More than beautiful presents wrapped in paper and bows, the gift of Christmas begins with a baby in a manger, swaddled in cloth and sleeping in a manger bed. The gift of […]
The Chaos of Christmas
“…it’s the most wonderful time of the year!” In many ways, Christmas in America begins the day after Thanksgiving. We have barely put away the leftover turkey before our thoughts turn to […]
Simple Truth. Complex Faith.
I am the thorn in His crown. The splinter in His thumb. That tag that is constantly rubbing, and the child that seems to always be whining. And He loves me anyway. […]
Answering the Hard Questions
“Why do bad things happen to good people?” “If God is good, then why is there so much suffering in the world?” Two very important questions that are often asked by those […]
Reading Through the Bible: Colossians
I love to read. When I open the cover of a new book, I am filled with a sense of awe–like I am setting out on a new adventure. Turning the page […]
Just One Thing
There is always that one thing. You know–that one more thing you needed to do. One more thing you wanted to say. Until you can’t. When it’s too late to turn back, […]
Returning, Resting, and Restoration
Sometimes it is of our own doing. Sometimes it comes because of the hard circumstances of life. That familiar, not so friendly state of feeling frustrated. Desperate. Lonely. Tired. Tired of where […]
When Your Faith Needs a New Perspective
I don’t like the spotlight. I have always been a wallflower and would rather be in the background than center-stage. Being a pastor’s wife doesn’t always accommodate my insecurities, so learning to […]
Whatever You Do, Let Them See Your Hope
Despite the not-so-uncommon view that the hope of this world is found in politics or prosperity or possessions, one brush with eternity, and your perspective can change in a heartbeat. Hope has […]
Whatever You Do, Let Them See Your Faith
In a follow-up to my last post, Whatever You Do, Parents… , I am sharing the first of three things that I want my children (and others) to see in me because […]
Whatever You Do, Parents…
Disclaimer: I am not a parenting expert. (Can anyone really claim that title?) My four children are now grown and I get to enjoy eleven grandbabies. I love my family–from the littlest […]
Do The Next Thing
The words jumped out at me from the page. “Do the next thing.” As simple as this phrase might seem, some days life can stop us in our tracks. Whether we are […]
Examining the Evidence
I’ve been to Israel. Walking on the streets of the Old City and passing through the gates of Jerusalem definitely brought the Bible to life. Seeing the sights and hearing the sounds […]
Faith Alone
In my journey through every book of the Bible, I come to Galatians and see clearly that it is a book about freedom. Not political freedom, but something much more life-changing: Spiritual […]
The Rejection of Affection and Learning to Love
“When my husband died I started asking God for a hug. Not from Him, of course, but from a living, breathing person.”  Because my sweet mother-in-law had been married to her husband […]