Devotions
Before and After the Election: 5 Requirements for Peace
For much of our country and even the watching world, Tuesday, November 3, 2020 feels large and filled with impending doom. The anxiety it is causing within the hearts and mind of individuals is unhealthy and alarming. The jockeying for…
Before and After the Election: How Gratitude Shapes our Thinking
Ever four years, a politician promises to create change, improve the lives of citizens, and make our country great…or great again…or keep it great, depending on their perspective. They stir us up to fear for our futures, our children’s futures,…
How Something Surprising Created Gratitude for My Neighbors
A tween-girl, ear-piercing shrill had me bolting down the stairs toward my foster daughter one summer afternoon. Much to my surprise and mortification, she had discovered a black bat sleeping in between the blinds and the window of the back…
When Faith Becomes Your Own
Growing up with parents who had put their faith in Christ and attended church every Wednesday and Sunday seemed normal to me as a child. But as I grew older and attended public school, I discovered how rare this truly…
Birthing Hope from Pain (A Parable)
There were two, young pregnant women who upon reaching their appointed times, went into labor and endured great physical pain. Both had the expectation that they would soon see their child and the pain would subside. One rightly understood the…
What should I read next?
Have you ever felt stuck in your daily Bible reading? Maybe you are overwhelmed by how many books are in the Bible and are unsure of what to be reading? If you just finished a study, how do you know…
My Pandemic Dilemma
As a human, I hate hardship. I like to know what is going on and how to live in relative comfort and freedom. So, when this pandemic hit, I, like many others around the world, had to wrestle to understand…
Spiritual Growth and the Myth of Balance
If we googled how to live a balanced life, there would be no shortage of articles, blog posts, and book suggestions for any number of quick steps to becoming more balanced. The search for answers to balancing work, home, friends,…
Dealing with Dust
Psalm 34:18 “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” ESV Dust seems very insignificant in life until the wind stirs it up and blows the particles in our eyes. Then we become keenly aware…
Space to Grow
A couple of years ago I was able to check something off of my travel “bucket list”. I had always dreamed of seeing the California Redwoods in person, and I finally flew to San Francisco with my family and walked…