Embracing God’s Relentless Pursuit

The presence of God is a profound mystery. He goes before us: Deuteronomy 31:8: NIV: The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. He is present at all times, past, present, and future: Psalm 139:5 You hem…

Living Stones

My father wrote a book titled “The Man Called Jesus.” I was thinking of his story from the perspective of the thief on the cross, as well as the exchange between him and Jesus from the cross. My study with Kristi McLelland emphasized the “we culture” in the early Church and the importance of viewing holiness in…

Finding Peace in the Present: A Bike Ride Reflection

Riding our bikes is a place of peace and a time to slow down. The smooth hum was instantly lost to the air. It was a planned afternoon on the Capital Trail with our granddaughter, Autumn, no pressing agenda, just the simple rhythm of turning pedals and teaching her to love nature and being outdoors….

Finding Healing and Hope in Prayer and Friendship

My current Bible study author noted that journaling is a way to share God‘s faithfulness. At the end of each year, she will spend three days reading through all her journal entries to contemplate God‘s faithfulness. As you know, this is a practice for me to write about what I’m learning in life, meaningful events,…

Living Generously: Letting Go and Embracing Kindness

Merriam-Webster defines generous as “liberal in giving: openhanded.” I’m reminded of verses about a harvest, reaping, and sowing. Profound wisdom that reminds us that if we sow seeds of kindness and love, we will reap a harvest of the same. What we give out truly, for the most part, comes back to us. In my current…

Embracing God’s Love: A Mother’s Reflection on Faith

When a child is born into the world, their eyes search for the face of the ones who love them. Years ago, I wrote about this moment in the hospital that was so special to me. They swaddle your little one in a blanket and bring them to your arms to feed or nurse. In…

Friendship and Faith: The Divine Connection

Friendship. What comes to mind when you read the word friendship? You may have thought of qualities that are important to you when selecting a friend, or maybe you thought of your circle of friends. Friendships can sometimes be the most rewarding and intimate relationships that sustain you through challenging times and bring a sense…

Jesus’ Compassion and Anger: Insights from Gentle and Lowly

I started re-reading Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund. My lovely friend Leslie recommended this book, or at least that’s how I remember it. It’s a book I often return to, and I even have it in audio format so I can listen to the chapters. The central theme of the book is to help us…

The Miracle of Faith: Lessons from John Chapter 6

John Chapter 6 in the Discovering Jesus study has the theme of faith, belief, and the Holy Spirit. I love the story of the little boy who came to hear Jesus with his mama’s packed lunch of 5 barley loaves and two fish. Perhaps the lunch was for him, his siblings, and the father who…

Healing from Apathy: Embrace Spiritual Renewal

“The Bible is alive, it speaks to me; it has feet, it runs after me; it has hands, it lays hold of me.“  — Martin Luther. Two words, “fresh” and “renew,” were consistently expressed yesterday. I’m sure everyone who shared in their designated roles did not talk to each other; however, God chose to have…