What season are you in right now? Summer. The days of summer officially ended yesterday. The pools are closed, the children are back in school, the days of sleeping in and staying up late are over. Summer is a time for play. A time when the goodness of God is so apparent because it is so evident and it is ours. Summer is when life comes easily to you and me. I love summer and its carefree pace. … [Read more...] about Seasons
perseverance
Offended by Him
I realized something profound this summer. I have done my best to push and shove and stomp down the hurt I have felt over some things God has allowed to happen to me. I have been offended by Him. And I would have denied it to the bitter end because of the terrifying collision my upbringing taught me to trust in Him had with my scabbed over heart. The Psalms and the prophet Jeremiah have just … [Read more...] about Offended by Him
The Rock I Cling To
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
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
Out of the Mouths of Babes
"Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, Because of Your enemies, That You may silence the enemy and the avenger." Psalm 8:2 I was flying 30,000 feet in the air on a way to speak to a group of women in Texas. I felt dry, empty, and terrified about what I could possibly offer to anyone because my life felt upside down. My prayers seemed to only be reaching … [Read more...] about Out of the Mouths of Babes
