Confession isn't primarily about focusing on how awful I am or how badly I've blown it. It's about grace and forgiveness.
Holy, Chosen, and Dearly Loved
Category: Trusting God
The Gift of a Sleepless Night
I needed to get to sleep, but I wasn’t worried about it. I wasn’t worried about anything. Surprising, actually. I was facing my dissertation defense the next morning, but I wasn’t stressed. I wasn’t worried. My mind wasn’t spinning. I was just awake. And completely at peace. I was surrounded by an overwhelming sense of … Continue reading The Gift of a Sleepless Night
What Really Drives Our Poor Choices?
When we get up in the morning, what is motivating our choices? Jamie Smith suggests that our vision of “the good life” is a key driver. But how do we envision “the good life”? What do we think will make us happy? Fulfilled? Our culture provides all kinds of answers: being young; being skinny; having … Continue reading What Really Drives Our Poor Choices?
The 5 Most Popular Posts of 2019
Thank you so much for joining me this year! As we get ready to start a New Year I took a look back at this year's most popular posts. If you're relatively new to my blog, here are a few "old favorites" that keep getting visitors: My Son Needed the Love of the Church. I … Continue reading The 5 Most Popular Posts of 2019
Praying Scripture – 11/20/2019
As I've been diving back into the spiritual discipline of silence this fall, the first line of Psalm 46:10 keeps coming to mind. But it's always good to go back and put those fragments into context. The whole verse reads He says, "Be still, and know that I am God;I will be exalted among the … Continue reading Praying Scripture – 11/20/2019
Being Too Careful in What You Pray For
Handle with Care Be careful what you ask for! I’m guessing you’ve heard the saying. If you’re a parent, you may have even uttered it. That saying reminds me of something similar a wise person once said to me: Be careful what you pray for. If you ask God for patience, He will certainly answer. … Continue reading Being Too Careful in What You Pray For
Praying Scripture – 11/13/2019
What is driving our choices and actions? Are we acting out of fear or out of love? 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 19 We love because he first loved us. … Continue reading Praying Scripture – 11/13/2019
Praying Scripture – 10/30/2019
Sometimes life doesn't make sense. Sometimes we don't understand why God has allowed something to happen. Sometimes it's our everyday circumstances that trip us up in our walk with God. Sometimes it's the big theological questions that bring us up short. At times like this, I return again and again to Isaiah: 8 “For my thoughts … Continue reading Praying Scripture – 10/30/2019
Is God Calling You to Embrace Change?
Just as our human relationships change, our relationships with God grow. Our knowledge of and experience of life with Him deepen. And sometimes God calls us to stop trying to put our relationship with Him in a box and embrace change.
When You Don’t Know How to Pray
We tend to focus on God’s goodness and faithfulness. We submit ourselves to His will. We often blame ourselves for our circumstances, focusing on our own sinfulness or the reality of life in a fallen world. That's not what the laments do. They don't just beg God to fix things. They blame God. They demand that He intervene.
Life Beyond #Blessed 