Journey
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Baby Steps; Discerning the Movement of God
At the beginning of your (Daniel) pleas for mercy, a word went out. Daniel 9:23 ESV Every single breath, a miracle, biochemical pathways dependent upon exact translation of amino acids from RNA, sequenced in order, folded perfectly, matched exactly to a receptor, up regulating, down regulating. Microscopic machines driven by chemistry, and ultimately tiny, tiny waves of energy. We are walking, breathing miracles, always at work, even while at rest. Don’t believe in miracles? Our eyes often scan the horizon of our lives watching and waiting on a miracle, fretting that the God who created us has absentmindedly left us to our own devices. Sixty-four beats per minute, my resting…
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Maintaining A Perspective of Hope; Multi-Generational Sowing
“For here the saying holds true, One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered their labor.” John 4:37-38 Inhabitants of the free world stopped and gasped this week, breathing through their social media outlets with a call for prayer. A shattered republic standing in a pool of blood, blood from centuries of humans battling for the right to rule and the blood of foreign men and women dressed in battle fatigues, fighting for something. Something sometimes defined, sometimes not. My heart broke for strong, intelligent, steadfast women, children, a generation of young people who…
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Bloom Where You are Planted; Living Your Best Life Now
“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” John 15:11 He keeps shaping and reshaping us from glory to glory, and when living becomes nearly the death of us, He leans over our clay bodies and breathes fresh life into our lungs. Sometimes I can reason like this – peacefully, sensibly, with wonder and awe and even tearful gratitude that God would be kind to entrust me with difficulties. Other times all I can say is “What the heck?” Beth Moore – Chasing Vines What the heck? We’ve all been there. Planted firmly in an extended season…
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Marvelous Light; Climbing Out of your Pit
He redeemed my soul from going down to the pit, and I will live to enjoy the light. Job 33:30 At one time or another you will find yourself deeply invested in pit living. Pit living? Yes, living (and often quite comfortably) in the muck and mire. Unwanted circumstances or relationships may lead you to pit living. Choices made by you or others may prepare the slippery path for your feet. Wallowing in self-pity, anger, guilt, shame, resentment, fear, anxiety, and bitterness (go ahead, add to the list of negative mindsets that long to bounce on the walls of this self-made prison) will fasten your feet deep in the murky…
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Praying for Your Almost Grown Children; Power in the Scriptures
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:14 Mostly, as a momma, I have no idea what I am doing. As far as I know, there is not a standard protocol, not even a standard child. Each one is as unique as the set of circumstances they are bound to find themselves in. Not only are they unique, but you also, are unique. Now let’s mix in cultural pressure, expectations, gifts, notions, advantages, disadvantages and close living quarters. What you have is…
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The Great Interruption; Encountering Jesus Christ
As he (Saul) neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord,” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” He replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” Acts 9:3-6 Saul’s (soon to be Paul) blinding encounter with Jesus Christ may be the most prominent encounter story recorded in the Bible. Saul is en route to Damascus, comrades and letter bag in tow. He is intent on deterring the radical Jesus…
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Praying; When the Rain Comes Down
I do not know much about God and prayer, but I have come to believe, over the past twenty-five years, that there’s something to be said about keeping prayer simple. Help. Thanks. Wow. Anne Lamott – Help. Thanks. Wow. The Three Essential Prayers Help. Thanks. Wow. That’s all I’ve got. Turns out it’s enough. Anne Lamott happens to be one of my favorites. Eclectic, authentic, raw, and true, she gives it to us straight. Somedays all we’ve got is help, thanks, wow. It is raining in West Michigan. Raining, not just today, but what seems to be everyday, for a long run of days. The weather forecast hints this will…
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Sacred Stories; Perseverance and Hope
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked for us. Hebrews 12:1 The words to Nightbirde’s (Jane Marczewski) chart climbing hit, “It’s ok, it’s ok, it’s ok, it’s ok, if you’re lost, we’re all a little lost and it’s alright”, roll through bringing relief like thunder from a summer storm. Her stunning smile carries a story and a sacred song, “the voice we all need to hear right now”. An admission of hopeful questions and acceptance that not all answers are meant for…
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An Invitation to Join a Kingdom Advancing
Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10 I envision the kingdom of God advancing, strong men on wild beasts brandishing their swords as they push time forward, ever expanding a kingdom that will know no end, making the way for Christ followers from all of eternity to join them at some designated point in time to live and reign forever. I am envisioning a Braveheart remake, enhanced with all of the cinematic advancements that have been made over the last 16 years. What I read in the word of God doesn’t quite align with my thoughts. The kingdom of God came…
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The Invitation of the Cross; Walking Like Jesus
Fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2 My preference is to skip the gospel accounts of Christ’s crucifixion. I begin the preceding chapters that tell the story of the last supper, the betrayal by Judas and the tears in Gethsemane, and I want to stop. I want to jump over the next chapter and celebrate the resurrection. I won’t describe the gory details of death by crucifixion. But the word “excruciating” is derived from the words, “out of the…
