Years ago, the little booklet “My Heart, Christ’s Home” challenged me to move from viewing Christ as a guest in my heart to giving Him full ownership and control of my life. One morning I woke up with that analogy on my mind. I thought about my literal house as a picture of my soul. I imagined how my priorities might clash with His if He came to help me bring order to my home. Here is my imagined conversation with Christ: “Let’s attack the front porch. Everyone sees it. We can power wash Continue Reading
The Security of a Good Father {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP}
I woke up at 4 a.m. questioning a decision I’d made. I’d told the designer who’d drawn out a closet plan we wanted to work with her. In my sleep, I had second thoughts. “Lord, I’m too tired to figure this out. I don’t know if we made the right decision.” With that prayer, an Old Testament passage came to mind. If a young woman makes a vow…and her father hears of the vow or pledge and does not object to it, then all her vows and pledges will stand. But if her father refuses to let her fulfill Continue Reading
How Do You Define Freedom? {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP}
My husband and I zipped along I-95 South, near Washington DC, on a section of interstate that never sleeps. Among the mostly courteous drivers, a few wanna-be race car drivers cut in and out too close for comfort. I marveled at how a tight space could hold so many speeding vehicles. That changed when we reached an area marked, “Warning: Unmarked Pavement Ahead.” Without the markings to define our lanes, the space that had comfortably held four lanes of speeding traffic abruptly shrank to Continue Reading
How to Rest from Worry {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP}
I can worry with my eyes closed. In fact, I’ve done some of my best fretting in my sleep. Even when I’m alert, worry drones on beneath the surface looking for an opening to pop through. My worries appear reasonable. Physical facts support them. But—and this is a big “but”—they leave out God. When I experienced some health issues that included fatigue and brain fog, assorted fears taunted me. My weakness frightened me. I realized that when I feel strong I believe that with God I can handle Continue Reading
Faith Doesn’t Protect You from Pain
On my way to clean up after weeding, one late summer day, I yanked up a dead shrub. My shins suddenly burned like fire. I looked down and gasped. Scores of yellow jackets clung to my legs. I wondered if I was going to die. That experience left me reluctant to garden in shorts and T-shirts. Ski masks and thick layers seemed safer. But heat and humidity changed my mind. As a young believer, I thought mature faith protected us from emotional pain. Hurts, insults, and disappointments would Continue Reading
How to Refresh Your Time with God {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP}
“What did you want to be when you grew up?” our small group leader asked our group. Everyone offered sensible professions. I racked my brain and couldn’t recall one serious aspiration. I’d dreamed of flying to magical lands like Peter Pan or riding horses and nabbing bad guys like Annie Oakley. On my report card, my second-grade teacher wrote, “Debbie does good work, but daydreams too much.” Didn’t all children carry fairies to school? Little did I realize these were clues to my personality Continue Reading
