Journal

Letting Go And Letting Come

Letting Go And Letting Come

In late winter of this year  I journeyed to a private retreat in the woods of southern Georgia. I came to the retreat with expectations of “getting answers to life’s persistent questions” which at that moment, concerned my future. What will my transition into full...

Late To Lent

Late To Lent

Years ago, when my independent church started noticing that there was more to the liturgical calendar than Easter and Christmas, I started noticing Lent. But I confess, I am a sometime Lent observer, and not a very consistent one. Ash Wednesday came and went this year...

When Parts of Who I Am Feel Unlovable

When Parts of Who I Am Feel Unlovable

God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8 NIV) We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19 NIV) Let me share an amazing truth about me. One that blows me away when I take the time it...

Is There A Bright Side To Disappointment?

Is There A Bright Side To Disappointment?

We had hoped he was the one... (Luke 24:21 NIV) At my best, what I truly desire is for more of my brothers and sisters to know God and experience God's grace (that is, be aware of God's active love toward them and within the world.) When I'm in this calm and wide open...

Sometimes Just Starting Starts A Party In Heaven

Sometimes Just Starting Starts A Party In Heaven

Who despised the day when little things began to happen? They will be delighted when they see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand. (Zechariah 4:10 GW) August 1 started a 30 day challenge that I'm committing to, to create every day. I don't do challenges well because...

Is There A Center To God’s Will?

Is There A Center To God’s Will?

A friend recently requested prayer on his blog, that he would be in the “center of God’s will.” I smile when I hear that phrase, because it brings to mind some target-shaped center of God’s will. Or a narrow mountain trail with steep drop offs to either side. For a...

The Space Between Action And Reaction

The Space Between Action And Reaction

The Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says to the people, “Come back and quietly trust in me. Then you will be strong and secure." Isaiah 30:15 GNT Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your...

Wear The Same Clothes Everyday

Wear The Same Clothes Everyday

Facebook reminded me of this little play on Colossians 3:12 today -- from 6 years ago! Still love that God is most delighted when I wear the same clothes every day, the ones God designed for me to wear. Reminds me, too, of when kids dress like their...

Auguries and Destinies

Auguries and Destinies

To see a World in a Grain of Sand And a Heaven in a Wild Flower Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand And Eternity in an hour from "Auguries of Innocence" by William Blake   The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and...

When I forget, God Remembers

When I forget, God Remembers

Forgetting, deleting, redoing, undoing. I wrote this post two nights ago, while I was meditating on all I think about, and the thoughts I don't write down, and that get lost in the mist of my conscious mind. Not wanting to forget my meditations on that subject, I...

When Your Heart Is Shattered, God Is Right There

When Your Heart Is Shattered, God Is Right There

Things can get easily shattered in the dark. Precious things, like our hearts. We grope and wonder what is out there, and if it could possibly be good. When we reach out and touch something that's familiar, it comforts us with just the knowing that we've found a...

When Our Hearts Condemn Us, He Is There

When Our Hearts Condemn Us, He Is There

Our teaching pastor, Zach Van Dyke, was teaching on Romans 7 this week. He defines covetousness concisely and simply: Coveting is setting your heart on what you want more than the God who wants you. We each have a hole -- an infinite spaciousness in our...

Finding Peace In The Serenity Prayer

Finding Peace In The Serenity Prayer

What a gift this prayer is to the people of God, as a reminder that His grace fills the space between where we are and where we long to be. Although we often recite the prayer for things that fall into our lives from outside, it's also a...

How To Release The Mask Of Perfection

How To Release The Mask Of Perfection

And yes, you want truth in the most hidden places; you teach me wisdom in the most secret space. Psalm 51:6 CEB "Good Morning, Donna!" Every day that cheery-smiling phrase greeted me, effervescing from my roommate at the Bible college I attended in my mid 20s. If I...

That We All May Be One

That We All May Be One

I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one--as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. John 17:21 NLT The pain of tension, feeling unmeshed, at odds, and unwell. A lack of shalom - of peace, of all being well. It's the...

God Is Sovereign In The Chaos

God Is Sovereign In The Chaos

We talk about the "calm before the storm" in our lives, and I've felt that -- have you? During the storm you yearn to be feeling the dry breeze and sun, when you have time to think about it. Often you don't. The storm is calling the shots,...

Our Sin Is Ever Before Us And So Is Our Savior

Our Sin Is Ever Before Us And So Is Our Savior

I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. Paul's epistle to the Romans, Chapter 7 Verse 21 Paul doesn't say that he's getting better and better every day in every way. What he does talk about is the...

What Are You Afraid Of?

What Are You Afraid Of?

I sat sobbing in my upstairs apartment, feeling ripped apart and alone. My faith, which hours before seemed so solid and stalwart, was tipped on its side, fractured and futile. It was the day I first learned the phrases "higher criticism"...

Let The Lion Loose

Let The Lion Loose

A great many learned men are defending the gospel; no doubt it is a very proper and right thing to do, yet I always notice that, when there are most books of that kind, it is because the gospel itself is not being preached. Suppose a number...

Love, Mercy, and Grace

Love, Mercy, and Grace

'Twas Love that gave at greatest cost A Life, that mine should not be lost The Love that died in deep despair My debt fully satisfied there It was love that took my place On the cross of Calvary It was grace, redeeming grace That paid my...

Forsaking The Comfy Chair For The Zip Line

Forsaking The Comfy Chair For The Zip Line

I love a good comfy chair, my favorite being a channel back I bought years ago in a second hand store. Settling into it as the afternoon sun warms across me, I read a favorite book while tasting the flowery spice of a good cup of Earl...

How to Survive the Mean Seasons

How to Survive the Mean Seasons

Some days in the late Spring, from April to May, I hate living in Florida. It's not that the weather is bad, if anything, these are some of the most pleasant days of the year. The longer days are warm, but with a touch of coolness in the...

We Have An Anchor

We Have An Anchor

This past year of grief God has seen me at my best and my worst, and He had to have been hurt by my tumblings of anguish, my slashes of anger, and my scrapings of despair. It amazes me that He has not wavered one bit in His perfect love for...

Feeling Hemmed In? Me, Too!

Feeling Hemmed In? Me, Too!

Today I was feeling such frustration and defeat - like I was inside a strong rubber balloon, pushing and punching with all my strength until I was exhausted and frustrated. My world was a big knotted mess, and I felt powerless and...

All For Jesus

All For Jesus

Without question the best and most acceptable services are those in which Jesus is the solitary aim of the soul, and His glory is the focus of all our endeavors. (From Truth for Life Daily)

Strength for Today, Just for Today.

Strength for Today, Just for Today.

I’m regretful in the first, denying the second, and worry about the third.

A friend of El Edwards said we’re only given strength for what ISs, not for the what ifs. Good and true, and spurred some thoughts. So consider…

Be Valiant

Be Valiant

Take courage therefore, and be very valiant. (Joshua 1:7 Douay-Rheims) God, give me the courage to pick up the sword, and fight the fight. Don't let me lose faith, drop to the floor and rest against the castle wall,  thinking the battle is...

On Beauty…

On Beauty…

We do not want merely to see beauty... we want something else which can hardly be put into words- to be united with the beauty we see, to pass into it, to receive it into ourselves, to bathe in it, to become part of it. That is why we have...

Pin It on Pinterest