Blog
Trusting in the Dark
“For we live by faith, not by sight.”2 Corinthians 5:7
That verse has been a constant theme for me over the last several months. Our journey comes down to one thing … our faith in who He is and who we are in Him. Faith seems so counter-cultural in a world where we want to see and feel everything. We want to see proof before we sign on the dotted line. God’s Kingdom is the complete opposite. His Kingdom is one where there is an expectation of trust and belief even when we cannot see.
Something For the Soul
Summer is finally here … though it might look different than any summer we have experienced! Here are three poems to hopefully help you GAZE at God and His promises and GLANCE at all else.
2020 Vision
It was a glorious, sunny October day. Just a bit windy, though. Like every Sunday, we – aunts, uncles, cousins – were gathered at my parents’ home for dinner. Just as we were settling in someone noticed a tiny plume of smoke off in the distance. Several of the adventurous uncles – including Bob, my husband – decided to investigate. “We’ll be right back. Start eating without us” they called as they piled into a car. …
Why Is It So Hard to Believe God Loves Me?
Not feeling very loved today? Perhaps circumstances of life have left you feeling trapped or unworthy – or even far from the God who made you and loves you. My favorite love verse in the Bible occurs when God’s chosen people have strayed far from Him. God reminds the Israelites of His great love for them through the words of His prophet Jeremiah, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness” (Jeremiah 31:3 NIV).
This is God’s promise to you and me today! Then why don’t more women choose to see ourselves as deeply loved?
Times of Uncertainty: Seven Tips for Living in the Present
Not that many months ago, we felt pretty certain about the future. We made plans to travel. We expected to go to church on Sundays. Shopping for groceries surely wasn’t a concern. We never imagined masks as required accessories. Then, just like that, we found ourselves in uncertain times.
As the wife of a military retiree, I’ve had quite a bit of experience with uncertainty. I remember
The God of Your Journey
Have you ever taken your eyes off a child for a moment or two, only for them to become lost? Whether the separation lasts minutes, hours, or longer, the horror of their disappearance time-stamps your brain with trauma. …
Are You Fighting the Waves or Riding the Current?
This was the turbulent view out my window on a recent ocean cruise: rolling seas as far as the eye could see, with 20-foot swells, 60 mph winds, and dreary skies. Not exactly the kind of day we’d hoped for on our first morning of a long-awaited tropical vacation.During one of the many times I was awake during the night, a …
Trust God and Do the Next Thing
Recently, I received some challenging news regarding my current employment. I need to make a decision whether to continue my counseling with my current practice group or establish my own private practice. The director of our practice group has been talking to the clinicians in our four locations about his plans to retire in a few years. However, we assumed we had at least two years before we had to decide what to do after the practice closed its doors. Apparently, finances have become challenging to the point where the director felt it necessary to make some hard decisions. As a result, t
Walking in the Light (Out of the Valley of the Shadow of Death)
I once took a journey, quite involuntarily, into the Valley of the Shadow of Death. I want to share it with you in the hopes that it might encourage others who may one day find themselves on such a journey.
While the journey was very dark, it was only a shadow. It began in the fall of 1981 when my …
Fruit in the Desert
I lived and studied in Israel during my last year of college, and there is one visual that comes to mind to this very day, 40-plus years later, when I think of the Holy Lands, it’s the view when coming over the slight rise from…
Enough is Enough
When I was in 6th grade, Laura Cummings invited me to her birthday party. I remember that one of her birthday party favors was that make-your-own-balloon stuff. Also, we got to eat Charleston Chews at the party—12-inch candy bars of delicious fluff covered with decadent chocolate!
But the biggest reason I remember this party was the…
My Times are in Your Hands
Being at Ground Zero for a week changes one’s life. Someone recently said “Only two things pierce the heart — beauty and affliction.” This is true. As Gordon and I walked through the smoldering ruins of the “pit” we were cut to the heart by these two extremes: the beauty of people giving of themselves without thought of cost, and the indescribable loss and agony surrounding us. The latter of these two has perhaps
Cultural Infiltration of the Church
What's up with the next generation? Please join us for an informal discussion on how we can better understand and reach this generation of young women.
Navigating Our Way Through Transition
A friend and I recently went for a hike in a place that had a labyrinth of deeply wooded trails. We had gotten a late start and knew that would give us a little over an hour before it got dark, but we hardly
Ministry Spotlight – LuoPads: Relieve Suffering, Restore Dignity, Reveal Hope
Do you ever find yourself exhausted after reading the news? Are you overwhelmed by the barrage of problems in the world? I know I am! It can be an emotional rollercoaster, and sometimes it can be tempting to get off the ride – to disengage and retreat back to my close group of people. We’ve got plenty of problems to navigate ourselves!
As I walk through this life filled with chaos, terrorist attacks,