I stare intently at the lyrics on the screen. I feel my vocal chords strain as I try to project my voice louder and louder. Maybe the louder I sing and the harder I stare up at the black ceiling of the church, the more likely God can see how much I need him to …
“Ohhhh my gosh,” I cried, pulling my shirt up above my face. “There’s no way. How do people actually do this!” Tears streamed down my face as I watched what some would say was a beautiful video of a woman giving birth. Not me. Those images alone—seeing a baby come out—would terrify me in the …
Nearing the evening, fear likes to invite itself onto my chest. He has waited all day and now has my full attention. The light is fading, the sun is setting below the trees. My throat tightens, my breathing gets more shallow, and I feel my body tense. Anxiety and fear loom in the darkness like …
In these frigid January mornings of the new year, I let my dog out and embrace the chilly stillness. A distant hum of energy is heard from car engines on the highway, but the sun is just emerging over the tree line. A faint pink and orange light breathes up and over the bare branches. …
Social distancing has turned to social isolation. Suicidal rates have increased. We continue to place our hope in instant gratification, on the things we can see, on the most important items in front of us. Our thoughts stay where they originated–in our heads–because we have no community with which to talk. We have become distressed, …
I sat in my women’s small group, becoming quieter and quieter. We were discussing God as our Heavenly Father. And many of the women in my group had had horrific earthly father experiences. They couldn’t quite fathom God as a father. How could they? In fact, it made them very uncomfortable. Their discomfort caused me …
God’s love for us is fierce, all-consuming, sometimes dangerous but always good. So many songs use his love and the ocean as a metaphor. We can’t fathom the richness of his love until we experience the depth of the sea. I observe the yellow flag that whips back and forth in the wind and warns …
Blogging turned into a game of give and take. I would give my heart and soul to my writing. The reaction from others would take my heart and either strip it down to an envious beast or ply it full of self-glory. There seemed to be no in-between. My identity was wrapped up in others’ …
“Come over here,” I motion excitedly to the stairs with my hands. “Let’s try these steps. You can do it, baby!” After many months of being shut indoors, it feels like a rich blessing to breathe in the fresh air of the earth. Breathe in. Breathe out. The sun shines through the luminescent clouds. Joyful …
“Well, that didn’t go well,” I muttered to myself walking out of the interview for a teaching position. God’s plans had moved us down here, but I had fumbled my words and was not forthcoming about my accomplishments. The interview team’s attitude read “not interested.” We were moving, and I needed a teaching job. I …
