As our world gets tougher, the hope I have through Jesus as my Savior is what sustains me. It’s the banner I raise over my life. But when I look at my life, I don’t feel like it overflows with faith-filled, courageous living. Sometimes it feels like the hope flag is flying over a giant mess. Even so, my anthem is hope. I take for granted the privilege I have of knowing how God saved the world. I know the miraculous story of Jesus. Hebrews 11 is full of faith stories of real-life people who ... VIEW POST
Hebrews 11:1- My Anthem of Hope
Luke 1:45: Mary’s Impossible Faith
If God had told me, when I was 16, everything I would endure, experience, and achieve over the next twenty years, I never would have believed Him. I’m often glad He didn’t tell me ahead of time because, frankly, I would have run in the other direction. But this is precisely what happens to Mary, the mother of Jesus, in Luke 1. An angel of the Lord appears to Mary and tells her the Holy Spirit will overshadow her and she will become pregnant with God’s only Son, the long-awaited ... VIEW POST
Romans 19:1 Renewing Wonder
The summer before I left for college, I took a job as a kitchen hand at a camp in Colorado. Situated on a mountain 11,000 feet above sea level, our little camp had some of the most astonishing views. The very best of these views could be seen from the front porch of our lodge. That summer I became a morning person. Each dawn, the promise of a warm cup of coffee drew me from my cozy cabin and across the frosted lawn. I would situate myself on the porch and open God’s Word, but I rarely ... VIEW POST
Isaiah 7:14: The Bearing Season
There are countless themes running throughout the Bible, weaving together a rich tapestry of colors and stories. As we enter Christmas week, there’s a particular thread that’s worth following. It’s the theme of “bearing” and if we look closely, we can see it running all throughout God’s plan for humanity. It is in the Garden, as He creates two beings who bear his image. It is in a covenant promise to an elderly couple who will bear a nation as numerous as the stars. It is in ... VIEW POST
Romans 8:23 Settling into the Christmas Spirit
“Mama, come snuggle with me!” my son called out. I left my wrapping and climbed under the blanket, happily snuggling him in front of our tree. “The lights are so beautiful,” he whispered sweetly. “They are.” I agreed. I live for these moments at Christmas. Don’t get me wrong–I love the shopping, wrapping, and baking. I enjoy the holiday parties and fun. But these quiet moments? They’re where the magic is. Yet, in that moment, I felt a sadness settle into my soul. ... VIEW POST
Romans 12:12 Hold on to Hope
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
