I can smell lilacs in the air while I’m driving, apple blossoms as I cruise the orchards…and I not-so-patiently await the bloom of the five bushes surrounding my home. Apparently every bud in the county has opted to reveal itself except for mine. It feels a lot like life sometimes. For myself, I go through […]
Try Harder v. Try Again
Falling. An inevitable and critical aspect of “trying”. So many have fallen after making great efforts, and are so discouraged, they never get up and try again. Yet falling is a part of the process. If it weren’t an expected part of the human experience, God wouldn’t have had to send Jesus. The world might, […]
He can tell
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. -Ephesians 6:12 KJV Ever heard, typically in a church setting, and I paraphrase, “Man, your life sucks right now because the Devil is after you! He knows […]
Don’t sweat it
I’ve talked before about King David, and that despite being described as “a man after God’s heart”, one of the mightiest kings in scripture was also an adulterer and a murderer. But it didn’t change his place in God’s sight. I’ve written before about focusing on the good, the love, serving well, because if you’re […]
Talitha Cumi
Taking her by the hand He said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” – Mark 6:41 In my Word today, this passage was last to land, and it landed hard. I’m processing how it makes me feel, such a mixture and lacking clarity. Even so it feels personal; […]
New Wine
“And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins- and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins.” Mark 2:22 Refining. Discipline. Sifting. Let’s be honest, obedience can be really, really hard. I found myself wondering recently why […]
Sufficient
Sufficient. It seems to hold a negative connotation and even so, some days I don’t feel even that. I don’t feel like I can sufficiently explain myself. I don’t think I can sufficiently do my job. I don’t think I can sufficiently be in healthy relationships. And my personal favorite: I’m not sufficient to do […]
Keep showing up.
I’m sure this isn’t the first blossom in the county this spring. But it MY first blossom, and it feels like it’s been a while. She might be one of the older trees in the orchard. She might not be the prettiest, might’ve been around the block and back, weathered many storms, and seen some […]
Words
The Sovereign LORD has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed. The Sovereign LORD has opened my ears; I have not been rebellious, I have not turned away. Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not […]
What I know > What I don’t know
But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect -1 Peter 3:15 I think sometimes, especially Christians, think that we need to know all the answers. That […]