Dance in the Rain
Welcome to My Journal
My life has often felt like a raging storm. A hurricane without an end. And yet God has given me joy in the midst of it. And through the raging storms and the intermittent drizzle, I’m learning to dance in the rain. (Figuratively, of course.)
The Word for 2017
I knew available was my word for 2017 because I immediately chafed when I wrote it down. But what's so wrong with wanting to stick to my schedule?
The Sacrifice of the Incarnation
This Christmas, the magnitude of the incarnation has been washing over me. God who needs nothing and gives life to everything came to earth as a baby.
God Uses All Things
Everything that happens to me is an invitation from God to grow closer to him. But am I willing to trust God when things look broken?
The Power of Giving Thanks
It’s easy to give thanks when things are going well. But to thank God for his provision when life feels like it's crumbling can be life-changing.
The Scars that Shaped Me
I never thought of myself as a writer. I was an artist. I created beauty with my hands. But when that was taken away, I discovered that God had replaced my graphic art with something far better.
Sustained in the Fiery Furnace
I have often wondered what it would have been like to watch Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego as they were thrown into the fiery furnace.
Can I Find Peace in Pain?
How do people come to terms with loss? What do we do with our broken dreams? Can we ever find peace in pain?
Trusting God with the Unfinished
God is asking me to be content with the unfinished and the imperfect, to celebrate the small victories, and to trust that He is working in them all.
Learning the Unforced Rhythms of Grace
Jesus doesn’t just offer rest. He shows us how to do it. As we walk with Him and watch what He did, we will discover the secret of true rest.
The Agony of Waiting
If I knew God would eventually answer my prayer with “yes,” waiting would be easier. But when the wait seems endless and I’m not sure if there’s any point to it anyway, it feels excruciating…
Can Anyone Really Prepare for Suffering?
Is it possible to prepare for the unthinkable? Can we do anything now so we won't be crushed when suffering comes into our lives? While we can’t anticipate all the trials we might face, there are ways we can ensure disaster won’t destroy us.
Good Friday: When All Hope Feels Lost
This year, Jesus' last days have gripped me like never before. Good Friday has become more precious as I have seen new facets of the cross to be thankful for and have fallen even more in love with Jesus.
Lament: Beauty out of Bitterness
Our authenticity draws others to God, allowing them to be honest too. God invites our lament as He knows our tendency either to suffocate, pretending we are fine, or to walk away, disillusioned.
Good Friday: Consolation from the Cross
Jesus’ last days have gripped me like never before and I’ve fallen more in love with Him.
When We Need The Comfort of Others
Suffering in another human being is a call to the rest of us to stand in community. It is not a question which demands an answer; it is a mystery which demands a presence.
The Blessing of Failure
My extraordinary failure stripped away everything I’d been clinging to. And in the destruction of those accomplishments that once defined me, God did a radical work.
Grace Always Heals Deeper
Most of us would prefer healing to grace. It’s tangible. Visible. A cause for celebration. What healing can grace offer us in comparison?
When the Detour Becomes the New Road
When my plans go awry, I always want to believe that I have taken a temporary detour. Maybe it’s a long one, but I hope I’ll soon be able to return to the way things used to be.
An Unlikely Word for 2016
My word for 2016 is challenging all of my thoughts and actions. Rather than something I think about occasionally, it must change my very fiber to become a reality in my life.
A Way in a Manger
The manger highlights the way God uses our deepest pain, our humiliation, the things we wish were different, to bring Him the greatest glory. God’s kingdom is upside down.