In-between. What do you think of when you hear that word? For me, this word is heavy with claustrophobia, tight spaces, and the cream between sandwich cookies—squished. It’s the painful squeeze of being in a place you don’t want to be in. That middle airplane seat, center couch cushion, or being smack-dab in the middle … Continue reading The In Between
Writings
Grandpa
Jesus, You restore my soul. It is well with my soul, only because of You. This past Wednesday, my grandpa went home to be with Jesus. It is surreal to think that never again will we see his twinkly eyes and ever-present smile. Never again will he give those hard, tight hugs that squeezed … Continue reading Grandpa
The Presence of God-For Today, Not Just In Eternity
One day this life is going to be finished, ended, run out. It will be over. Completed. The end will be the beginning. We will finally see Jesus. It couldn’t possibly ever get better than that. Except for the fact that we will be spending the rest of our eternal lives in His presence, … Continue reading The Presence of God-For Today, Not Just In Eternity
“I Dreamed that God would be Forgiving”
“I dreamed that God would be forgiving…” This line from “I Dreamed a Dream” is not isolated to Fantine or any one or all of the characters in Les Miserables. This aching sentence is knotted up in many heads, tied to ankles like shackles, or worn as a scarlet letter. Lives are spent trying … Continue reading “I Dreamed that God would be Forgiving”
Dream Jesus’ Dreams
“Jesus, restore her broken dreams….” These were the words prayed over me last week by one of the dearest women in my life. And for someone who can count on one hand the times I’ve really cried in the past 1 ½ years, those words caused the water to run from my eyes. That simple … Continue reading Dream Jesus’ Dreams
For You
“Look at the cross! That’s how much God loved you.” We hear this expressed—often. Sometimes helpful, sometimes not so much. Yes, the cross is the most vivid, true evidence of the great, extravagant, undeserved love of Jesus to sinners. But the cross isn’t the only way God loves us. He loved us before the cross … Continue reading For You
Nearing the End of This Race
Reaching. Stretching. Straining. Dreaming. Dancing. Running. That last flat line before rounding the final curve. End pressing in. Time falling faster. Breath coming harder. Track disappearing beneath moving feet. Blurred motion. Blowing hair. Do more. Be more. Give more. It’s the almost-but-not-quite. The here-but-not-yet. Holding and letting go. Close enough to touch and taste. Almost … Continue reading Nearing the End of This Race
Autumn {or the weight of glory in a thousand scattered beams}
Arms on the windowsill. Night sounds being funneled through the screen like cream through a cheesecloth. A full moon that looks more like an almost-ripe pumpkin than the golden orb it actually is. Tears falling from eyes. Cicadas singing a thousand variations of the same lullaby. Leaves silently releasing their hold on branches that have … Continue reading Autumn {or the weight of glory in a thousand scattered beams}
Your Five People
First, a confession: I enjoy reading blogs and articles on leadership. Especially as they relate to ministry and business. I love these writings even more than I ever loved food and recipe blogs and magazines. Food blogs stimulate my senses and emotions, while leadership articles activate the factual and logical areas of my brain. Both are … Continue reading Your Five People
Burnout: Emergency Brakes Required
I never thought I’d be here, and yet, here I am. Just one pull of the emergency breaks between a screeching stop in front of the edge of the cliff and a full-on, head-first fall over the same mountain. Sadly, I began to write about this topic in January (just never posted it), but have … Continue reading Burnout: Emergency Brakes Required
Down Here Looking Up 