Peace on earth. Wouldn’t that be lovely this Christmas? A few moments scanning Facebook or a moment watching the evening news shatters that hope. We’re polarized and divided. Strong opinions seem to be the norm. Very little is … Read More
All of Christmas seems to be one big promise wrapped up in a beautiful bow! It’s a season that carries the promise of hope – God cares. It’s a season that carries the promise of grace – we have … Read More
I remember that night so well. Swatting unwelcome mosquitoes, I knelt and prayed in the African hospital next to my 18-month-old daughter’s crib. Bethany was sick—verysick. The doctors at the hospital felt baffled and unsure of what to do next. … Read More
Thanksgiving is right around the corner. In my experience one of the greatest tools for giving thanks is to remember. I remember a season when ministry was, quite frankly, not going well at all. Criticism was coming from every direction, … Read More
Dr. Brené Brown, an author and research professor, has done extensive research on shame. She defines shame as“the intensely painful feeling or experience of believing that we are flawed and therefore unworthy of love and belonging – something we’ve experienced, … Read More
Discouragement hits all of us at times. The disappointments and challenges of life leave us feeling drained and dismayed. We’ve all been there. The question is: how do we bounce back from discouragement? The Psalmist David is a remarkable example … Read More
I’ve been thinking about peace quite a bit lately. I’m probably so obsessed with peace because my life is so wild. As I enjoy my very full life, I’ve been pausing and asking myself, “Am I feeling peaceful?” Ah. Such … Read More
One of my favorite Psalms is Psalm 25. Did you know that it is an acrostic Psalm? The first word of each verse begins with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Pretty cool, huh? But beyond the poetry of the … Read More
When situations feel impossible, it’s easy to panic isn’t it? The Psalmist Asaph reflected on a time when the Israelites were fleeing from Egypt (Psalm 77). Pharaoh and his armies were approaching from behind, and the Red Sea lay … Read More
Recently, I read about the great Italian violinist Paganini. One night as he stepped onto the stage he realized he didn’t have his best, most valuable violin. He quickly scurried backstage to see if he could find it, only … Read More