She sat in my lap admiring the stars and the moon—my three-year-old granddaughter. She claimed the moon as her moon then burst out singing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star*. Little Caroline was awash with wonder, and her soul burst into song.
Rest for my Soul
Rest for my soul? Soul Rest! Soul Rest just might be the most valuable commodity in today’s economy. It is something I have sought and treasured since the earliest days of my life.
Serving God
My siblings and I often complained that Mother never watched television with us. The reason? She fell asleep whenever she sat down! Once I became a mother, I quickly understood the exhaustion from her long day of serving her family.
Seeking God
The last time I recall seeking help with everything-within-me was in a dream -- actually a nightmare. A vicious snake coiled up at my feet and held me frozen with his gaze. I called for help, but no one heard me. With all my physical strength, I filled my lungs with air, then screamed H-E-L-P! with everything within me. I awoke to a pounding heart and a sweaty night shirt. I still vividly recall the emotion of that dream—that moment of desperation.
Loving God with All-of-Me!
My granddaughter introduced me to I Love You to the Moon and Back;* a children’s book so popular that the title has become a common phrase in the American culture!
An Eye-opening Walk with Jesus
A wedding. A shortage of wine. A need presented to Jesus by His mother, followed by anticipation of an answer. The disciples who accompanied Jesus to the wedding watched His every move. What would He do? What could be done to save this couple from humiliation at the onset of their marriage?
A Secure Journey
We were on a walk when my dog suddenly slowed, and my attention was drawn to the street. There before me was a huge snake. Three things happened simultaneously: I jumped, I screamed, and I pulled my dog away—only to realize afterward that the snake was dead.
A Cleansing Walk
I love to wear black for two reasons. First, it goes well with my dark hair and eyes. Second, it doesn’t show dirt. I can wear a white blouse for about five minutes before I get it dirty. When I wear black, I can still look clean at the end of the day. Though the dirt is most definitely there, it is not visible.
Limping with God
After years of being away, Jacob was headed home with his family and possessions. As he neared Canaan, he was told that Esau was coming toward him with 400 men. Jacob and Esau had not parted on good terms. Was Esau coming for revenge?
Walking with Believers
Man was not created to walk alone. God created each of us to walk with Him. He also designed us to walk with others. In Genesis 1 God declared all He created to be good. But then God identified something as not good. God said, It is not good for the man to be alone… (Genesis 2:18).
Turning Our Why into Worship
In August 2015, a joyful anticipation of what I thought my college years would look like was shattered into a disheartening reality when the words You’ve been cut from the process pierced my heart through a phone call during the sorority recruitment process.
Sifted for a Season
Recently, I walked through a difficult season in life that involved sorrow, suffering and unexpected disappointment. I wanted desperately to “do this right” and I often prayed that somehow God would be glorified through this process. Then I read about a season in Peter’s life where he was “sifted”.
Navigating Life!
A journey is made up of a lot of decisions and choices. So are our lives.
What Are You Saying to Yourself?
Recent studies suggest that the most influential person in our lives is ourselves. We can talk ourselves into things and we can talk ourselves out of things.
Cultivating What Matters
I have the heart of a gardener…I guess to serve my need to nurture something. I love to watch something grow and I especially love it when a plant grows big and beautiful after a long, hard winter.
The Color of Closeness
I recently had the privilege of watching a color-blind man open a new pair of glasses for his birthday. My eyes filled with tears as he experienced color accurately for the first time in his life.
Open Hands
Few things are as soothing for me as watching waves crash on a beach. But the seamless shoreline of peace and harmony can only be created by an endless cycle of giving and taking.
Heavenly Hinds’ Feet
When I was growing up, my family had a copy of Hinds’ Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard. I still remember flipping through the childhood illustrations of a crippled girl named Much Afraid, her nemesis Craven Fear, and the kind Shephard Who called her to journey with Him to the distant mountains. If only I’d know then how accurately her journey would reflect my own over the years!
Unseen Answers
I wish I could have been at the showdown between Elijah and the prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel. The false prophets danced around the altar all day, desperately cutting themselves and begging their false god to pay attention to them.
The Safety of Sacrifice
Most of us don’t think of sacrifice as a place of safety. Sacrifice is where we feel fragile and vulnerable (aka, the opposite of safe). I don’t know about you, but I seem to have an obsession with safety in my life. I pick jobs that make me feel safe, I pick people who make me feel safe, I spend money in ways that make me feel safe…