Another Year, Another Chance
There are few things better in life than do-overs. I am a huge fan of cheesy Hallmark movies. I love the ones when the main character has a chance to rekindle a forgotten or missed opportunity with a lost love/town/business. To me this is reminiscent of another chance. Another chance to be bold. Another chance to be brave. Another chance to do that thing you that frightens you. I recently got another chance. I actually wish I could call it a second chance, but I can’t. I heard the same thing three years ago. Honestly, my doctors have been saying the same thing for the last ten years, “With your…
Build: Willingness and Obedience
The bible is full of ordinary people being asked to do extraordinary things by God. Page after page of utter ridiculousness. Build a huge boat that holds two of every kind of animal AND my family? Cross over the Red Sea? Kill a giant? March around a wall? Hang out in a pit with lions? Virginal birth? Just Utter Ridiculousness! Yet, there it is, the Word of God to the people of God. Have you ever had God ask you to do something that seemed utterly ridiculous? I have. On multiple occasions. Once, I was asked to accept a job that I was clearly overqualified for. I knew it and…
BUILD: Logos and Language
Oftentimes when we receive instructions from God it is difficult to know where to begin. With God, there is typically no blueprint and no carefully laid out 5-year strategic plan. It’s usually just one word, phrase, image, or scripture. As I’ve said before: THIS CAN BE FRUSTRATING! However, if you understand that the sovereign God wants you to trust Her in all things than you learn to accept the instructions willingly and obey (don’t miss next week’s post on Build: Willingness and Obedience). Dependence on God to order our steps is Discipleship 101. Foundational right? Wrong! It is FORMATIONAL. It is ongoing and I feel like it keeps getting more…
2020 Update
Hello to everyone in the blogosphere! Thanks for staying engaged with me in my pursuit of shalom! 2019 was an AMAZING year. There were times when I was overwhelmed at the depth of Gods love towards me. He allowed me space and time to heal and grieve. Not only that, but He did it through the outlets of travel and writing. The fact that I never lacked one thing is a testament to the One who provides all things. WHAT AN AWESOME GOD WE SERVE! So naturally, when you come out of a miraculous season the question becomes – Okay God, What’s next? Where do we go from here? I’ve…
What’s Coming is Greater than What’s Been
Once again we embark on another holiday season. Coincidentally, I, along with many of my family and friends, am in a season of transition. We are standing at the precipice of change. We are searching for new jobs, new directions, waiting for news of a promotion, or coming to the end of a sabbatical. Not knowing what comes next can be a highly uncomfortable and downright scary place to be in. Years ago, God’s people found themselves in a similar situation. They knew the promised Messiah was coming. They just didn’t know WHEN. Advent is a season observed in many Christian churches as a time of expectant waiting and preparation…
Monday Musings: It’s Covered!
My car was making this weird noise. It was a grinding, annoying noise that made me cringe when I heard it. It was the kind of noise that made me immediately think LOTS of dollar signs. I was five months into my year sabbatical. Translation – I DIDN’T HAVE A JOB! I was living off of savings. So, you can imagine the anxiety I was feeling as this unexpected expense stared me in the face. Biting the bullet, I headed to the Ford dealership. Normally, I would take it to a local mechanic. But, I had a couple of safety recalls that needed to be addressed so I figured I…
Monday Musings: Keep Moving!
Do you remember when you first learned to ride a bike? It seemed like a HUGE undertaking. Keeping your balance without the use of training wheels, trusting that your forward momentum would propel you – that was such a milestone! Now, most of us can ride on autopilot; even if we haven’t ridden in years. Albert Einstein says that life is kind of like that. If we only keep moving, we’ll retain, remember, or re-calibrate. In his letter to the church at Philippi, the Apostle Paul says it like this: I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my…
The Gift of Dance
I’m not sure when it happened. I can’t place the exact time, moment, or event that took place. All I know is that one day I woke up and realized that I had lost my dance. So caught up in the mundane complexities of a life of service to others I sat in church one Sunday and realized that I hadn’t danced in YEARS. Yes, I said YEARS. For some of you, this will seem strange. However, I grew up in a culture, specifically a church culture, that used dance as an expression. An expression of joy, pain, victory, hope, praise, and thanksgiving. It wasn’t unusual to dance or “shout”…