I’d been out of the church I loved for nearly a year. I was so hurt by what had happened after my divorce. So angry at how I’d been treated. I couldn’t bear to walk through the doors at times. But over that time, as I lashed out at God and everyone around me for what I was feeling, I …
Read More »Faith
The Relationship That Never Disappoints
“I can’t believe they did that to me! Seriously! After everything I have done for them …” People can be so disappointing. Relationships can be less than fulfilling. Love can be so unreciprocated. Recently I have experienced how very disappointing life can be. People don’t always feel the same about me as I feel about them. Sometimes I become so …
Read More »What Does A Life Look Like When Radical Love Takes Hold?
I’ve been thinking a lot about love lately. I wonder: Can the human heart comprehend what it means to really love others well? I know I want to. I want to love as God loves, but too often when confronted with a contentious situation, I’m not proud of my response. I have read and re-read the story of Hosea in recent …
Read More »When You Feel God Let You Down
Have you ever felt let down by God? I have definitely been there. One time in particular jumps to the forefront of my mind … I remember the feeling of being under water. Wave upon wave of pain. I described it to others as the throbbing pain you get when you slam your finger in the door combined with getting …
Read More »Start Strong, Stay Strong, Finish Strong
It is the man of God who defied the word of the Lord. The Lord has given him over to the lion, which has mauled him and killed him, as the word of the Lord had warned him. (1 Kings 13:26 NIV) Starting strong sets the pace; finishing strong wins awards. In 1 Kings 13, we find a “man of …
Read More »When You Feel Stuck In The Same Place
Stuck. We’ve all been there. Stuck in the past. Stuck in the present. Stuck worrying about the future. What do we do, and how do we run after God when all we feel is stuck? The man by the pool of Bethesda had been sick for 38 years while lying right next to the place of healing, waiting for someone …
Read More »God’s Compelling Love For You
God’s love. Many people claim it, several more talk about it; but few truly understand it. Paul called it incomprehensible and unfathomable; Job recorded it as unsearchable and limitless. Jeremiah confirmed it is everlasting. John described it as the evidence of being a follower of Christ. Mark reminded us to demonstrate it to God with all our heart, soul, mind, …
Read More »When God’s Dreams Are Being Birthed In You
Mary is my Bible hero. I must admit she’s one of many favorites but when I think of someone I long to be like, I think of her. Upon greeting her Gabriel spoke: “Good morning! You’re beautiful with God’s beauty, Beautiful inside and out! God be with you.” We don’t know what set her apart. We don’t know why she …
Read More »What To Do When Life Burns You
I’ve burned my skin several times this year. Each time was a result of poor judgment and a good dose of stupidity. The first burn happened while I was making soup. The base begins with warming olive oil in a pan with herbs and then adding sausage creating a beautiful aroma. In error, I should’ve thawed the sausage entirely instead …
Read More »When God’s Blessings Are Conditional
We all want favorable blessings in life. But do we wait patiently and meet God’s conditions for them? Throughout many life events and issues, we want or hope for certain outcomes. Some of those include pursuing a promotion, getting a better job, finding a girlfriend/boyfriend or spouse, buying a house or car or making investments in the financial markets. Granted, …
Read More »