A Life Goal: Psalm 112
As I read Psalm 112 this morning, I note so many worthy aims. The psalmist writes: Praise the Lord. Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in his commands. 2 Their children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. 3 Wealth and riches are in their houses, and their righteousness endures forever. 4 Even […]
Always John 15
I examine John 15 to note the characteristics of abiding: I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain […]
“Some plants grow best in shade.”
Do you remember when my daughter was talking about how certain people seem to have sunshine in their lives every day? These people enjoy happy, carefree hearts. Others seem to have dark days. They live with cloudy, heavy hearts. My daughter said that sometimes she feels this way. And then she reminded me of John […]
Some Things Carry Over
When my girls were little, we loved summer afternoon manicures and pedicures. I’d soak their tiny feet in warm, bubbly water, and I’d pretend we were all at a salon as I chose the perfect bright colors for their little toes. Now, all these years later, I remember setting up the salon and how much […]
A Royal Priest
This morning I spoke on what I’m learning from 1 Peter 2:9 and our incredible identity as royal priests. It’s such a beautiful, strange, and overlooked title. In the academic world, I’ve navigated the most awkward conversations about my title for the last 10 years. Am I a professor? A lecturer? An adjunct? A professor of […]
High Diving
I remember summers at the Stratford Landing pool in Alexandria, Virginia. I remember that one afternoon when I climbed up the ladder, walked down the board, and jumped off that high dive. I sunk deep into the water, into the kind of deep that presses against you and squeezes your insides and squeals in your […]
A Blessing On This Day
Lord, help us experience Your presence today. Help us remember You all day long. Help us to see the way You treat us as Your treasured possession. Help us to notice beautiful things in our surroundings–in people, in nature, and in ideas. Fill us with joy and laughter and deep connection with others. Grant us […]
Yourself in Any Setting
I discovered a new coaching question for personal development: What settings help you feel most like yourself? What is usually happening in those settings? Who is present? What are you doing? What are you talking about? When the people you’re developing find some common elements of what helps them feel like themselves, you can ask […]
Dinner with the Amish
Last night, I dined with an Amish family in Rebersburg, PA. Since the Amish don’t want to be photographed, I don’t have a photo to share, but I will say that I loved the evening. It was as perfect and refreshing as you are imagining. As the sun set behind the mountains and the evening […]
System Override
I listen to a wise woman tell me that “God can override any system” as the designer and author of all things. He isn’t limited by physical realities. I remember these words when I approach the high school this morning on this last day of school. To manage traffic, officers stand in place to direct […]