We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain. Hebrews 6:19 (NIV) It sounded like so much fun – a family kayaking adventure in Kauai. The brochure described paddling the calm, idyllic waters of the Hanalei River with occasional sea turtle sightings as we meander our way to a private ...
Even now— this is the Lord’s declaration— turn to me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Tear your hearts, not just your clothes, and return to the Lord your God. For he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in faithful love, and he relents from sending disaster. Who knows? He may turn and relent and ...
Lies and betrayal replaced bedtime prayers as my precious ballerina daughter transformed into a rebellious stranger. Throughout high school she tested home rules, but college life offered additional freedoms too hard to resist. Following graduation, she moved in with her boyfriend and walked the path of a prodigal. As she turned away from me and ...
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 (CSB) Social media can create a lethal environment of comparison and competition -- even, perhaps ...
Facebook is a terrible way to learn a friend has died. A heavy feeling settled in my chest as my newsfeed swarmed with strangers writing messages to Julie about shared memories. When I saw the first “RIP,” I crumpled into a mess of tears. Julie and I met in the radiation waiting room at MD Anderson Cancer Center. In May 2011, I reported to ...
A set of stairs wrapped around the wings of the stage where we stood in single file obscured from view. We stood shivering in the space between the congregation and the huge tub of water on display -- like a row of musical notes, our different heights climbing up and down the scale, until it dipped down to reach me, a single note at the bottom of ...
Our family cuddled on the couch watching a movie as late afternoon rain pelted down. It seemed fitting that there was a literal storm outside as the world stormed around us -- the response to COVID-19 was just getting serious here in the U.S. I only half-heard my kids as they laughed at the screen and asked for a snack. I kept thinking about our ...
It happened again just the other day, a trigger that startled me. I thought this weapon had been disarmed, that it no longer carried power to bully me. Having TSA pre-check status was supposed to prevent this problem: a quick step through the metal detector and I’d be on my way. But as I hurried to catch a flight home recently, I had to go ...
A year ago, my husband Shawn and I embarked on a new journey. We joined a marriage class at our church called Re-engage. Shawn and I married four years ago after the death of my first husband Ericlee. He joined our family of four girls (including me) when we were in the throes of grief and gently shepherded us through some tough transitions. Last ...
We are in the middle of simplifying and downsizing when I come across a sweatshirt circa 1991. “Lane, this was my favorite sweatshirt when I was eight. Honest to goodness, I wore it every single day of third grade.” It occurs to me how many years it's been since I was that age, and I sink to the floor as the shocking realization hits: “Um, ...
