Metaphor Monday: Light in Unexpected Places

Last Saturday evening as night was gathering in and we were driving home, I saw peeking in and out of the oaks that lined the road a beautiful array of sunset colors – dark blue grays, brilliant orange and yellow. The odd thing was, it wasn’t to the west, it was in the direction of home – north.

Photini, The Samaritan Woman

Let’s explore how besmirching the character of the Samaritan woman obscures a grander conversion story that places Jesus and his mission to seek and save a lost humanity at the center.

Emotions in the Dock

Let’s explore the place of emotions, in ancient Hebrew, in God’s interaction with humanity as seen in scripture, and through insights from my own study and experience. 

The Amazing Truth About Our Deceitful Hearts

“My heart wasn’t in it.”  I listened to my coaching client Mark discuss vocational options for his next season. As a retiring senior executive, he was seeking a purposeful path. With each possibility he explored, this phrase would punctuate his reflections. I could...

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Metaphor Monday: Light in Unexpected Places

Metaphor Monday: Light in Unexpected Places

Last Saturday evening as night was gathering in and we were driving home, I saw peeking in and out of the oaks that lined the road a beautiful array of sunset colors – dark blue grays, brilliant orange and yellow. The odd thing was, it wasn’t to the west, it was in the direction of home – north.

Photini, The Samaritan Woman

Photini, The Samaritan Woman

Let’s explore how besmirching the character of the Samaritan woman obscures a grander conversion story that places Jesus and his mission to seek and save a lost humanity at the center.

Emotions in the Dock

Emotions in the Dock

Let’s explore the place of emotions, in ancient Hebrew, in God’s interaction with humanity as seen in scripture, and through insights from my own study and experience. 

The Amazing Truth About Our Deceitful Hearts

The Amazing Truth About Our Deceitful Hearts

“My heart wasn’t in it.”  I listened to my coaching client Mark discuss vocational options for his next season. As a retiring senior executive, he was seeking a purposeful path. With each possibility he explored, this phrase would punctuate his reflections. I could...

The Wondrous Gift: A Story of Healing and Hope

The Wondrous Gift: A Story of Healing and Hope

(This is a true story of my lived experience. Some names and details have been changed to protect the individual’s privacy.) I found the vintage nativity set wrapped in newspaper, packed in just one cardboard box among many at a garage sale in a McMansion community...

Letting Go And Letting Come

Letting Go And Letting Come

In late winter of this year  I journeyed to a private retreat in the woods of southern Georgia. I came to the retreat with expectations of “getting answers to life’s persistent questions” which at that moment, concerned my future. What will my transition into full...

Late To Lent

Late To Lent

Years ago, when my independent church started noticing that there was more to the liturgical calendar than Easter and Christmas, I started noticing Lent. But I confess, I am a sometime Lent observer, and not a very consistent one. Ash Wednesday came and went this year...

Praying With Expectation And Praying With Expectations

Praying With Expectation And Praying With Expectations

Listen to my words, Lord, consider my lament.Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. . (Psalm 5:3 NIV) Have you ever prayed for deliverance?...

When Parts of Who I Am Feel Unlovable

When Parts of Who I Am Feel Unlovable

God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8 NIV) We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19 NIV) Let me share an amazing truth about me. One that blows me away when I take the time it...

Is There A Bright Side To Disappointment?

Is There A Bright Side To Disappointment?

We had hoped he was the one... (Luke 24:21 NIV) At my best, what I truly desire is for more of my brothers and sisters to know God and experience God's grace (that is, be aware of God's active love toward them and within the world.) When I'm in this calm and wide open...

Sometimes Just Starting Starts A Party In Heaven

Sometimes Just Starting Starts A Party In Heaven

Who despised the day when little things began to happen? They will be delighted when they see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand. (Zechariah 4:10 GW) August 1 started a 30 day challenge that I'm committing to, to create every day. I don't do challenges well because...

Is There A Center To God’s Will?

Is There A Center To God’s Will?

A friend recently requested prayer on his blog, that he would be in the “center of God’s will.” I smile when I hear that phrase, because it brings to mind some target-shaped center of God’s will. Or a narrow mountain trail with steep drop offs to either side. For a...

The Space Between Action And Reaction

The Space Between Action And Reaction

The Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says to the people, “Come back and quietly trust in me. Then you will be strong and secure." Isaiah 30:15 GNT Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your...

Embracing The Full Freedom Of Christ As A Single Woman

Embracing The Full Freedom Of Christ As A Single Woman

Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you. Galatians 5:1 MSG There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus....

Wear The Same Clothes Everyday

Wear The Same Clothes Everyday

Facebook reminded me of this little play on Colossians 3:12 today -- from 6 years ago! Still love that God is most delighted when I wear the same clothes every day, the ones God designed for me to wear. Reminds me, too, of when kids dress like their...

About Living Selah

I love a mystery. Selah is a word of mystery. Its meaning puzzles bible scholars, although it shows up in the book of Psalms 71 times and Habakuk 3 times. Some scholars view it as a direction to musicians to pause or take a breath. Some think it may be related to the Hebrew word “calah” which means “to weigh in the balance.” Still others think it’s a combination of two words that mean “to praise” and “to lift up.” My soul responds to all these meanings. I get so busy in the days, weeks, months, and years, and as I gain years, the swiftness of time astonishes me. Do you feel this too? Too often the present rushes at us, running rough shod with all its urgencies. We need to, even in the midst of what we might call “holy” or “spiritual”, take time to rest – take a breath – weigh the present and enter its spaciousness. And praise. This is what I’d like you to find in this journal of mine. Places where you can take a breath, weigh a thought, and ring praise back to our eternal God. I write about places and times where God’s promises have rung true for me. I share about scriptures that shimmered from the page and urged me to look deeper. I hope what I share will open a space for you to encounter a peace that is not of this world, and a grace that is the most powerful force in the universe. All freely given by a good and loving God. His gifts to us in this often insane and messy world.

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