Know God. Live Big.
Last night I quit. “I decided I’m not going to be women’s ministry director,” I said to Matt, from my flopped position on the couch. “Okay,” he said. “Is there anything else you’d like to quit?” “Nah, that’s good for now,” I answered. I made this announcement days before hosting my first event at church as women’s ministry director. The… Read More
While I pushed a snow shovel on a sunny winter morning, I watched a vehicle pull up on the street and stop. Two men in dress clothes got out and walked toward one house in the neighborhood, and two women in dress clothes got out and started walking in my direction. I knew who they were: Jehovah’s Witness representatives. Gut… Read More
I was interviewed by a small Christian television program several years ago, and the man started talking about burnout. He wondered what my thoughts were on how we could make our lives less busy. “Well,” I answered, “I don’t think God intends to make our lives less busy. Really, if we’re following God, he’s going to give us more to… Read More
The guys were bent over puzzle pieces at the kitchen table, and we girls were enjoying the cozy evening, Christmas tree lights, and a Hallmark movie, when we saw headlights in the driveway. I peeked out the front window, to scope out the unexpected guest, and saw an elderly woman got out of her car. After unlocking the deadbolt on… Read More
There’s a bull dog inside of me. If you tell me I can’t do something, game on. Inwardly I will cross my arms and say, “Oh yeah? You don’t think I can do this? We’ll see about that.” This tenacity and strong-willed determination serves me well. Sometimes. But lately I’ve been doing some serious praying for people who are in… Read More
Almost a dozen years since my trip to Uganda, and that young man I met is still messaging me on Facebook, asking how my husband and children are, asking how our church is doing, asking how can he pray for me today. We go back and forth. I have prayed for his daughter who has struggled with an illness. He… Read More
A robust Christmas cactus fills the garden window above our kitchen sink, and right now the end of every stem has a growing bud that soon will open into a spectacular array of delicate, pink blossoms. This cycle of blooming repeats several times during the year, and while we scrub dirty pots after dinner, we worship the Creator who made… Read More
I waited a long time in the Wal-Mart check-out line, listening to the couple in front of me argue heatedly with each other about the expense of a guinea pig cage. Trying to look anywhere but at them, I saw all around me was Christmas. Huge inflatable yard ornaments. Wreath hangers. Christmas trees. Right next to me was a… Read More
“Have you seen them?” the Costco checker asked the woman behind me in line. “The Christmas trees they just put out?” It was September. I might as well confess that the dresser drawers in my office are starting to fill with gifts. Amazon is already bringing treasures that I’m squirreling away for December, and I’ve seen Facebook posts telling me… Read More
Energy. I had been going and going for days. Come last Wednesday evening the thought of teaching dozens of energetic kids at church almost made me ill. My prayer was a groan –a desperate plea for the energy to “be on” one more time and with gusto. When those sweet monkeys finally piled into my circus, it was fantastic. God’s… Read More