One of God’s most mysterious qualities is that he’s always there, yet we can experience his presence in a specific moment or a specific place. This can happen anywhere, unexpectedly, at any time. But maybe even more miraculously, it can also happen according to a predictable rhythm. There are a few times every year that…
“You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed; You have guided them by your strength to your holy abode.” (Exodus 15:13 ESV) Fear is a powerful motivator. A runner finds a new level of fast when being pursued by an angry dog. Students fearful of a failing grade deepen their…
I stood at the used book sale table loaded with children’s books. In my hands was a Dr. Seuss book I had never seen before. I flipped open the first page and began reading. And kept going. Never has a children’s book stopped me in my tracks. I read the whole thing right then and…
The spring before my wedding, I bought a peony plant. I’ve always loved peonies, and I dreamed of clipping the beautiful blooms from my own front yard to arrange in my bridal bouquet. It was a symbol of the hope and joy that was coming. As I nurtured and cared for the plant in preparation,…
I feel like the year 2020 has given new dimensions to the term “desert season.” We use this phrase when we’re describing a time of transition or waiting or “the land between” progress and blessings. I’ve had these seasons throughout my life, as has pretty much everyone on the planet. Most of us just haven’t…
Our vacuum broke. I’d ignored a cracked clip for about a year, convincing myself that Shark vacuums are so high-quality that the fact the canister no longer had an unbroken seal wasn’t a problem. But eventually, our vacuum made it clear that my efforts to keep the carpets clean were no longer working. Instead of…