I have been reminded this week of a very painful truth that I can conveniently push to the back of my mind most of the time: Life is a fragile vapor. One of my dear friends, Elaine, was hit by a drunk driver on Monday. She suffered internal injuries, the worst being a broken spine in two places. I did not find out until the day after the accident and cannot stop thinking about her and the new life … [Read more...] about The Rock I Cling To
Abundant Life
Chosen
My spiritual life until age thirty was downright boring. I grew up with parents sold out to Christ and His kingdom, but I was merely a bystander watching them using their gifts, convinced that I truly had none of my own. And so each Sunday would roll around. I would dutifully sit in my pew, sing the songs as a member of the congregation, open my Bible during the sermon, and try to suppress the … [Read more...] about Chosen
When Expectations and Reality Collide in Ministry
Visions of the great adventure awaiting me danced through my head. I couldn’t wait to see what was on the other side of the airplane door. We had just landed at Njili airport in Zaire, Africa. I was ten years old. The “fasten seatbelt” sign went off and the adults around me got up from their seats. I stayed put until the signal from my parents that it was okay to move around the cabin. Carrying my … [Read more...] about When Expectations and Reality Collide in Ministry
Security
"The Lord is my chosen and assigned portion, my cup; You hold and maintain my lot." Psalm 16:5 (Amplified Bible) One of the saddest realizations I had during the writing of my bible study, Living With Unmet Desires, was that Saul had everything he needed to rule over Israel, but lost the kingdom, the respect of his family, and ultimately took his own life because of his rabid jealousy of an … [Read more...] about Security
That’s His Heart
What is the heart of God like? * He leaves the ninety-nine to go find the one that's lost. * He runs to the weary, wayward child who wants to come home. * He bottles every tear we cry and writes them down in His book. * He gives no condemnation in exchange for the confession of the blackest sin. * He is the Way Maker when there seems to be no way. * He is the Father continually … [Read more...] about That’s His Heart
What Will They Remember?
From the time I could pick up a doll, I have wanted to be a mother. I used to fill up pages in my notebook with the future names of my children. I would daydream about their hair color, their abilities, and what we would do together. In my mind's eye, there would be no hard days. I would always have time for my children, never have a day in which I lacked patience, and would always be able to help … [Read more...] about What Will They Remember?
