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When God Calls You Into the Deep
In three of the gospels (Matthew 14:25, Mark 6:48, John 6:19) there is a story of Jesus walking up to the disciples, on the water, as they struggle against rough seas in a little fishing boat. Although the Bible doesn’t mention if Jesus was leaping with the finesse of a swan lake dancer, or trudging through the waves like a Marine on a mission, it’s no shocker why the disciples were terrified. Men just don’t walk on water…or do they? Of course Jesus is the incarnate son of God, so it’s not necessarily surprising to see him traipsing over the waves, when God has displayed his power over water numerous…
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The Funny Thing About Thanksgiving
I remember a few years back Oprah used to encourage followers to list things they were grateful for on a daily basis, like keeping a journal of gratitude. Obviously this is not a bad thing, but I just wonder if this is really effective. Is our idea of living in gratitude simply about stating the things we appreciate on a daily basis, or keeping these little blessings in a book? And what ends up on the list…is it only the Facebook worthy happenings, the best that we want everyone to see, maybe that great Black Friday find, or is it something deeper like that quiet stillness we might treasure before…
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A Clash of Wills
Today was a day of battling wills, which most people will understand wasn’t pleasant even though the idea of clashing wills may seem a bit abstract and unclear. In philosophical terms the human will is described as a faculty of the mind, including reason and understanding, which is rather humorous; if the will is a part of reason and understanding, then why does it tend to be so headstrong and unreasonable? Looking to the book of Genesis, this wilful tendency becomes apparent very quickly. God had an incredible plan to create a world where humans could live in eternal communion with him, enjoying his presence and all of his creation,…
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Life, Liberty & the Pursuit of Happiness
I may have been MIA for the past two months, but my brain has been anything but silent. With my daughter graduating high school, the bustle of the end of the school year activities for the younger peeps, a fourth birthday for my little man, appointments, daily chores, grad party prep, life, work, summer…I’m exhausted just typing it, yet by the grace and provision of God, I am surviving and have done a lot of contemplating in the process. For my graduating daughter, this has been a time of great excitement, a milestone anticipated for years, and culminating in a daunting schedule of senior events and parties. It’s a season…
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Mother’s Day 2022
It’s been a crazy, busy weekend, yet a blessed and incredible affirmation of the value of all that I have invested over the years, and even still today. I’ve never been an easy mother, but I’ve loved and devoted myself to each human God has placed in my care, whether born from my womb or otherwise. There are few investments into humanity that can change the world more than our wholehearted and sacrificial investment into rearing children that will grow into adults that care about other humans, who know the value of hard work and are willing to sacrifice for the betterment of others. It’s quite an adventure at times,…
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The Old is Made New
Many of you may have heard the saying, broken crayons still color, referring to broken people still having value and purpose according to God. I’m not sure who originally penned the words, but it’s a concept many people can identify with, far more than the enemy wants us to believe. We all struggle in this life, some a little more than others, but when we come to God, humbled and at the end of ourselves, we begin a journey of healing and restoration that will prepare us not only for the purpose he calls us to in this life, but for the work we will do in the next. There…
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Truth in Love
Feeling tired, I slept in a few extra minutes this morning, setting me a little behind schedule. It’s not that I needed to be anywhere, but if I don’t shower and dress before the peeps are up, showering may never happen. Therefore, I try my best to keep to the routine. Despite this delay, I sat down with the intention of taking just a few minutes to thank the Giver of my new day. Already I could hear the stir of life coming from the bedrooms, yet I settled on the sofa and looked out to the morning sky and smiled. My prayers were hurried, but before I stood again…
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Remembering Brendan (3/24/1990-3/12/2011)
He was a preteen when we met; daring and feisty with a true dislike for being told what to do. As challenging as he may have been in those years I was married to his father, there was an endearing soft side that emerged when others were in need or he was helping with his littlest sister. I can still remember his smile, the way he could do almost anything he set his mind to, and how excited he was to get his driver’s license on his sixteenth birthday. He was generally messy, enjoyed junk food far more than any person should and would argue about the silliest things, yet…
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The Truth About Loneliness
One of the loneliest times recorded in all of human history is the day Jesus was put to death on a Roman cross at Calvary. “My God, my God why have you forsaken me?” He cried, as darkness enveloped him, just before he gave up his spirit (Matthew 27:46-50). Often we think of loneliness as something we experience only when we are alone, yet not everyone who is alone, feels lonely, and to the contrary, we may be surrounded by family and friends, yet at times still feel very isolated. The gospels record numerous times Jesus separated himself from others and went off alone to pray, yet there is no…
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Feasting & Fasting-Part 4: Prayer and Fasting
It’s a little ironic that as I begin writing this last piece of our series, I am recently recovered from an unintended fast due to a GI virus. Thankfully these viruses are usually short-lived, and although I’m fitting in my “skinny pants” today, most of us survive these illnesses without any long term effects, including lasting weight loss. Of course fasting when you’re sick or for medical purposes is a completely different topic than what we’re discussing here, so let’s go to the Bible to begin our real discussion. To summarize the Biblical definition, fasting is a voluntary reduction or elimination of food or drink for a specific time and…
