This week we get to unpack what Jennie Allen called “the transforming power of awe.” She says, “Delight in God and His goodness tears down our walls and allows hope, trust, and worship to flood in.” Cynicism is the direct opposite of this. The cynic is always waiting for the rug to get pulled out from under them. Cynics may call themselves...
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They say that to be an expert at something, you need 10,000 hours of experience. Turns out I’m an expert at worrying and being anxious. Ten thousand hours throughout my lifetime translates into roughly 30 minutes of anxious/worrisome daily thoughts. I’m embarrassed to admit that that number is a cakewalk for me. Jennie Allen says that one of the greatest tools the...
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Years ago, I was volunteering with the Wednesday night kids ministry. I and another gal were keeping an eye on the older elementary kids as they burned off some steam by throwing balls and chasing one another. It was chaos. The other woman looked at me and said, "You know, when Pastor talked about the need for help in the...
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A passing thunderstorm had not been kind. A sentimental tree did not survive, outdoor items were long lost, and the porch took a hit. The cherry on top was a sick puppy. At the risk of sharing too much information, I'll just say that the little shaver had more going out of his body than what was going in. I was...
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Obedience and faith are something that believers are called to pursue. The reward is great for both. But there can be a fine line between obedience which leads to peace, and obedience rooted in legalism. I've witnessed people I love leave the church (or other Christian communities) because legalism superseded grace. There is no hurt quite like "church hurt." Most of...
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In recent weeks I found myself in a prayer "funk." It’s a gift to be able to pray without ceasing––while we drive, do dishes, or walk the dog. Because we can pray while we simultaneously move through life, we get to be in constant communication with God. While we’re “chatting” we also have the privilege of offering intercessory prayers. Scripture is...
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The other night, I looked up at the heavens and thought, "The summer sky is starting to make her entrance. Her evening gown is black as pitch, but it's peppered with sequin stars." It occurred to me that the sparkles were bright, not despite the contrasting black but because of it. With that thought, we begin this week's devotion with something...
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"Listen! A farmer went out to plant his seed. While he was planting, some seed fell by the road, and the birds came and ate it up. Some seed fell on rocky ground where there wasn't much dirt. That seed grew very fast, because the ground was not deep. But when the sun rose, the plants dried up because they...
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Our lives are like a train. We need to ensure that our feelings are the caboose, not the engine. The engine needs to be what we know, the truth that we've learned and embraced with our minds. I'm a woman who must be careful not to let how I feel be the thing that leads my train. The first thing...
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Resurrection for the believer is about life over death. But it's also about knowing we have a home. Home is so much more than a building, isn't it? • It's a place of refuge. It's a sanctuary…the safe place we can go. • It's a place of authenticity. The moment we walk in its doors, we don't have to put on any pretense....
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