There were seasons when those feelings dominated my days, and regardless of what else was going on, I felt constrained, restricted, stuck.
This reminder about God is a profound truth that I needed to meditate on back then and quite honestly, today as well.
Read MoreAfter reading The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom, I knew it was the perfect time to visit our local Holocaust Museum. I attempted to prepare my eighth grade students for the breadth and depth of tragedy they would encounter. In hindsight, I’m not sure that’s possible.
However, what I didn’t expect was how much a simple story of potato soup would teach me about gratitude.
Read MoreWhether a new month, a new school year, or a new opportunity—there are always “what if’s” circling through my mind.
Here are three prayers ushering my heart into the unknown, as new opportunities present themselves this coming month. Perhaps they are helpful to settle your anxious thoughts as well and draw your eyes upward toward your loving Father.
Read MoreIt never ceases to surprise me that after our annual summer vacation to Colorado—despite yard work, laundry, and cooking for six—we return to our regular lives rested, refreshed, and restored.
So, it has me thinking maybe rest is found where we least expect it. Maybe it’s right where we forget to look for it.
Read MoreLife’s journey has long been represented by seasons of mountains high and valleys low. Commonly, mountain tops represent the peaks of enjoyment, satisfaction, and fulfillment, while valleys the deeper, darker, and difficult seasons. My age and experience attest to quite the opposite. So, I want to extend the invitation to you. Read why.
Read MoreSurely our family is not the only one to experience an unexpected sickness, a discouraging diagnosis, or a disappointing change of plans during summer. Right? As much as we love summertime for making memories, finding rest, and seeking adventure, we equally feel the sting of disappointment when things don't go as planned.
So, I recorded my own thoughts to share with you in hopes that they bring you joy amidst your own disappointments this summer and always.
Read MoreThe time for spring cleaning is near, but have you ever thought of tidying up your time?
I know what you are thinking:
How can I tidy my time?
How can I continue to make progress if I allow rest to hold prominence?
How can I remain faithful to the goals I set at the beginning of the year?
How can I know what areas of my life need to be addressed this season?
I’m glad you asked. Read here and find out.
Read More“What do you need to surrender?” Her question echoed through the microphone and searched my heart.
I sat while my mind invited the Spirit to search my heart. Before getting on a plane and entering back into real life, what was God asking me to surrender to increase my agility and joy along this faithful race?
While several areas came to mind, one clearly stood out.
Read MoreMy eyelids open. The sky is dark. My mind is awake.
Sometimes I pull out my phone and write down spiraling thoughts, pressing to-do’s and creative ideas. Most of the time I eventually feel the tension release, but for the times it continues to clasp tightly I use these prayers to return me to rest.
Read MoreI am confident we are all in desperate need for a summer sabbath, so I’m reflecting on these questions today:
How can I finish the school year strong?
How can I enter into a restful summer that allows for an exhale of restoration and adventure?
How can I better prepare for the fall without wanting to give up right now?
This week, as we journey toward remembering the death and resurrection of Jesus, I’m mindful of who is at the center of my worship. I’m reminded that worship is costly. I’m reminded that we are constantly given the option of who to place at the center of our heart’s deepest affections.
Read MoreThe Lord builds. He gathers. He heals. He binds.
I whisper in exhale, “Thank you, Jesus.” This is what my heart needs.
The beat in my chest rests, and I continue navigating the next seventeen verses of Psalm 147. Along the way, I discover five P’s of God that create a healing balm for areas that feel most broken in my life and in the world.
As if a healing balm, these attributes of God cover and calm.
Read MoreEvery day is a battle. Our hearts wage war to find joy. Our minds fight to discern truth. Our hands wrestle to value work.
Do you feel it too?
Here I’m sharing three questions to ask as we prepare our hearts, minds, and hands for battle. The weapons might be different than you think.
Read MoreThe cold wore my emotions and nerves thin. The dense grey skies defined my mental state most days. February became the most difficult month of the year for me by far.
In order to get through the never-ending days, I would pour every ounce of energy into creative outlets within those walls for fun. I recently heard the term “chase the fun”, and I can’t think of a better goal in February. How can you chase the fun? Here I share a few of my favorite ideas.
Read More“I have always wondered if I could put up a tree, and just use blue and silver decorations instead,” she explained, wanting to honor both her Jewish heritage and her husband’s Catholic background.
“Of course!” I exclaimed. “The tree has little to do with Jesus,” I told her confidently at the time. “It’s just a secular expression of the season.”
But, what I didn’t understand until the last few years is just how much our trees actually do set the stage for the redemptive story of Christ and put in perspective our greatest longings. Allow me to share more.
Over the years, however, I’ve been reminded how little I understood the tree those fifteen years ago.
Read MoreWe have all been there, the moment when the gift we thought was going to be there forever was instead lost forever: a relationship, a child, a spouse, a raise, a job, a house, you name it. We like the part of God that gives, but not the part that takes away.
How can a loving God give and take? If you have ever had that question, this post may be of encouragement to you.
Read MoreGod’s timing and our timing are rarely in perfect cadence. After some reading the past few months, I’ve been more mindful of whether I tend to inquire of God’s direction in all areas of my life or whether I simply proceed.
Here’s what i’ve learned.
Read MoreIt has always existed and it will always be apart of our life on earth: conflict. The past few weeks have been peppered with more incidents of sibling rivalry in my home and it’s drawn us more deeply into a conversation of creation than I would have expected.
Here I share the one truth that has helped provide perspective and wisdom in this area of rivalry.
Read MoreWith so much collective pain and tragedy of late, it’s difficult to give ourselves the permission to simply celebrate. Yet here we sit on the dawn of holidays with its myriad of traditions, and I wonder if it’s possible for the grieving to lead us into a place of celebrating.
Here’s now.
Read MoreThis sacred moment of church tradition often caused my eyes to swell with pools of tears. As I greeted each sister and brother, I recognized the hearts before me represented a failed marriage, a devastating miscarriage, a joyous engagement, or a recent promotion.
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