Growing Through Seasons of Waiting Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Psalm 27:14 (ESV) A tree can appear unchanged above the ground while, underneath, its roots are stretching and digging deeper, growing stronger in preparation for future storms. In this season of waiting, while the world keeps turning, I find myself having to put more effort into keeping up with ordinary things. Sometimes, I feel like I’m caught up and ah

There are seasons in life when storms seem relentless and sunny days feel uncertain or fleeting

Why did I say that? Like, really! What possesses me to say out loud the critique my brain gives while someone is just trying to connect with me? Why am I so critical? I don’t know if everyone struggles with this, but I do. In group settings, even one-on-one with my husband or children, I sometimes get so anxious that my thoughts trip over themselves. My tongue gets heavy, and instead of saying something thoughtful, I rush in with something quick, awkward, and often unnece

Stories of triumph from the Bible often resonate with many of us because we, too, have or will overcome.

I had to love you until the fire burned all the way out. I gave breath to the embers, begged the coals to stay alive. And when only the smoke remained, I cowered and hid. Finally, laying what was left in a pile of ash outside. I found peace in the daze of smoke and fog, The unknown felt kinder than the typical unrest. When the haze lifted, the pestilence took over. I felt the lonely set in and whisper delusions of what’s next. There were days I carried ghosts upon my back, Co

This is a poem about learning to call on God as a Father.

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent.

I have ever felt like Job, Faithful in my eagerness, Faithful in my gratitude. Acknowledging God’s grace can be corrective, Acknowledging life’s lonely roads can be protective. I have ever felt like Job, Faithful in my happenstance, Faithful to carry on. Acknowledging God’s hedges of protection, Acknowledging God’s tests and assessments. I have ever felt like Job, Faithful in my appearances, Faithful in God’s order. Acknowledging God has plans for me, Acknowledging not un

Character Highlight: Daniel

While the world often wants us to confirm an ideology of self, God teaches a reliance of Him. Our own strength, wisdom that we have, or even intelligence that we try to rely on - all of this seems small when compared to the creativeness of our Creator.

This is a Character highlight of David.

Autumn has turned its leaves into wine. Aged with wooden vines, flavored with cedar and pine. Morning dew beads the autumn vines, where buried roots drink and intertwine. Pine needles fall where old tree branches, rot. Cold mornings smell of earthworms and wet rocks. Though the creek is shallow, she’s still holding her breath. The moths grow weak and weary searching for death. The cold beckons seclusion, year after year, as I draw inward, God warms up my tears. Words, like ri

Exodus - a going out; a departure or emigration, usually of a large number of people. From the Greek preposition ek/ex (ἐκ/ἐξ), meaning "out of," and noun hodos (ὁδός), meaning "road," 2Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. 3His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. Mark 9:2&3 (NKJV) There are ov

World Communion Sunday is celebrated annually on the first Sunday of October.

Though I walk on new ground, new paths, new land, This feels familiar but freshly aligned with where I am supposed to stand. I...

The hour of trial that is to come upon the entire world. The wrath of God that is to purify the unrighteous. The vials that are later described in such fantastic detail throughout the entire book of Revelation. The ultimate ending to the overburdening of evil that seems to plague the creation of goodness that God blesses. This is also a promise of God, but with a way out (always promised from God, too) for those with faith.

This is a poem about the waiting, and how it longs often impatiently.

There are days that I’m good at letting You know how trusting in You I am. Some days I feel You so close that my heart burns as You talk...

My prayers like glitter cascade through my mind. Effervescent lilac-vanilla skies. The pink sunrise mutes the blue night’s goodbye....

While many people inspired by God show us that we can still miss the mark, Jesus is different.