I’ve heard…A woman forgets the pain of childbirth after the child arrives because she’s consumed by joy. You, like me, may not have been pregnant to know for sure, but it’s the same in hard seasons. They SUCK when actively experiencing scenarios that make up the dark season as a whole. On the other side, […]
Highly Qualified
I was thinking about how to reframe my mistakes so they didn’t pack such a shameful punch. What did I come up with? My mistakes are learning certificates, not condemnations. And this life thing? I’m HIGHLY QUALIFIED. I have many learning experiences I want on one hand to forget and bury, and yet I also […]
Seeing Me in Him
I’ve admittedly wondered why God had allowed a raging, spirit-filled fire like mine to be quenched; even for a season. I thought I had been loving e-v-e-r-y-o-n-e well. I don’t claim perfection, but like Job, I’ve begged God to show me what I had done wrong, what I hadn’t done right, why He’d given me […]
Earthly Fathers
“I didn’t raise you to be so judgmental!” Soul crushing words as my dad and I argued theology. I was in my teens. My parents had recently divorced, and I’d been pursuing a far too conservative angle in my efforts to connect with God; to make sense of my young life…in his opinion. But he […]
I’m still the exception
When C19 started, I thought I would be the exception. I was certain that while the world was about to experience fear on a scale it hadn’t seen in a century, I was going to be the one who reminded people they were loved, and that there was always reason to choose joy. And at […]
Process of Becoming
Last night I went out and hit a local watering hole in effort to be social, make connections, and maybe sing a tune or two. It was a great night, although I had a sense of vulnerability I couldn’t put my finger on. As I made my way to the car, a female bar tender […]
Before and Behind
You’ve heard me suggest focusing on loving well instead of sinning less. When you’re loving well, you quite literally cannot sin. I relate to Paul in so many ways, and I’m grateful God chose to expose Paul’s struggles. I’m thankful Paul demonstrated authenticity when begging God to remove the thorn from his side, and lamenting […]
It’s gonna be better
This morning I found myself praying to God that He bring me back to the place I was before, where I’d felt so connected and in community, serving my purposes intentionally…filled with His joy, my strength. The quiet response was something I’d considered in passing prior, but needed to revisit. The last few years have […]
BUT
“Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing. But at your word I will let down the nets”…and they came and filled both the boats…”do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching (wo)men.” Luke 5: 5, […]
Shaming into action
It can’t be done. I mean, it can, but it’s not effective long-term and in the end everyone loses. The desired behavior may be demonstrated for a while, but eventually the shamed individual will exhaust themselves in all the striving, or perhaps never try to begin with, the shame being so heavy. You don’t know […]