Utter Humiliation
I recently read a quote from Oswald Chambers: “You must yield yourself in utter humiliation to the only one who can break the dominating power in your life, namely, the Lord Jesus Christ.” I think about humiliation all morning. I think of Christ’s own utter humiliation on the cross. I consider how one of the […]
A Statement of Clarity
I often return to 2 Chronicles 20:12 and this simple declaration to God: “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” The statement comes from a place of confusion, powerlessness, and hopelessness, but at the very same time, it’s the clearest, most powerful, and most hopeful thing a person can ever […]
All the Prayers
I loved the sermon this morning on cultivating a “culture of prayer” within our church. The pastor talked about fostering this culture first in our own hearts. I love thinking about cultivating and promoting a culture of prayer in my life and in my family culture. A family culture of prayer means we talk to […]
Most Marvelous Riches
Last night, around 8:00 PM, my daughter and I took our neighborhood walk. I unzipped my coat and took off my winter hat to enjoy the cool 50 degree evening. The moon shone so brightly that we could see clearly, but it was still dark enough that the entire walk felt bathed in silverly light. […]
Constant Vigilance
Certain people (like me!) do not have the luxury of doing whatever they please. There’s always a cost to pay for anything that tips us into anxiety or depression. Managing mental health is a full-time job for some of us, and when we see it that way, we remember to organize our day and our […]
Living Like a Levite
I often think about 1 Peter 2:9 and our new job as being part of the “royal priesthood.” Sometimes I tell myself to live like a Levite–the people described as part of the priesthood in the Bible. I remember the struggle in my heart when my husband and I first served as missionaries for Cru. […]
A Beautiful Snowfall
Even after a day of balmy 60 degree weather—with daffodils poking through the black earth—we know in Pennsylvania to expect a few more weeks of snow. And the snow indeed came this morning! Here is the view from my back window:
The Joys of Seeds
It’s that time of year again! We started our seeds in the windowsill to plant at the end of May. It’s a little early, but we have some new plants we’re trying out (and we couldn’t wait!). Garlic. Onions. A fig tree. A peach tree. Baby watermelons. Baby pumpkins. We love watching things grow. I […]
A Verse I’m Thinking About
This morning, I thought carefully about Paul’s words in Acts 20:22-24. He writes, “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing […]
For Every Moment
I always look for little blessings from God whenever I travel. The practice of hunting for blessings takes my mind off the stresses of airports and multiple flights. Today, I marveled that a wonderful college student who attended the conference was booked on my same flight. We enjoyed the same ride to the airport, a […]