It Work: My Apricot Tree
A Message on Hope
My latest podcast might be my favorite! It’s on God’s guarding presence of hope. Enjoy!
Where You’re Going
Lately I’ve been thinking about what it means to lead people, and the concept strikes me that leaders obviously know where they are going and wish to take others along with them. I think some of us shrink back from leadership because we think leaders are loud, bossy, controversial, clever, the most intelligent, the most […]
Time to Reflect on Where You’ve Been
This morning I reflected with a friend about the last few years. Because a milestone approaches in her life, it’s the perfect time to reflect. Here are my top 10 questions to let you pause and reflect before embarking on the new adventure. Maybe it’s a graduation, a project completed, marriage, a baby coming, a […]
The Spirit of Adoption
I’ve been thinking quite a bit about the Spirit of adoption as described in Romans 8 below: The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we […]
Imperceptible Changes
I love time lapse videos. They reveal imperceptible changes. I love how, in my own environment, flowers open, grass grows, and children transform. Even I’m changing in imperceptible ways. We are growing. We are. I like to remember this when I think that nothing’s happening. I look over at the water lily in a cup […]
3 Quotes from Hannah Whitall Smith
As I catch up on some of my devotional reading today, I find myself once again so encouraged by Hannah Whitall Smith. She writes three things that strengthen my heart and I pray yours as well: #1: God will manage everything concerning us. “Trusting, therefore, simply means that when we have yielded, or given, ourselves […]
The Smallest Seed
I’ve sprouted an apricot seed that’s now planted in a pot with soil. I’m waiting, waiting, waiting for the first green shoot to emerge. I will then, after several months of growth, plant my apricot tree in the perfect spot in the backyard. This whole journey began because a woman I met at the Boalsburg […]
Obedience and Joy
Last night my pastor friend, Josh, told me about an upcoming sermon in which he makes the wonderful and astonishing claim that obedience and joy are essentially the same. I stand there in my kitchen, overwhelmed with the truth of it. When I’m most joyful, I’m most surrendered. Josh says, “Yes! Because surrender and obedience […]
The Perfect Weather
70 degrees, sunny with blue skies and patches of fluffy white clouds, light breeze, and low humidity: I’ve discovered my favorite weather day. What a day to treasure!