“The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.” Psalm 23:1 Troubled. Lost. Unsure of what to do next. In the darkness, I fumbled for my phone. The numbers read 3:00. A few seconds later, the cuckoo clock in the den chimed three times, a confirmation that my eyes had not deceived me. I squirmed […]
“Why can’t we see God?” My inquisitive six-year-old student fixed his gaze on me and waited for the all-wise, adult answer to his question. “Well,” I began, “God is Spirit. He’s invisible.” But the question pried open a place in my heart that concealed hidden doubts. As an adult, I’ve often wondered the same thing. […]
“So I commend the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun.” (Eccl. 8:15 NIV) Does God really want us to eat, […]
Tears streamed down my face. If I have to hear another sermon on unforgiveness, I’ll scream, I thought. I had been deeply wounded by people who were professing Christians. But the preacher was pronouncing me the guilty one—guilty of unforgiveness. It seemed forgiveness meant saying, “Oh, well, that’s okay. It doesn’t matter. I forgive you.” […]
When Tragedy Strikes When tragedy devastates the landscape of our lives, where can we find hope? Recently, while traveling in Alaska, I rode past an area that had been ravaged by wildfire. The spruce trees that once dominated the landscape had been reduced to charred skeletons. But the sight that kept my camera clicking was […]
On Monday mornings, before I get dressed for work, you’ll find me wearing a T-shirt that says, “Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Repeat.” The words on my coffee mug express my mood: “I don’t feel very worky today.” (Yes, “worky” is found in several dictionaries, but you can’t use it in Scrabble.) Once I arrive at work, […]
Seven years ago a health crisis sent me into a tailspin, and during that time I learned what it means to find strength in the joy of the Lord. Today good results from a routine check-up left me feeling grateful. I’m revisiting a blog post I wrote in 2016 for Restore Ministries. The Joy of […]
Do you ever have so many thoughts swirling around in your mind that you can’t process them all? Recently, I spent the evening on my laptop, jumping from one internet article to the next. So many choices. So many voices. How could I select the best and bypass the rest? I went to bed feeling […]
And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the Lord by saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?” (Ex. 17:7 ESV) When things go wrong, do you find yourself quarreling with God? Have you tested the Lord’s patience by complaining? Let me sheepishly raise my hand and […]
I’m an impatient cook. Taking it slow is not my modus operandi, so I don’t often simmer my meals in the crock pot. Instead, I prefer to zap my food in the microwave or boil it on the stove at a high temperature. This method usually works for heating leftovers. It’s fine for those who […]