Finding Treasures
Every year in late summer, my dad and I go on a trip to see lighthouses. And even though the lighthouses are the
I See You
I see you. Those are powerful words to me now. I have often been amazed that when my kids had school performances, their
Spending Real Time
I have shared with anyone who will listen about how much I have loved doing the Bible Recap over the past few years. Bible Recap is a way of going through the Bible in chronological order. Each day, after reading the day's scripture, you can listen to a helpful explanation of what you just read. I thought I would finish it one year and then do another Bible reading plan. And one year I might actually do that. But for now, I am still learning and growing in God’s word each time through.
Get in Your Lane
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Choose His Side
Lately, there are many places to “pick a side”. A lot of trying to figure out the right answer to everything. The virus brought with it several choices- to grow stronger as a country or to let it start to destroy us. My hope was that, just as our country had done before, we would pull together in a crisis more than ever. Initially, it seemed we were doing just that! We focused on the positives coming from slowing down and being at home and saw the good that was being created even out of a bad situation. We saw ways God was working in families and lives that could not have happened at any other time. But there also was a restlessness that seemed to creep in, and then every day became another day to pick a side. You could choose to wear gloves or not, wear a mask or not, speak up or be silent, protest or not, and even pick a political side. I found myself very frustrated and misunderstood and unable to know when and how to express what I truly valued. Even agreeing with an article could be taken the wrong way.
Stones of Remembrance
There are so many unknowns right now, but nothing about them is new to God. Recently, I was looking back over family updates from years back. In 2010, we didn’t know when we would be moving, where Jonathan would be working, or when baby #5, our sweet Josiah, would be born. It seemed we had more unknown than known. What I can tell you about the unknowns, uncertain and even scary days, is that the closeness of God is palpable. It is a closeness that brings tears and love, patience and peace, along with a flood of knowing He is all that matters. Oftentimes, I find rereading updates I have shared to be so helpful, because I have forgotten those times of God’s faithfulness. I realized it is no accident that in the Old Testament when leadership is changing hands as one is about to die, there is a reciting of the whole story of all that God has done. We think we won’t forget, but we do. And I have learned the best way to remember is to write them down.
We Need Community (even when we think we don’t)
I remember years back when Jonathan was in youth ministry. We had just recently married, and I went to his youth group
The Climb
Once when we lived in Florida, I was looking in the jobs available section. I stopped in my browsing when I saw
Grow the Way I Want to Grow!
Grow the Way I Want You to Grow! I had asked a great friend to mentor me years back, and thankfully she
