When suffering seems endless and despair kicks in, thoughts of “why” and “how long, oh Lord?” can permeate our thoughts. We fixate on circumstances, trying to understand them, and then stress multiplies even more. Our songs of praise feel out of tune, inauthentic, cacophonous, ugly, filled with discord underneath. Sometimes Read more…
Does it seem like the powers of this world are taking over? Is fear nagging under the surface of your thoughts? We do not need to be afraid, believer. Easter actually happened, right?! Jesus is alive and reigning as King right now, and He is fulfilling His kingdom purposes right Read more…
Did things go differently than you expected this year? Did life take a turn into a new season for you? Are you in the middle of one, not knowing its outcome? Does that feel unsettling? Me too, on multiple fronts. Many days this year, the Lord has taken me back Read more…
In quietness and in trust shall be your strength (Is. 30:15b ESV). “But Lord,” she cried. “Nothing in my life feels quiet or calm. My life is filled with chaos, this fallen world is filled with chaos and noise. I’m honestly battling the ever-present anxiety that underlies my life circumstances Read more…
In suffering, I’m instantly tempted to focus on myself. The pain overtakes my every thought and everything becomes so inward, fixated on my hurting. When it becomes days and years, with no end in sight, it’s easy for me to become self-absorbed. Me, me, me. But Jesus beckons us: “If Read more…
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, dear sister in Christ! My birthday arrives during Epiphany, right after Christmas. As a young child, I always felt the bummer that I was on winter break from school, so I never got the same birthday attention my friends did. I always missed the Read more…
One minute, things are fine. The next minute something suddenly changes. A hassle, a broken, a phone call, a mess, a tragedy. Suddenly, life changes and things are not fine. But are they good? Somehow? It’s ALL good If God is Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all (Eph. 4:6 ESV) and He Read more…
Do you hear pulsating fear everywhere? Do you notice an underlying “what if…” in spoken words and unspoken thoughts? I had a close soul-sister friend who could notice. She was the type of friend who saw my underlying “what if” as I talked. Her cancer brought her into eternity with Read more…
Are you clinging to the Gospel right now too? Are you clinging to the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes (Rom. 1:16 ESV)? Is it hard to know what to say, do, believe right now? Do you also feel like you need His guidance and wisdom in this broken, Read more…
I am a planner. As a teacher, I love planning backwards from goals, creating objectives and experiences for students. I love day planners, to-do lists, lesson plan templates. I look forward to events and gleefully plan details. Now, lists are shredded with canceled, ended plans and I’m left with an Read more…
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