Category: Faith
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The Christmas Choir You Already Signed Up For
All through the instrumental introduction, I was praying. We’d had a busy day – a busy week, a busy month – and many people were on my heart. Their needs and their joys played through my mind as the musicians on stage wordlessly proclaimed Christ’s glory. Then it was our turn to join in… Join…
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The Secret to Glorifying God
Looking at others around me, I find it easy to assume they’re God-glorifying because of what great people they are. Sometimes I want to ask, “what’s your secret?” I don’t feel like I’m good at glorifying God. I mean to praise the Lord, but I end up assessing what could be better instead. I wish…
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Times I’ve Rediscovered I’m Not God
I’d never outright tell you, or myself, that I’m God. But sometimes I live like I am. Like when… Something I’ve worried about endlessly works out without my intervention. God is sovereign, I am not. I see God change someone’s heart who I thought I’d need to push and pull into growing the way I…
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I Should…
I should really be doing something productive. I should really give her a call back. I should really make that appointment. I should really stop daydreaming. I should really do so very many things, but most of all, I should probably stop dwelling so much on the “I shoulds.” Perhaps you know what I mean,…
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Confirmation After Faith
Sometimes when we beg the Lord for confirmation or a sign, what we’re really saying is that: We don’t want to walk by faith- we want to walk by sight. We don’t find His direction in Scripture enough. We don’t take Him at His Word that He’ll always be with us. God’s leading often asks…
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Counting Down, Being Still, Laying Up
I’m a countdown kind of person. If I’m looking forward to something, I’m counting down the days. If I’m enjoying something, I’m counting down how much time is left before it has to end. If I’m struggling, I’m counting down to when I think things will be okay again. The benefit of this is that…
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Oh You Of Lasting Faith
Oh you of little faith,” Jesus said to Peter in Matthew 14:31. I get it. The guy was sinking. His succumbing to the waves, we’re explicitly told, is because he doubted. So yes, his failing faith left him flailing in the moment. But before that? Peter got out of the boat. “Jesus,” I want to challenge, “doesn’t…
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The Sore Loser
My competitive side was getting the better of me. As far as we were into the game, it was clear I wasn’t going to win. I’d tried, strategizing my way through, but there was no doubt who would have the victory (not me.) The temptation? To pick up the whole stinking board game and shake…
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Take It Personally
I’d been reading through John 11 slowly each morning, following the story of Lazarus’ sickness, Jesus’ delay, and then His encounters with Martha and with Mary after Lazarus lay dead. It’s a story I’ve read many times, mostly just noting quickly that Jesus is incredible and death is awful before moving along. But this time,…
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Here to Help
On any given day, my internet browser tabs featured Indeed, Zillow, Google Maps, and Bible Gateway.We were in a wilderness.The season we’d been in was ending, but we had no idea of our next. I’d like to say I waited patiently for God’s leading, but truthfully, my frequent visits to those tabs proved otherwise. I believed God…