Tag Archives: Trust

The word “boundary” immediately sounds restrictive and unfriendly. So why would Christians entertain such a cold possibility? Although boundaries are sometimes necessary, I suspect they are frequently and easily substituted for conflict resolution. On one hand, we need to restrict unsafe or undesirable elements from our lives. On the other, we may impose boundaries instead of addressing and resolving issues. …

Over the course of the summer, I felt a shift in my spirit that was hard to shake. It was a good shift and reminded me that I’m a day closer to my destiny, a step closer in my purpose, and one more moment away from meeting my future husband. Week after week, God confirms something new in me — …

One of the saddest and yet most amazing stories in the Bible is found in Exodus 1. It began with Pharaoh’s all-out assault on Israel and ended with freedom for a nation. The Israelites, then slaves of the Egyptians, were multiplying very rapidly and therefore feared by their captors. In Exodus 1:22, Pharaoh enacted a cruel form of population control …

Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. –Mark 4:18-19 Is something choking your spiritual life? In the parable of the sower and the seed, Jesus outlined four different scenarios of seed planting. Some seed …

When I was in second grade, I was stricken with a sickness that required one week in the hospital followed by another week spent at home recovering. I don’t remember much about that time. I played board games with the nurses. Yahtzee, I think. There was a nasty red liquid they made me drink. When I whined, my dad made …

When Jesus saw him lying there … he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” (John 5:6) Picture yourself walking through a hospital, surrounded by sick, hurting and scared people. Some have been recently admitted; others have been there days, possibly weeks. Now imagine walking up to someone who has been there for 38 years and asking him, “Hey, …

He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:40) Who is foolish enough to plan a sailing trip knowing a storm is headed straight for him? Well, Jesus did (Mark 4:35-41). Of course, it makes a big difference when you know you will safely arrive at your intended destination in spite …

Do you ever wish the Bible was just a tad more specific when it comes to parenting a troubled teenager? Like an exact how-to for each and every narcissistic, smarty-pants, head-butting, know-it-all episode? Boy, I sure do! Some time ago, I had some pretty severe issues with my youngest son, then 17. Despite being raised in a Christian home, he …

Snow ziplining is an incredible rush! Last winter, I went ziplining at Hawksnest in Seven Devils, NC. It was an absolutely phenomenal experience! It was snowing, the temperature was in the 20s, and the wind was gusting around 20 miles per hour. The stations were set up diagonally across the mountain’s descent, the longest line being six football fields long. Yes, hanging …

I have often looked back at failed relationships and wondered how I could have ever really trusted the people I have dated in the past. If there were obvious red flags and warning signs, I had clearly missed them, because I sat multiple times on the edge of an absolute train wreck of a relationship. Now that I have been …