My heart hammers as the doors open wide. Smiling faces blur. I duck my head. Greetings call out and all I long to do is drag in one free inhalation of air. Breathe in, breathe out. I come yet again to the place where I was wounded, yet I know it’s where I should be. Why is this so hard? …
Scenario: Girl gets married. Girl’s church is excited and throws her a big shower. In only a few months, girl discovers her new husband is an abuser. Girl manages to escape and seeks godly counsel. Godly counsel advises girl to return home to her family that lives far away, ensuring safety from her abusive husband. Girl’s church sends her a …
My home is known as the Hibiscus House on our little road. The tropical plants are everywhere, blooming as huge bushes with hand-sized blossoms. Pinks, crimsons and even a few white-blush hibiscus surround our house. The original starters were put it in intentionally, hoping to attract migrating hummingbirds. Boy, did they. These gorgeous flowers, along with my ability for growing …
“To forgive is to set a prisoner free and realize that the prisoner was you.” ~Lewis B. Smedes There are a lot of false ideas floating around about what forgiveness truly is. These distorted concepts and ideologies are so rampant that upon hearing phenomenal acts of forgiveness (like those of Rose Mapendo, Corrie Ten Boom, and others), people are quick …
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. ” (Matthew 5:43-45) I don’t know about you but loving my enemies can be a tall order sometimes. People can be hurtful. …
“Lord, you want me to forgive them? But did you see what happened? Really?” If you’ve lived longer than, oh, say a week on planet Earth, forgiveness is likely something you’ve struggled with. Mean, manipulative people are everywhere. In all honesty, it’s not much of a struggle for me when nonbelievers tear me or my family apart with hastily flung …
The pounding on the door startled me. We hadn’t been home very long. Returning from my father-in-law’s funeral and all that entailed had been exhausting. My husband peeked through the glass. “Do you know this guy?” The man standing on the front porch gave off the vibe of a tightly coiled rattler. I shook my head. “Never seen him.” Todd …
One of my favorite movies is It’s a Wonderful Life. George Bailey is continually baffled by the beauty his wife sees in their old, drafty, worn- down home. He only sees the creaking steps and sagging trim. But Mary Bailey’s eyes light up with hope and promise as she drinks in the sight of the big, rambling house. She sees …
“Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat.” ~Mother Teresa Close your eyes. You stand staring at a condemned house. Weeds and ivy have taken over the land. Broken glass litters the ground. A window in front is boarded shut …
I watched the teenage girl in the pew, her arms hugging her torso, cheeks flushed red as she stared at the floor. The rest of the congregation was singing some worship song about peace being found in God’s presence but not her. She looked trapped, blue-eyed gaze darting from side to side. My heart ached as I studied her. She …