Do you remember what it was like before life started throwing us so many curveballs? When work, school, sports, restaurants, churches, etc. were a standard part of life – not perfect, but at least not cancelled or closed every time you turned around. When we could mindlessly scroll Facebook for hours – not energized, but … Continue reading Loss of the Familiar
The Shortest Verse in the Bible
"Jesus wept." I was pretty young when I learned of this verse. According to my elementary school classmates, it was the shortest verse in the Bible. I don’t remember whether I looked up the verse at the time. Most likely, I looked for an opportunity to show off my newfound knowledge to some unsuspecting classmate … Continue reading The Shortest Verse in the Bible
Making Room: An invitation to a journey
Dear friends, The number of losses encountered in the last year has been staggering. We have dealt with countless surprises, challenges, and adjustments that needed to be made. To our credit, we have stepped into some of these changes with enthusiasm (or at least a bit of energy). Other times we have grumbled but made … Continue reading Making Room: An invitation to a journey
Susceptible to Comfort
A friend of mine called me yesterday – struggling. I was so proud of her for admitting that she wasn’t doing fine (it’s tough to ask for help in the best of times), and I felt honored that she reached out to me. We both felt encouraged by the end of the call. It’s odd … Continue reading Susceptible to Comfort
Breath as a Battle Cry
This morning I was contemplating some of the current pressures I’ve been noticing:Coming out of this shutdown with personal and business finances intactTrying to make good decisions with lasting consequences given insufficient informationTrying to make the most of this down time – resting, managing school at home, doing something productive, increased family timeKeeping my family … Continue reading Breath as a Battle Cry
Hard Days, Good Things
Many days I find myself working toward the picture of a fabulous life that is in my head. It has pieces in it like my children settled into their lives and relationships and living out of their identity in Jesus without fear or struggle; a relationship with my husband that is encouraging, supportive, comforting, effortless, … Continue reading Hard Days, Good Things
Early Christmas This Year?
I finally gave in to my girls’ requests to put up the Christmas tree. They’ve been asking since our first cold day in October. Now, I like Christmas lights and wonder as much as the next person, but I know myself. The extra excitement and clutter really wear thin for me after about a month. … Continue reading Early Christmas This Year?
Flap. Glide. Enjoy.
I don’t know if it’s true, but I once heard that the 70 years the Israelites spent in Babylonian captivity was one year for every sabbath year they didn’t take while they were living in the promised land. You see, they were instructed by God to allow the land to lie fallow every seventh year...
Job and I Have a Lot in Common
Imagine this scene with me for a minute. Satan comes to seek an audience with the Lord, but before he can say a word, the Lord says, “Have you seen My servant, Jamie?” (Actually, it’s probably best if you insert your own name there and fill in with the appropriate pronouns below.) “Have you seen … Continue reading Job and I Have a Lot in Common
Planting a Seed in the Desert
Never in my whole life did I aspire to be an entrepreneur. To be honest, I’m not even sure if I ran a lemonade stand when I was a kid, which just proves how lacking in entrepreneurial desires I am. Here I am, though, running a business that my husband and I started ourselves with … Continue reading Planting a Seed in the Desert