The Worth Of Knowing

Knowing in part | Being fully known


  • The Kitchen Table

    The Kitchen Table

    [read part one of the story here] I walked behind Mr. Grable’s medium frame toward the kitchen. It was situated across the entryway from the living room. I glanced at the white sofa before sitting down on a wooden chair at the kitchen table. It was embarrassing to remember how I had yelled at Mr. Continue reading

  • When “Purity” Is At the Expense of Holiness

    When “Purity” Is At the Expense of Holiness

    I’m not going to beat around the bush: Sometimes we use “purity” and avoiding “temptation” as a cop out to avoid doing the deeper work required to be in fellowship with the Body of Christ. Pursuing sexual purity is not how we get – or stay – in relationship with God. [moment of huge relief!!] Continue reading

  • Shattered

    Shattered

    It feels a bit to good be true: probably the most Christian way to live is from a place of rest, security, and love – to love from a place of being loved by God. [When we resist that idea I think it’s insightful to ask why that is. For me, it often involves a Continue reading

  • (re)parenting

    (re)parenting

    About a year ago I read an interview where someone said that the Bible only has a few passages that speak directly to how to raise kids. They said the area of parenting styles is one (mostly) of personal freedom for Christians. While I agree with this and need to be reminded of this often, Continue reading

  • Between Very Good and Glorious

    Between Very Good and Glorious

    I think it’s significant that before the first humans did anything noteworthy God declared them “very good.” If mountains declare the glory of God I wonder how much more our bodies shout God’s glory – without us ever opening our mouths. They are the vessels that God fearfully and wonderfully made for us to interact Continue reading

  • Sweet Child

    Sweet Child

    We sit down for dinner and you eat your pasta. They say getting your kids to eat isn’t a food struggle but an authority struggle. I smile and salt your noodles. I choose to play the long game with your relationship with food over flexing my authority over you. We send you to bed and Continue reading

  • I will dare

    I will dare

    I will look into Your eyesand I will dare to tell Youthe truth:I’m scaredto just behere with You.Because then, I think, You might be unimpressed. You might grow impatient.You might lose interest. You might leave.I’ve wanted to be more-to pleaseto self-improveto be needed. But I’m confused.Disappointed.I thought this washow to be with You. When it’s Continue reading

  • A Human Body

    A Human Body

    “For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.”‭‭Colossians‬ ‭2:9‬ ‭NLT‬‬ I think I’m beginning to accept a bit of the significance of Jesus being in a human body. But one aspect of the implications of this has shook me a little: God cares about our bodies. “[Our bodies] were made Continue reading

  • where women’s rights begin

    where women’s rights begin

    It’s hard to rejoice today even though I know I have reason to. The thing that keeps swirling in my head is that women’s rights begin before they feel the need for an abortion. I hope people can agree with that whether or not they believe abortion is a woman’s right. The thing is, so Continue reading

  • Mulberries & Grace

    Mulberries & Grace

    They’ve been there whether I’veacknowledged their presenceor not -whether I have experienced their sweetnessor assumed they’re poisonous. Because I know the harm ofpretty thingsand am sometimes wary of goodness. Either way, they ripen begging to be gathered;a days worth at a time.If I slowed downto familiarize myself with themto reach outand gently,gentlyhold onein my hand Continue reading

  • Father(s)

    Father(s)

    You were the skin and bones of my theologybefore I knew how to read the Word.The strong hand I held when my own body felt vulnerable. You were the mouththat laughed and uttered words of shamethat left me confused at how I could be wonderfully madeand still somehow not good enough. You were the armsI Continue reading

  • Asking the Father

    Asking the Father

    I love (and sometimes really dislike) how my kids are unafraid to ask me for unreasonable things, cry when I say “no,” and then come to me for comfort. Their tears aren’t toward me personally, though it may feel like it to them and myself for a time. Their tears are really for the loss Continue reading

  • Building Something New

    Building Something New

    “What’s that guy doing?” he asked in his drawn out 2 year old voice. “He’s using a jack hammer to break up the street,” I answered. “But whyyyy?” came the infamous question from the back of the car. “Because sometimes,” I said with a catch in my voice, “you have to break down old things Continue reading

  • A Child

    A Child

    Her warm body nestled into mine. My arm resting over her waist. Her hand placed on my arm. My nose pressed against her head breathing in the smell of her freshly washed hair. My wiggly, expressive, imaginative girl relaxed and resting beside me. I wish it were that easy to trust. I wish it were Continue reading

  • My Heart

    My Heart

    Carefully, firmly you remove the bush of thorns and buds, potential for pain and beauty, from the small pot now unnecessary means of confinement that stunted it’s growth. We examine the roots, stems, leaves. You hold it with understanding, pointing out the potential for growth that will be unhindered. We make room in the earth Continue reading

  • Open to Heaven

    Open to Heaven

    In asking for heaven on earth we are, like Jesus in Gethsemane or the saints in Hebrews 11, asking for something we may not receive in the way or timing we want. Yet we are told to ask none the less. “May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it Continue reading

  • Sit With Me

    Sit With Me

    “That’s called empathy,” I told my then three year old as I pointed to Frog sitting on the porch next to Toad who was feeling sad about never having got a letter. Frog and Toad Are Friends: The Letter is probably my favorite Frog and Toad story and I was trying to reign in my Continue reading

  • His Presence

    His Presence

    “You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.”‭‭Psalms‬ ‭139:5‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Wounds that require stitches or sutures must be treated within 24 hours. Previous personal experience reminded me of this and a quick google search confirmed it so now you’re informed. But what if a doctor wasn’t confined Continue reading

  • because

    because

    Because new life is breathed into us Because growth is abiding all we have to boast in is Christ. People praise God for the good, beautiful things we do because we let people close enough to see that it couldn’t come from us but the light in us. And we learn to accept encouragement and Continue reading

  • Held

    Held

    They wanted tea so I heated some water and they dipped their tea bags into their mugs. It was a hard morning so far. The two year old wanted to sit on my lap constantly and I was feeling overwhelmed by his need. I sang He Will Hold Me Fast to help calm myself from Continue reading