making mistakes.” God says sin is a condition we’re born into. Scripture uses…
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Confession: I’m Not a Fan of Devotions
My love-hate relationship with devotions started in college. It was my first time immersed in a Christianese culture. I didn’t know much about Jesus, and I didn’t care about the Gospel. I just wanted to be a good person and prove myself worthy to the God I didn’t understand. In waltzed a dorm-mate one day,…