When the world tells me I’m not enough, I bow up a bit and commit to proving them wrong. I hide the mark and push through more determined than ever. When work throws a mean curve and I can’t avoid the blow, I double down on hours and work harder to rise up to the …
The Fierce Father “Shhhh. You’re having a nightmare,” the voice whispered in the darkness. “Wake up. Please, wake up,” my mother’s voice urged. The pounding of my heart rocked my body. My mother gathered me into her arms as she tried to croon me back to reality, but my nightmare had started there—in real life-- …
In the last couple of week's I've been blessed to be served communion by my youngest son, to see my daughter-in-law lead the praise team, and to hear my oldest son play a beautiful guitar lead during worship. All three experiences brought me to tears. I couldn't help but feel that my response only just …
For a while now (bit of an understatement), I have been begging God for an answer to a very specific prayer, a prayer for relief, for restoration, for redemption of loss and pain, for victory over the enemy. Today, I woke myself crying over this ongoing plea. Before the sun was fully up, on a …
Late one night, my sister Kathy called to chat. She shared her day and talked about the loves of her life—her four kids. She asked about my day. We caught up on her kids and mine. Then, just as the call was about to end, she said, “I called for a reason—to let you know …
Today, Good Friday, around noon, we were having lunch, enjoying the day off work and school. The sun shined brightly, and children laughed across the street in the park. For a moment, standing in the sunshine as Zydeco music played, I closed my eyes and imagined the darkest day. Not quite 2000 years ago, in …
Tonight, I can’t let go of the haunting sound of a bleating lamb. It started this morning as I listened to one of my favorite pastors, Chip Ingram, in his Living on the Edge Podcast. He shared the story that Nathan used to bring David to repentance, the story of a beloved lamb stolen and …
I have followed Jesus since I was very young. I vividly remember sitting on the front pew of the church looking at my own black-patent Mary Janes dangling, far above the carpeted floor, as tears rolled down my cheeks splatting on my pudgy knees. My heart broke with the knowledge that Jesus had died for …
Several nights ago, I looked out my kitchen window and noticed that 4 of my 10 landscaping lights were burned out. The next evening, I picked up four replacements to match the ones around our front walk and back patio. That night when I got home, I realized that the 4 lights on the front …
For the last four days, I left my computer untouched. No work. No writing. No preparing for class. Instead, I focused on intentionally resting from work and being present with family. Even with all the hours on the road for our Christmas travels, I did not touch my computer. The sky did not fall. I …
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