When I read these verses, I drew a straight line to represent our ascent and growth in faith and hope when we join in God’s purpose and are filled with his love. But circumstances, sins, doubts, pain–the reality of life–make the line full of hills we struggle up and valleys we careen down into despite… Read More
Colossians 1:1-2 Does God have your attention?
Before his name was changed, Paul was fanatically persecuting and overseeing the killing of Jesus-followers. He was convinced that he was cleansing the world, and he was full of himself and his own importance. It took the drama of a blinding light, a heavenly voice, and a period of sightless malaise to get his attention.… Read More
Tears falling on the pages of our lives
I read Madeline l’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time, A Wind in the Door, and A Swiftly Tilting Planet. But it’s only recently that I have read any of her non-fiction works and discovered a wise, loving, open-minded, strong woman of faith. Although she died in 2007, she has recently become a mentor to me. As a child of… Read More
Blink
“Ready for a surprise? You blink twenty-five times every minute. Each blink takes one-fifth of a second. So if you take a ten-hour automobile trip, averaging forty miles per hour, you’ll drive thirty-three miles with your eyes closed!” (Chuck Swindoll, Insight for Living, http://www.insight.org) This is the first paragraph of a July letter from Pastor… Read More
Philippians 4:4-5 Let your light shine
You are a mirror. A light reflects off of you onto everyone you come in contact with. What affect does the light you reflect have on others? Does it burn? Does it make them shut their eyes and turn their face away? Is it warm and inviting? Is it judging and condemning–reaching to expose every… Read More
Do I affirm or condemn?
Is there anyone who doesn’t like to be affirmed about who they are or what they have accomplished? Honest expressions of affirmation feed us. We affirm babies without even thinking about it. Even when they don’t yet understand our words, our tone and mannerisms come through when we say things like “What a beautiful smile… Read More
Grace rains down
Do you have a song that you find yourself singing when times are tough. Amazing Grace is that song for me. You can read the story in this article published in Catapult Magazine.
