“Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” ~Psalm 34:14 Part of seeking peace and pursuing it, not just seeking it but making it a defining characteristic of a believer’s life, is not solely found in a list of things to be, but is discovered within the Bible as specific things to avoid. No matter how much we dislike the thought, walking with Jesus requires cutting away things that harm us. Relationships that poison our emotions and thoughts. Patterns of living that Read More
peace
My Word for 2019
“All of us want to be humble. None of want what it takes to get there.” I’m not sure who coined the phrase but I’ve learned it’s quite true. We long to have noble defining characteristics marking our spirit, but when we realize what we must endure to be shaped into that image, well, ‘walking the walk’ takes on a whole new meaning. 2018 has been the single hardest year of my entire life. My family and I have endured assaults on every front—multiple medical Read More
When the Holidays are Hard: The Story of Hope Behind “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day”
“How inexplicably sad are all holidays.” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow penned the melancholy words during a difficult time in not only his life, but in the entire nation’s. On July 10, 1861, mere months after the country had been launched into the turmoil of the Civil War, Henry’s wife Fanny was trimming her daughter’s curls and decided to preserve the clippings in sealing wax. While melting a bar of wax with a candle, a few drops fell unnoticed on her dress. A gust of wind blew Read More
White Space
“You should use up all the space on the paper.” I remember the admonition from my fourth grade art teacher so clearly as she stood in front of the chalk board, holding the large, white piece of paper in her hand, a sharpie in the other. “You kids are bad about leaving too much white space on the page. I want you to draw the black lines all the way to the edge. I don’t want to see any white space any more. None. Every Read More
Living Like Sugar
Our house was hopping this weekend. Teenage girls and giggling preteens were everywhere. Nate zoomed through the chaos in his normal Hulk-ish style. Movies, candy, tasting challenges, raucous laughter, Youtube videos, card games…there was noise coming from every direction. Most in the house had a blast…with the exception of our dog Sugar. Poor thing. She’s ten years old. Far too elderly for whooping and hollering, high-pitched squeals and pounding feet. She’s suffered enough living with Nate. In the middle of the bedlam, I moved to Read More
White Space
“You should use up all the space on the paper.” I remember the admonition from my fourth grade art teacher so clearly as she stood in front of the chalk board, holding the large, white piece of paper in her hand, a sharpie in the other. “You kids are bad about leaving too much white space on the page. I want you to draw the black lines all the way to the edge. I don’t want to see any white space any more. None. Every Read More
Worry Squashing: How a Princess Can Get Rid of the Peas Under Her Mattress for Good
On Wednesday nights, I’m teaching a group of teen girls about being God’s princess. We’ve used classic fairy tales as a springboard into learning what it means to be an heir with Christ. It’s been a fun and exciting study, and now we’re embarking on a new princess. A less famous princess than some: the poor, exhausted girl from The Princess and the Pea. Remember her story? Through a series of misfortunes, she arrives drenched and mud-splattered at an enormous castle. In her disheveled state, Read More