“It is not supposed to be this way” is a common refrain in this generation. I do not ever remember my grandmother complaining about the trauma she endured throughout the dust bowl and Great Depression, though I do know she was shaped by those experiences. Neither of my grandfathers served in World War II …
Navigating the Unspoken Things
The unspoken things will break your heart, and rarely will those untouched by their confusing events know how to help someone else through them. I speak of mental disorders specifically, but every person is touched by some unspoken word that cannot be formed into a prayer request. Having spent more time that I ever …
Welcoming Leviathan
The description of the fire-breathing dragon in Job has always intrigued me. You can find it in Job 41. The King James renders its name “leviathan,” and the end of the chapter calls him the king over all the children of pride. This is the very last thing God describes before Job declares his repentance. …
The Blessing of Baca
I have been through the valley of weeping, Where the onslaught halted my pace. The mire and mud held me captive, Tears and rain washed down my face. Each step forward fell with great effort, The weight on my heart left me numb. Confusion and fear mocked Faith’s sronghold, Words and thoughts lay tangled on …
Running Toward the Physician
Our newest, furry addition underwent surgery for several issues last week. We brought Kai home from the vet sporting his cone of shame and with a lot of pain medication. When the pain meds ran out, he was a wreck, finding ways to scrape his wounds and lick them, even while still sporting his cone. …
The Heart of Confession: The Third Step of Prayer
One of the strongest indicators of God’s existence is the consistent sense of morality found in the hearts of men from every culture, tribe, and nation. Thomas Aquinas, a Dominican priest and philosopher from the thirteenth century, introduced this moral argument as an observation to consider. He noted that men compare values and goodness in …
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Women Who Pray Influence the Future
Last week, a small core of six praying women met for the last time for this school year. Nearly every Thursday throughout the year, these women faithfully got together to go over the burdens and needs of the Christian school their children attended. I had the privilege of joining them, running straight over to teach …
God’s Image Reflected in Motherhood
What is a woman? In a post-Christian world, this query apparently stumps many who have spent their lives studying medicine and biology. However, my preschool and kindergarten friends understand perfectly what a woman is. Many little girls show me their baby dolls and excitedly tell me their plans to grow up to be a …
Prioritizing Worship When Life Is Hard….And When It Is Good.
If you have ever entered church, barely putting one foot in front of another because of the swirl of out-of-your-control circumstances going on in your life, you have prioritized worship over fear of the unknown. If you have ever chosen to make your reason for going to church God alone, amid church hurt, you have …
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I Nearly Died in the Wilderness
Birthdays have a way of making you reflect on your life. The bigger the number, the fewer birthdays are left to have in the future. This week, I thought that with how close Jesus’s return is, this very well could be the last one I celebrate. If so, what would I want to share as …
His Song in the Night 