Category: Faith
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Lessons on Assumption
During college, I took a course on intercultural competency. The main point of the course was when we first encounter a new culture, we should recognize our own incompetency. The most important skill to master? Don’t make assumptions. Incidentally, a mortifying misunderstanding in the class drove this home most powerfully. Assumption #1 Our professor was…
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Encouragement from Hebrews 11
God’s Big Enough for Our Little Faith I love when God weaves together what you’re reading with what is going on in your life. Recently, my guy and I were talking about taking small steps of faith. I’d been reading about Abraham and we’re in a season of stepping into the unknown. What a joy…
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Dying for Christ Vs. Living For Him
Have you ever played the game “would you rather?” Someone offers two options, from the silly to the bizarre, and everyone takes turns explaining which option they’d choose. Would you rather have a calculator in your brain or a camera? Would you rather only ever eat peanut butter or chocolate? Would you rather that the…
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How do you celebrate the Easter season?
Early in our marriage, my husband told me Easter is his favorite holiday- and he wanted to really celebrate it. I was at a loss. The day Jesus rose from the grave is an important one, but somehow “Easter season” doesn’t have the same ring to it as “the most wonderful time of the year.”…
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No Way, No How
Standing on the edge of my own big, wild, crazy nightmares or dreams, I remember the words I’ve seen shared around the internet “When there isn’t a way out, go through.” It’s true. But, sometimes, looking around, there isn’t a way through. Sometimes the door is slammed shut in your face and all the others are locked…
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The Big Picture of Fear
On our first-ever house-hunting excursion, we walked into a little ranch with chalk paint on the cabinets in the kitchen. If it had been anywhere near our price range, I would have bought it on the spot just for that feature. In an instant, I was imagining how we’d use that chalk wall. I’d draw…
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3 Laws of Change
Her wrinkled hand clasped my arm for stability as we took a slight step down. “I need help ever since it happened,” she said apologetically. “Since what?” I asked, unsure if she had an injury I hadn’t heard about and ought to be aware of. Playfully, she shot back, “since I got old!” The sweet…
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A Shift in Perspective
The kitchen countertops were covered with ingredients, bowls, and cooking utensils. I started cooking in the late afternoon, consumed with preparing an elaborate meal. After I-don’t-know-how-long, my father-in-law stepped into the kitchen. “Ta-da” he announced. Lights flicked on. Turns out, I’d been cooking in the dark. It was amazing what a difference a shift in…
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God, Grief, and Good Books
The email came after two others. First, a rejection letter. Second, a bitter note intended to wound. Third, an invitation to read the pre-release of a book about grief. At the time, I was sitting beside a sleeping loved one in the throes of painful, frightening suffering and uncertainty. It won’t surprise you that I…
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God’s Reliability: Updating to 5.0
We know all too well the adrenaline rush of a beloved phone fizzling out or breaking. Updates to social media page layouts and software give us pause. If our apps and icons re-arrange themselves to “improve” efficiency, we can’t get anything done quickly for days! It’s normal to get used to doing things a certain…