"That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets." 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 (New Living Translation)In 1981, another American missionary family, … [Read more...] about Purpose Driven Joy
Abundant Life
The Beauty of Brokenness
My sacrifice [the sacrifice acceptable] to God is a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart [broken down with sorrow for sin and humbly and thoroughly penitent], such, O God, You will not despise. Psalm 51:17 (Amplified Bible)It was December 1987 and I was one of thousands of people on the University of Illinois campus at Urbana/Champaign. We were all together for Urbana '87, one … [Read more...] about The Beauty of Brokenness
Absence of Shame
Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. Psalm 34:5 (NIV)Since I began seriously seeking to make Jesus Christ the Lord of my life ten years ago, I have been filled with delight to discover attributes about His character that I never realized about Him before. One of those incredible findings is that He is the is not the giver of shame. His Spirit, … [Read more...] about Absence of Shame
The Final Curtain Call
"So we make it our goal to please Him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad." 2 Corinthians 5:9-10 (NIV) One of the more creative and memorable assignments I ever received in college was having to write my own obituary. I … [Read more...] about The Final Curtain Call
The Purest Praise
"...and a little child will lead them." Isaiah 11:6 (NIV)My youngest kept us both up until 2:00 a.m. early this morning with illness so Rob went to church without me. Someone asked me to go to church with them tonight, and since I had not been able to attend church this morning, I decided to go. I glanced down at the church's program and saw that they had a visiting children's choir from South … [Read more...] about The Purest Praise
Permission to Rest Granted
Psalm 103:13-14 (New International Version) 13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; 14 for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.I have always marveled at a newborn's ability to block everything out around him or her when sleep is necessary. I carried my oldest child in a sling much of his first year of … [Read more...] about Permission to Rest Granted
