The headache that comes back again and again. A chronic illness that knocks you off your feet without regard for where you’re headed or how much pain you’re already in. The thought in your head that you are not good enough, no matter how hard you’ve tried. A lie, on repeat, that you can’t ever measure up or be worthy of love. Guilt that won’t subside. The boss that never respects your time or how much has already been put on your plate on a tight deadline. A person who continues to abuse, Continue Reading
God’s Coloring Book {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP}
I’ll let you in on a secret about me. There’s no creative brushstrokes in my DNA—none. Even my stick figures look pitiful. So no artist-blood runs through my veins. I’m not artistic in any stretch of the imagination. But the art of coloring gives un-artsy people a way to add individual flare to a beautifully drawn picture. Coloring Connoisseurs My daughter, Megan, and I are fond of coloring. A fondness starting when we were both little girls. We colored together through her childhood, 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
Keep Praying When It’s “Over” {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP}
We pray before we eat. Before our days begin. Before we go to sleep. Often, we pray before big events and decisions. We pray as loved ones face difficulties. But we don’t have to stop there. We can keep praying after. God doesn't say "cease praying" after the test results suggest the worst or the conversation ends terribly or the morning rush causes us to forget what we even read in the Bible that morning. In our limited sense of time, praying after things seem "finished" can feel Continue Reading
4 Reasons to Keep Going No Matter What {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP}
No matter what. I admit the phrase bothered me in the past. And it stirred questions in my soul. Such as “No matter what” means what exactly? Maybe to never back down. Or, never give up or give in. Perhaps, to keep going in the face of opposition or dire circumstances. And I assumed the subject and context both played into the meaning. Still, if you are anything like me, the phrase conjures up a lot of unknowns. And even a few knowns we’d rather not deal with. So I put together a 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
