I’m so glad God never changes. He is the same as He was from the beginning of time and will be the same until time ends. That’s a really good thing for all of us puny humans because everything and everyone else in this life changes all the time! Just as sure as I start to count on something it falls apart, blows away, shape shifts, or turns out to be something other than what it appeared to be. Continue reading
This morning I wrote to my mom and sis to vent, as I often do. I’ve been praying and thinking about ways John and I can tackle the $24,000 2nd mortgage that we’re responsible for, even though our house foreclosed in Missouri this month. Rather than feel sorry for us, I know we just need to buckle down and do what we can, one day at a time. I wanted to share my sister’s reply with you because they lifted me so and made me smile:
I love you so much and just want to write and support you and remind you that to God, $24,000 is nothing! In the grand scheme of things, when you are are the creator of everything and the owner of every cow on every hill…what’s $24,000?! Continue reading
What some find entertaining, I often find too stressful to enjoy watching: daredevils. Those reckless, bold, wild people who love to walk a tightrope way too high over a busy street or catapult themselves across canyons or jump long rows of semi-trucks, just for fun, just to prove they can do it. Have you noticed that a single danger isn’t usually enough? “Not only will I jump my motorcycle over these trucks, I’ll do it BLINDFOLDED! And we’re setting all the trucks on FIRE! AND I’ll be holding my tiny, helpless kitten ‘Snuffy’ as I jump across! I SPIT in the face of fear and death!” Did Snuffy get a say in this?? The crowd leans forward on the edge of their seats to watch, holding their breath, loving every minute. Continue reading
It’s one thing for a little girl to say she trusts her daddy, it’s another for her to crouch down and jump up away the firm concrete, out into his arms over the deep end of the swimming pool.
It’s one thing to say you believe in heaven and another to keep believing when you’ve lost someone you love and your faith means they’re actually in heaven now. Are they really?
It’s one thing to proclaim God will provide and another to have to depend on that claim, waiting for some miracle or revelation of something you can do because you’re out of money and have rent to pay or an empty pantry. Continue reading
I like Twitter. It helps me keep up with friends I’m not with every day, including my two older daughters. Each of their tweets is a little glimpse into their day, their hearts and thoughts and it makes me feel connected. Sometimes on the home page Twitter gives recommendations of people to “follow.” There are some I comedians I follow that crack me up, some well-known pastors I follow that encourage or challenge me, and so on. For a while I followed some Olympic athletes like Apolo Ohno. He’s such a positive, enthusiastic person. Some people I follow and would love to hear more of what they’re thinking, but they just aren’t into twitter and rarely say anything.
I’d like to recommend that on this path we call everyday life on planet Earth, that you follow Jesus. He’s always got something to say and it’s not self-promoting, nonsensical blather. Whatever he says gives life.
I’m sure you’ve experienced something similar to what I did when I was little. Continue reading
It’s one of our favorite family laughs. We were living in Las Cruces, New Mexico and had been teaching our girls a little bit about constellations: the big dipper, little dipper, the north star, and Orion’s belt. They had fun looking for them in the wide, clear desert sky at night. All three shared a bedroom and while out shopping one day we picked up a package of glow-in-the-dark stars to put up on their wall. I put them up while they were at school one day and arranged them into some of the constellations, hoping the girls would recognize them when the lights went out. 
Bedtime rolled around and all three were tucked in. After we said our prayers, I asked, “Are you ready to see your stars?” Continue reading
As I talked with her in the parking lot after we boogied and sweated together in Zumba class, I was tickled by her enthusiasm and joy. Sometimes in these conversations I can see her becoming a woman and blossoming right there in front of me. I couldn’t help smiling as my firstborn gushed about all the awesome things God is doing in her life and the exciting opportunities for ministry coming her way. As she spoke, God spoke very clearly to me, “See my handiwork? Isn’t this much more valuable than any house, paycheck, or material thing?”
Years ago when the girls were little, they loved to help us with projects. Continue reading
I like the band “The Rocket Summer.” It just so happened that the last two mornings as I drove to work, the iPod on shuffle, I heard one of his songs each day. This morning I listened to his song that has these words in the chorus:
I need a break, but I’d rather have a breakthrough
Can I say that today? I definitely have felt like I need a break, or my family does. Could it be that if we hold out long enough, keep believing through strain that we’ll break through to the next level of growth God planned for us? Continue reading
They say the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Does that mean that the broken vessel that speaks up or hollers out gets God’s attention and help? Well, what if the heart longs to do that but there are no words? What if all that comes out when I try to yell is a raspy whisper? Will He stop, turn around and notice me? What if I’m not sure how to call out or even what the real reason for my mess is? Continue reading
I don’t have any wise answers.
I don’t know what the outcome will be.
I do know how it feels like a surprise punch in the gut to receive bad news, or at least news we hoped would be different
I don’t plan on quoting lots of Scriptures to you.
I don’t plan on downplaying your emotions.
I do plan on standing with you and hopefully bolstering your strength.
Take my hand, we can even link arms like when we were kids and played Red Rover,
“Red rover, red rover, hey cancer come over
We’re ready for you
Me and my friend here
The one who’s not alone
In fact, if you look on the other side of her you’ll see some of our other friends linking up too, our line stretching and growing
In fact, if you look more closely you’ll see Jesus down there on the end. He’s our anchor.
You’ll have a hard time knocking us over or breaking through.
There’s too much love on our side, God-given peace and strength you can’t understand or explain. You might as well give up and go home.”
To the enemy, with the overwhelming love and tenacity building in my heart I almost feel I could take you on myself
To my friend, you know who you are
If you get tired or sad or afraid lean on me as I lean on Jesus.
Look! There’s hope ahead. Healing in ways only God can dream up and bestow. Love and faith, freedom from fear. Laughter and dare we say…joy.
Nothing, and I mean NOTHING, can tear you away from God’s fiercely faithful and loving embrace.
Rest in that truth tonight, my sweet friend. I asked God if every thought of you could be considered a prayer and He said “sure.”
I love you.
Along the Narrow Path 