Show Me the Lies

This is Part 1 of a 4-part series on Opening Toward God: our part in letting God work. Go here to read the intro and find links to the additional posts.  There are two things every Christian should remember every day: Jesus loves me, no matter what. Satan is shooting lies at me. If we […]

The Law Gives Freedom – Deeper Life: James – Day 9

Prayer Today before praying, take 5 minutes to write a list of things you are thankful for. Specific things. Like this: Melting snow this morning My boy’s kind heart My girl’s happy attitude lately Good times with God this week Phone conversation with my friend Clarity about that sticky job situation Recognize God’s gifts. It’s […]

Deeper Life: James – Day 6

Prayer I’m coming to you today with a quiet heart. I’m sipping this coffee and listening to the silence and the faint voices from the TV downstairs. It’s a privilege to spend time with you, God. Thank you. As I read today, please show me more wonderful things about who you are and what you’re […]

You’re Not Alone

I’m standing in my sweatpants and sock feet scrubbing piles of dishes, feeling incredibly alone and wondering, “Why?” I’ve been texting several close friends and my sister today. I’ve had a good visit with a friend this morning. A couple of things have gotten canceled or postponed because of illness lately, but still. I blame […]

Looking for the Deeper Life

So maybe you don’t know God, but you’re curious about him. Or maybe you know him a little, but don’t know how to take the relationship farther. Maybe you’ve just fallen in love with him and feel like the sky’s the limit. Or maybe you’ve known him for ages but the excitement has died down […]

So, Why Read it?

No joke. I’m sitting in the public library typing away about Bible study and an older gentleman walks by, stops and says incredulously, “I just saw this book title, ‘How to Read the Bible.’ Have you ever heard anything so ridiculous? You open it up and you start at Genesis!” We laughed together, and talked […]

Context. Context. Context.

Why Bible Study – Part V Ever had an awkward moment where someone overheard you say something and mistook your meaning because they only heard part of what you said? They took it out of context, making you look bad. Because the Bible contains so much, we can easily bend what it actually says to […]

The Depth of the Bible

Why Bible Study? Part II One nippy October night on a hayride, I shared the story of Jesus’ love with a curly-headed first-grader. Her eyes lit up with understanding. “That’s the nicest thing anyone has every done for me!” The message of the Bible is simple enough for someone hearing it the first time to […]

God’s Story in my Life {31 Days}

I have a confession to make. Several actually. I got to about Day 10 of this 31 Day Challenge  and started worrying. My life sounded so idyllic. Was I talking too much about the good parts in my story? Should I conjure up all the negative things I can remember about growing up and start […]

A Lamp to my Children’s Feet {31 Days}

My Charlie is a Wild Man in the making. Someday he’ll be skydiving and hang gliding and I’ll see the Instagram pictures after the fact and be thanking his guardian angel even more. So when we had our sweet Lou this summer I worried about her safety with such a rambunctious brother in the house. […]