Blog
Disciplined Life
Discipline is my word for 2019. My overall goal for this year is to live a better disciplined life; a better spiritually disciplined life, which I know will lay a solid foundation for all areas of discipline. Spiritual disciplines are defined by Brett and Kate McKay as “habits, practices and experiences that are designed to develop, grow and strengthen the ‘muscles’ of one’s character and expand the breadth of one’s inner life. They structure the ‘workouts’ which train the soul.” This goes right along with 1 Timothy 4:7-8: Train yourself for godliness, for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
Very Hard Beautiful
This is a week I have been anticipating and dreading at the same time. Holidays- holy days set aside for celebration and remembrance of so many things. A special evening for our family to gather, probably for the last time, around Dad’s table, knowing his chair at the head would be empty. A needed time to come together, reminisce, celebrate, laugh, and cry in remembrance and honor. Other family traditions continue as normal. Church and food and gifts and the noise and joys of Christmas. All the while my insides scream that it’s not normal. Everything very different this year.
Tribute To My Dad
I lost my dad a week ago. These past several days have been a blur, and my mind is in a fog. I’ve known for a while now that I would want to speak at his service. But when the idea of doing so became a reality, I didn’t know what to say. Thoughts and memories flooded my mind as I remembered and reminisced with family and friends. In the twelve hours before the service, I sat before the Lord and begged Him to bring it together for me…
Okay With Never Enough
These past few weeks have been much of a blur…doctor appointments and tests, followed by a hospital stay for my dad; the first women’s ministry event under my leadership as campus coordinator; teaching at another campus; trying to determine the cause of the water in my basement and getting it fixed; receiving the news that my daughter has been scheduled for another knee surgery (this will be the third in four years); getting dad back home and settled and continuing to check in and care for him, participating in the wedding of a close friend; and preparing to teach Vacation Bible School. All this in addition to the regular rhythms of life.
Let’s Get Real
I’ve often heard “the struggle is real,” but how often are we real about the struggle? How often are we willing to admit we actually don’t have it all together, that we are really just figuring it out as we go? How often do we make ourselves vulnerable, willing to risk appearing weak in the eyes of others?
Indelibly Marked
It was a warm, sunny Saturday in May, the sixteenth to be exact. I was just a few weeks away from finishing my seventh grade year. That morning I was wearing a pair of shorts and a Mickey Mouse t-shirt. While white Keds with no laces was a fashion trend at the time, I believe I wore my lace up tennis shoes that day. I was among a group of junior high students and teachers eagerly anticipating the annual school bike hike. I was ready to ride my red Schwinn ten-speed some 15 miles from school to Lemon Lake County Park. We would enjoy a picnic lunch and a fun afternoon at the park before making the trek back to school.
Soul-Satisfying Sunday
As the devil continues to taunt the silent Savior, the ground begins to tremble. At first a quiet rumbling, but growing with intensity until it erupts in violent shaking, pushing away the stone. Satan’s sneer turns to fear as Jesus begins to move. Evil falls down as the Good Shepherd stands up. Darkness is exposed as the Light of the World is restored. Lies are obliterated as Truth is revealed.
To The One Who Will Wear The Tie
On our daughter’s 18th birthday, my husband and I gave her a tie. Yes, that’s right- a tie. Navy blue with pink and white stripes, the colors she’s chosen for her dream wedding. Even more than she dreams about the perfect wedding, we dream together about the man who will be God’s perfect match for her; the man who is beyond excited to spend the rest of his life loving her; the man who will one day be waiting for her at the front of the church wearing that tie. The gift was given as a visual reminder to her to keep praying for that man, to pray that God will raise him up and grow him and prepare him to lead and love her well.
Giving Up Good For God
“I want to be a good person…I want to go to a good school…I want to get a good job…I want to marry a good guy/girl…I want to have a good marriage…I want to raise good kids…I want to do good works…I just want to live a good life.”
Labor Of Love
It was a Thursday morning nineteen years ago this week. It was 60 some degrees and breezy as we made our way to the hospital. I had labored through the night, but it was still thirteen days before my due date. Never having done this before, I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect. We had completed the Lamaze class, even though we never did master the art of the “hee-hoo-hee-hoo” breathing without a continual case of the giggles. But apparently, using breathing techniques or not, the baby was indeed coming.
Lessons From The Zipline
I was so excited for the opportunity to zipline for the first time. I quickly signed up and couldn’t wait to try it. When the time came, I geared up- bottom harness, top harness, helmet and gloves. I was ready. I climbed up about 6 flights of stairs before stepping out onto the platform.