community
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seams tearing: being loved vs. being needed
I was thinking the other day about the first time I knew I loved Jesse. I liked him on and off for a long time. Before we started dating we messaged each other often and I remember being wary, but also curious. When I mentioned to him that the frequency of our messages was as Continue reading
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Living Among
“Should we be sad or angry when someone is killed?” my four year old asked me this morning. I scooped another piece of shredded wheat onto my spoon. “Probably both,” I replied as I tried to gauge where the question had come from. I swallowed my cereal and then added, “Do you remember when Jesus Continue reading
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Loving Unbelievers
I was in the break room typing up my note for work. A coworker was divulging to another coworker and I their current relationship situation. Suddenly, they turned their head sharply and looked at me, “Stop judging me. Not everyone is meant to marry young and have a family.” Startled, as I had not said Continue reading
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Pleasant Places
The verses that inspired “The Edge of Goodness” the poem (and later became the name for my book) were from Psalm 106: ”They despised the pleasant land and did not believe his promise. They grumbled in their tents and did not listen to the Lord.“ Psalms 106:24-25 CSB Despising pleasant places sounded strange and intriguing, Continue reading
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Withness: Sitting in someone else’s discomfort
The thing with sharing about myself is thatno one really gets to see meuntil I know how they will hold me with me.Their questions and commentsabout my story or struggleare well-meaning. I just know sometimescomments are used subconsciouslyto create distancebetween my story and themselves. Discomfort is hard. Sometimes people offer bandaidsto help themselves feel better. Continue reading
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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
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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
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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
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You Can Handle Me
When my family moved to our current home I was quite happy with the pale blue walls and white trim that already existed. It made the rooms feel light and airy. But as we began to move in I sighed noticing that the white steps and railing was already getting smudged. I would have to Continue reading
The Worth Of Knowing 