I don’t have to look very far to find chaos, unrest, loss and sickness. And yet there is also one other thing: HOPE. In the middle trying times, I hold on to my faith in the God of the universe with white knuckles. When I start to let go, the world around me seems unbearable. When I fix my eyes on Jesus and hold tight, I have hope. Paul reminds us in Romans 12 to “rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation and be constant in prayer.” I love lists because they give me direction. These three ... VIEW POST
Romans 12:12 Hold on to Hope
Psalm 103:13-14 We Are But Dust
My husband and I have a running joke when our kids are acting ridiculous. If our two-year-old starts screaming because he didn’t get to turn the TV off himself, we’ll say, “Why is he having a meltdown? It’s like he’s two or something!” It helps us keep a sense of humor in the middle of the chaos. It also reminds us to have realistic expectations for our kids, which is something I need frequently. There are countless times I get frustrated over my children’s behavior (or lack-there-of): when ... VIEW POST
Esther 4:14- For Such a Time as This
I’ve had days where I could see God at work in my life clearly. I wish I could say that was the norm, but there have been SO many more times when following God has been the simple consistency of seeking His Word, going to church, waiting for His direction and taking steps by faith. In the Bible, Esther is an exiled Jew living in Babylon who marries King Ahasuerus. She is given a unique opportunity to rescue her people from imminent death due to an edict from her husband and Haman, the king’s ... VIEW POST
Zephaniah 3:17: He Meets Us In Our Mess!
The smell of sour milk overwhelmed my senses the moment I opened my daughter's bedroom door. As I neared her crib, I could see she had been sick; the mess was everywhere. A wave of panic rolled over me followed immediately by a wave of compassion. I quickly set into action, reaching into the crib and drawing my daughter out, placing her feverish body against my chest. My presence calmed her and I felt her relax as we rocked. Soon she was in clean pajamas, her bed stripped and cleaned, and ... VIEW POST
Nahum 1:7 God is On My Side
When my husband and I get into a tiff, no matter how big or small, it’s easy to forget we are on the same team. Geoffrey told me during one of these moments that, “I’m on your side.” It was a great way to turn the burner down on a heated discussion. In marriage counseling, we learned to write our issue down on a piece of paper. Then, we place the issue on one side of the table, while we sit together on the opposite side. It’s a physical reminder that it’s the two of us against the issue, and not ... VIEW POST
Romans 11:3: Content in the Unknown
As I rocked my newborn son, I softly sang his name and stroked his cheek. “Luuuucas…I love you, sweet boy.” His dark, round eyes searched my face, content but unseeing. It struck me that while he was captivated by my voice, he didn’t understand my words. He felt comforted by my presence, yet he didn’t know my name. He couldn’t fathom my hopes for him or grasp why sometimes I held him close, and other times, I laid him down. Holding him, I realized, That’s how we are with You, isn’t ... VIEW POST
