If I didn’t already have my shoes off, I would have removed them, for I felt I was on holy
ground. It was one of the last mornings of our vacation, and I was on a beach walk by
myself, but I was not alone.
With my very first step, I began thanking God for the opportunity to be there with my
family. Then as my mind wandered, I started talking to God about why He made the
beach the way He did and how our visits there impact us. And I started snapping pictures
to capture it all. Continue reading
Sadness blows slowly down our street this week because of the sudden and tragic death of a neighbor. He left behind a wife and two young-adult boys.
We’ve lived diagonally across the street from them for over sixteen years. And now, in their moment of greatest sorrow and need, I’m struck by how little I know them. Continue reading
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It’s just not there. I’ve looked so many times.
What do you say to your son when he gets cut from the team?
How should you respond when the full trash-can keeps getting forgotten?
Is it a sin to eat Oreos?
So many times, I’ve wished the Bible would speak more to the specifics of my life. I’ve often thought, “If God would just tell me what to say/do right now, I would obey.”
But He doesn’t. He doesn’t give us a script, action plan, or a menu.
I know, I hear you, reader. You’re saying if I’m “walking in the Spirit” and “abiding in Him” …I’ll just Continue reading
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Linking up with (in)couragers
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Dear Daughters,
As you get ready to enter new schools in the fall, it’s normal for you to be anxious for things to go well.
We’ve thoughtfully planned your core classes, electives, and extra curricular activities.
We made a list of supplies and will scour the stores for just the right binders, backpacks, and notebooks.
We’ve budgeted and will shop carefully for outfits that are practical, appropriate, and expressive.
You are pretty much ready, except for one thing.
We haven’t done anything to prepare you to sift though a big, new group of people in the hope of making godly friends. Often, the friendships that you have in middle school and high school can influence you so much more than your classes, supplies, and clothes. Therefore, I’d like to offer some advice and encouragement, to be just as intentional about getting ready for this part of your new school year. You can begin now to prepare to make friendships. You can do this…on purpose. Continue reading
I close my gym locker with a satisfying slam. The metal-on-metal sound matches the way I feel. I hate this, I think.
The long and lean beauty in front of me steps off the scale, then leaves the sliding weights in place for me to covet.
I roll my eyes and curse under my breath.
Recently, I was in the checkout line at the grocery store with my overloaded cart when a lady behind me caught my eye and said, “You must have as many kids as I do. The three gallons of milk give it away.”
I smiled and reached into my cart. “Yes, three gallons- PLUS a half-gallon of almond milk!” I held up the carton like a trophy.
We both chuckled and secretly sized each other up. The Game has begun.
This has been the year of decisions for me. Big ones about careers, schools, and health. Smaller ones about paint color, gym memberships, and cars. I hate making decisions. But, then again, I don’t know many people who love this unavoidable part of life.
Decisions, no matter the size, tend to make me exhausted and often afraid.
I’m afraid if I choose the wrong paint color, the room will look unattractive, and we’ll have to repaint, and money will be wasted which will eliminate the possibility of getting new couches which means we won’t be able to get the new rug in that different color scheme…
I’m afraid if I pay for the car repairs instead of selling the car, I’ll be faced with more repairs later and out more money, which means not being able to buy the car later, which means our family of six will have to make due with one fewer car…
I’m afraid that if I send my kids to that school, they won’t get a good education, make the right friends, or be encouraged in their faith, then they will become criminals and I’ll be visiting them in jail…
I don’t know about you, but these things are scary.
All of us have had times when we have prayed hard for something to happen. For healing, for a job, for forgiveness, for a lost child… No matter what the status of your relationship with God, these are the kinds of things that bring all of us searching for and begging before a higher power.
Recently, I was on my knees for a ten year-old girl from Springfield who was kidnapped. While the midwest searched for her, every parent’s nightmare haunted social media and the news. I retweeted, reshared, cried, prayed, and shuddered at the reminder that the horrific can happen to the innocent.
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This past Christmas, I was reminded of one of our family’s rules. My youngest received a gift that was interesting to her siblings. Soon after it was unwrapped, her brother was asking to “see” it (which really means hold it and play with it until you beg for it back). Big sister came to her rescue and reminded everyone of our time-tested rule, “You don’t have to share on the first day!” Everyone nodded. It’s true.
What it will be like to stand before God? Many of us envision this scene. Some picture it to be a throne room with God and Jesus sitting side by side in all glory and splendor. Others imagine file cabinets full of debts with Jesus marking each one “Paid in Full” as God smiles in approval. Still, there are some who think of pearly gates or even floating cherubs. To be honest, my brain has entertained all of these scenarios. But lately, my wondering hasn’t been about what I will see in Heaven. I’ve been simply wondering which “Me” will be there.
I love checked-off lists. They make me feel productive and in control. I make them for every part of my life. I’m one of those people who writes things on my to-do list after it’s done just so I can cross it off. And you better believe that I leave my completed lists in plain view for God and others to see how efficient I am. I give myself secret pats-on-the-back and high-fives.
I’ve been around Christians long enough to know that I must also have a list for my prayers. So I do. (check) Mine is lengthy. I’ve been praying for many of the entries on this list for months, some even years. A few for a decade. It’s been a long time since I’ve crossed anything off because of a yes-answer. Many have been no-answered. What eats at me the most are the ones that remain seemingly ignored.
It’s early morning and I’m hungry. My mind starts thinking of what would taste good: comfort, control, health, glory, answers to questions, things to be different… Hunger motivates me; moves me.
Stooping For Manna 
