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This week I am diving into a tender topic.  This broken world throws us far too many unthinkable moments.  Times when our heart breaks and we are left gasping and asking, “Why?”.  We wrestle and doubt and struggle and, more than anything, we just plain hurt!  And then we start to shame ourselves and feel… Continue reading Approaching God When All You Have Is “Why?”

A couple of weeks ago, I headed to Dupont State Forest in the Blue Ridge Mountains to do some hiking.  It is an incredibly beautiful section of North Carolina, famous for the number of major waterfalls within its borders.  I was prepared for several miles of walking, but once again, I was surprised by the… Continue reading You Can’t Climb into God’s Grace

I was recently teaching at a retreat about effectively incorporating prayer into scripture study.  Two of the topics I asked the ladies to include in those times were praise and gratitude.  One of the ladies commented to me that it was difficult to separate them.  She was right.  I realized that I was unconsciously combining… Continue reading Praise Can Be Our Greatest Weapon

If you are anything like me, sometimes the familiarity of the Bible stories and events can distance us from some of the impact they can have on us.  I mean, when you read the same book or watch the same movie multiple times – when you can quote them word for word – some of… Continue reading One Moment Away from a Miracle

It amazes me that only in the process of moving did I start to really appreciate the home that I used to have.  Suddenly, as I started to get used to my new apartment, wonderful features of my old home came sharply into focus.  The convenience of having lights in my closets.  The fast and… Continue reading This Old House Through a New Lens

In my Bible reading, I have reached the book of Leviticus.  I think I almost heard your groan as I typed that.  Like most people, if we are honest, I dread Leviticus.  All of it is a bit difficult.  It saddens me to think of the animal sacrifices.  The amount of rules and laws is… Continue reading Please Pass the Salt of the Covenant

As Holy Week is upon us, I have been reflecting about the last few days and hours of Jesus, as most of us do at this time of year.  But I experienced Him in a different way this time.  Isn’t it an amazing moment when something you have heard over and over again suddenly takes… Continue reading When Jesus Became Just Like Me

In this season, my family and I are dealing with tragic and untimely loss.  The layers of pain and raw emotions are so difficult to walk through.  Not only do I have my own personal grief, I carry a burden for the tremendous grief of those who were closest and most affected by this loss. … Continue reading Fresh Baked Bread on the Valley Floor

There is a law in science called the Law of Inertia, discovered by Sir Isaac Newton.  It says that an object at rest will stay at rest until acted on by a force.  In nature, that is a very good thing!  Without inertia, rocks could suddenly jump off the ground and move toward you, or… Continue reading Finding the Famine God Is Using to Move You

As I concluded my study of Job, it became obvious that the most destructive thing that happened to Job wasn’t the loss of his livestock, or the painful sores, or even the loss of his children.  Yes – all of those things were terrible, agonizing events.  I will not minimize the pain he felt.  But… Continue reading Maybe the Hardships Are Really the Greatest Love