love
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Yet
I heard I was God’s enemy.Yet God reconciled His enemies to Himself. May we accept the standing of “child.”I heard God can’t tolerate sin.Yet He carried the sin of the world.May we one day tolerate His holiness.I heard my sin separates me from God.Yet He says nothing will snatch His children from His hand.May we Continue reading
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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
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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
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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
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Be Here
I followed the narrow foot trial down a little hill towards the woods. It was an overcast day – my favorite time to run. I listened to the worship music coming from the little mp3 player clipped to my shorts. I leaned forward and let gravity take me down the hill as another song began. Continue reading
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He Chose Relationship
My stomach turned as I drove through the little town. I glanced at the clock in my car and clenched the steering with my hand. So much for making a good impression and being on time. I pulled into the parking lot and there he was waiting outside for me. We had decided to meet Continue reading
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Maybe
Maybe we wait to say the obvious. right thing. Maybe we choose not to tell our angry friend to be more patient. Maybe we resist the urge to tell our depressed friend that they’re supposed to be joyful. Maybe we bite our tongue when we want to tell our anxious friend to stop worrying and Continue reading
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More than word on a page
“I luv you. And you luv me.” I was around 6, I think. I sat next to Grandma’s little lamp with a red pen and a piece of scrap paper. I wanted to write a note to Mom and Dad about how I loved them and was so happy and grateful for them. I struggled Continue reading
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The Kitchen Sink
I stand by the kitchen sink – stomach tight, jaw clenched. My hands are covered in soap as I shove a dirty fork into the dishwasher. Why is it here doing a daily mundane job that I feel the weight of my messed up past and the weight of the ways I could mess up Continue reading
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The Sofa
I wiped my feet on the doormat as I waited for the large door in front of me to open. I hoped someone was home. Water droplets were running down my face and my clothes clung to me like a heavy, wet blanket. It was stupid to go for such a long walk today, but Continue reading
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Stories Bound by Love
Seeing God in my story and seeking and giving thanks for His presence is a theme that keeps coming up for me. For example, today I read Psalm 105. It starts off like this: “Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! Sing to him, sing Continue reading
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only for me
“For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called.”Isaiah 54:5 ESV I expect Him to pursue me when I feel put together. I’m confused that my level of “put together” has no affect Continue reading
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Face To Face
I often wrestle with why Jesus has not returned to bring His Church to Himself … why in the Bible this time we’re in is supposed to highlight God’s “patient forbearance” (2 Peter 3:9) when every moment people who reject God as Lord and Savior are dying and will experience separation from Him for eternity. Continue reading
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Where Strongholds Weaken
It matters how we talk to ourselves about our hurt. There’s a difference between saying “it isn’t that bad” or “that’s just the way it is” and saying “I am living in lies that I’ve let shape my life, but God is stronger than the lies and has protected me.” One acknowledges both the reality Continue reading
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Safe
“Keep me safe,” he said as he cuddled deeper into the blankets next to me. His chubby two year old hand rested on mine. Sometimes loving him means washing his blue sippy cups, giving him space to make mistakes, and showing him again how to be kind to his sister. And sometimes loving him means Continue reading
The Worth Of Knowing 