As a small congregation stood to sing your praise one clear November morning, Lord, surely you were there. As little ones snuggled in their mother’s laps while the pastor offered a prayer, Lord, surely you were there. As a husband leaned against the pew to ask his wife what she was planning for their lunch, […]
SEE
The Price of Distraction: A Familiar Story with an Unexpected Twist
The Price of Distraction: A Familiar Story with an Unexpected Twist I stare into my coffee cup willing inspiration to waft from the steam. Sometimes teaching a class of ten year olds who have been raised in the church can feel far more daunting than teaching a group of kids who have never even heard […]
Conviction versus condemnation (and how to tell the difference)
I’m awful. I’m a lousy sinner. I deserve what is happening to me right now because of what I’ve done….. Does any of that sound familiar? Do you ever struggle with being able to identify God’s voice over the enemy’s lies—or even over that of your own thoughts and self-condemnations? Recently, God has been convicting […]
When what you have to give feels too small, and yet it's all you have (you go ahead and give it)
Earlier this year my daughter could not stop singing the song “Priceless” by For King and Country. We listened to it in the car, at home, while on walks. She made up a dance routine to it and I think even tried to get the puppy to dance with her. But one day, in the midst of […]
Some days are just like that…
Today is a hard day. But of course some days are just like that. It’s no one thing, but rather a slow crescendo of many things—countless annoyances, irritations, ailments and responsibilities all coming together in bitter resonance. Clanging their mournful taunting disharmony until its burdensome sound can no longer go unnoticed. You smile through the […]