Why a dishwater disciple? Not because my favorite place to be is up to my wrists in soapy water and dinner fragments, but because, if following Jesus is not more common in my life than dishwater, it is worthless. He lived the life of a common human and called run-of-the-mill Read more…
No, I am not aiming at the extra pounds around my middle, but at what the Amplified Bible calls encumbrance. (Not everything that gets in the way of following Jesus is sin.) I am weary this morning, and a bit achy. A mountain of work awaits me, with no end in Read more…
I am not talking about the choice to forgive. There are plenty of voices calling us to forgive…the Holy Spirit, our consciences, Christian writers; even people with no connection to God know that hanging on to bitterness when offended is not a good plan: ulcers, high blood pressure, adrenal fatigue. Read more…
The walls were thick and high. The conquest insurmountable. The opposition large and fierce. The defenses intractable. Sound familiar? I could be talking about a strong-willed toddler or teenager, or a persistent sinful thought pattern. I might be talking about a job God has called me to do, about the Read more…
Instead, they were longing for a better country – a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. – Hebrews 11:16 God has led us to some faith-stretching places — places where His direct provision was Read more…
The message was addressed to the students I help to mentor, but I am consistently listening for what God has for me. The book was Ephesians. The challenge was to stretch our faith by letting go of something and taking hold of its replacement, by the power only God can Read more…
Part of me wants to apologize for not putting out a post last week. Part of me hopes you didn’t notice and the rest of me hopes you all were desperate to hear from me…Yeah, so there’s that. The bottom line is: this is supposed to be a glimpse into Read more…
Last week I promised some more answers…not solutions, mind you, just answers…you know, like in a conversation? About a month ago, a dozen of us went out into the gorgeous Arizona desert on a brisk Saturday morning (Yes, it does get chilly here in winter!) for a few hours of Read more…
I have had the most disappointing garden season ever (and in our part of the country, winter is prime gardening time)! Most of my carefully tended, pre-sprouted seedlings got eaten by snails, birds or a rat. The few that remained have not been productive or sturdy. Only the radishes flourished, Read more…
This morning I am especially thankful that Papa-God sent His Son in such an accessible package. it seems that this extended Christmas season has been more full of personal worship and adoration than any for a number of years. Especially now, with a new president, it is significant to place Read more…