hope

The Donkey

Karen Brown1 Comment
Photo by Jeff Brown

So far in our Advent story, we’ve been traveling back and forth from Nazareth to Bethlehem, so it’s only fair that we give the donkey a nod.

Donkeys, a common mode of transportation in Biblical times, are hard working and trainable. They can handle rough terrain and heavy loads. Sounds like a perfect ride for 90 miles, a pregnant wife, and a tight schedule.

Donkeys have been carrying burdens long before that trip to Bethlehem. One donkey joined Abraham and Isaac on their heartbreaking hike toward an impossible sacrifice.

And a donkey walked with Moses on his nervous trip to Egypt for convincing Pharaoh to let God’s people go.

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Reaching for More

Karen Brown17 Comments

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A new determination faithfully arrives every year, sometime between Christmas and January 1. Just when the clutter starts to get to me and the chaotic schedule grinds on my nerves.

I’ve got a system and prefer to do it alone: pitching, rearranging, and packing away. The physical work feels good after too many family movies and long meals. The solitude feels even better.

But this year, my work became symbolic of a bigger mess… Continue reading →

Thelma’s Christmas Carol

Karen Brown19 Comments

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Every Christmas, my family loves to retell the story of a gift that I gave my aunt a few years back. “Tell it again,” the kids say, and we start from the beginning and end up laughing so hard we cry. Continue reading →

The Morning Tide

Karen Brown15 Comments

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There is that moment in the very early morning, when I’m half awake and I don’t quite know where or when I am.

When the light hits only the highest places, when the heat of the day is still distant, and I’m still allowing sleep’s current to take me wherever…

It’s the sweet moment when the quiet fills my room and my soul and I can’t remember anything.

Then, the alarm sounds and it all rushes back.  Continue reading →

Relief

Karen Brown16 Comments
It’s called Five Minute Friday. Each week, we write for five minutes, freely, on a one-word prompt. We write quickly, then post, a flash-mob linking together
at Kate Motaung’s site. It’s fun!
This week’s prompt: RELIEF

There’s always something.

It never ends.

It’s one thing after another.

I hear it all day long. Life’s a bxxch. The struggle is real. Come, Lord Jesus.

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When the Empty Tomb Seems Too Far Away

Karen Brown23 Comments

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I want to run.

I want to be like Peter, the disciple who ran for the tomb on the third day. The one who leaned in to the emptiness and believed.

“Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw…” (John 20: 1-5)

I read the story of the Resurrection and cheer Peter on. My soul runs with him, toward the hope that I know is there… because I know the story so well. Because I love happy endings and want one for Peter- whose floundering faith reminds me so much of my own. Continue reading →

The Rock of Ages

Karen Brown7 Comments

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The Law was etched into it, carving God’s people out of the world and into holiness. It was held high then smashed to the ground in a frustrated rage – because all fall short. A stone mirror reflecting a broken people.

They placed their offerings upon it. An altar without rest, and messy from endless efforts to cover their own sin. Spilling gallon upon gallon of the wrong kind of blood. A stone table for doing work their hands could never finish.  Continue reading →

Why Does The Resurrection Matter?

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Jonathan Dockery*, a young, hip artist, in his last semester at seminary, created this video for Easter. I have no words. It’s beautiful.

I pray it brings you the hope of the Restoration.

*Jonathan works as a graphic designer at Central Presbyterian Church and attends Covenant Theological Seminary.

Heaven Off Highway E

Karen Brown21 Comments

Recently, my sister sent me a link to a real-estate listing. Because neither one of us is house hunting, I was curious. I clicked on it and saw a picture of a small white house with black shutters sitting between a field and a pond. Immediately, I recognized it as the ranch that my paternal grandparents lived in when we were growing up.

My grandparents have been gone for many years. I hadn’t seen it since I was a teenager when my Granny was in the kitchen and my Pa was sick in bed.

Each photo in the gallery brought with it memories I didn’t even know I still had: picking apart cattails by the pond, the smell of fish food in a container by the dock, the sound of our station-wagon tires turning onto the gravel driveway from Highway E…

By the time I clicked to the last photo, tears were rolling down my cheeks and I couldn’t speak. I wasn’t exactly sad, but I wasn’t happy either. Sometimes tears are mysterious.  Continue reading →

When Two Is More Than Three

Karen Brown22 Comments

Chris Sardegna
Chris Sardegna

It was another hard day of no leggings, yes pants. Homework first, FaceTime second. No eyeliner, yes blush. Talking, hugging, slamming doors…

Being a middle school girl -even a fun, beautiful, smart one- is rough.

And being her mom is exhausting.

It was the dark time of night when confidence turns into confusion and anger becomes fear. Even though I was in bed, I knew sleep probably wouldn’t come, but definitely not if I didn’t do one more thing… Continue reading →

Good Grief, 2014!

Karen Brown30 Comments

Boxing GlovesThis past year beat us up pretty bad, didn’t it? I mean, one headline after another pressed us against the ropes and left us reaching for the towel. Continue reading →

Three Clocks

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On a shelf in my soul sits a wooden hourglass,
Where sands no longer run.
The top bell is empty; the bottom is still,
Reminding me of His work that’s been done.
Resting, quiet, and peaceful,
This timepiece no longer enslaves.
The war is over, and victory is won
Through an empty cross and grave.

Continue reading →