-
doorway to hope
Crossing the threshold of the dining room, an oversized wall clock caught my attention. Its hands had been removed, indicating a suspension of time in this place dedicated to hosting memorable moments. God had brought me here to celebrate life—of that, I felt convinced. Yet, I couldn’t drown out the ominous ticking that sounded in my mind, counting down toward the expiration of my hopes. I’d prayed God would write a love story with my life: this didn’t seem to be it. Still, I clung to the truth of His faithfulness, determined to believe He hadn’t forgotten me.
-
raw joy
Sometimes, joy doesn’t look like rejoicing. It may feel startling, or undesirable; its rough edges may scrape our fragile skin as we brush up against it. But when we begin to recognize joy in the raw places of our grief and disillusionment, we are convinced anew that God is good, that faith is real. When we see that there is hope ahead, that we haven't been abandoned in the midst of an unfinished story, this is our joy. So hang onto this truth, Beloved, when the winds blow untamed and the path twists in front of you. Yes, there may be suffering and pain where the road bends, but the…
-
o come, o come Emmanuel
We look back in history to see those who long waited for the Messiah to come. They saw him and rejoiced. They remained steadfast and hopeful even when at times it seemed that the vision tarried. We now are in their same positions, with our eyes fixed on the final coming. We have read the Scriptures. We note the signs given to us who believe. We keep watch over what we have been given to watch. We pack lightly for the journey, bringing ourselves and our raised hands as gifts to the One we adore.
-
follow His fragrance
There is something so magical about mystery, drawing you in and beyond what you think you know. Seems like God leaves a trail of perfume, a lingering scent that calls you to keep searching. The stronger the fragrance becomes, the more you desire. The King desires to reveal things to you. There is nothing he wants more than for his heart to become tangled with yours. And guess what? It already is.
-
dawning glory
I have been stumbling blindly through these strange days, trying to find my footing. My equilibrium is wildly off-balance, swinging between extremes of frantic busyness and dull paralysis. This isn’t the first time God has pointed out to me that my erratic emotions need a tempering hand, nor will it be the last time He extends His to bring me back into peace. Peace. Shalom for body, soul, and spirit. Not the absence of trouble, fear, or uncertainty. Instead, a table prepared for feasting while my enemies swarm around. A resting place at the very center of the storm. “Come apart with Me,” He beckons, “Abide with Me, and be…
-
expectant
I’m not a mother myself, though I still hope to be someday. Even without the benefit of personal experience, I can never separate the word “expectant” from the adventure of childbirth. To me, it’s the perfect picture of all that word entails. Everything from joyful anticipation to anxious apprehension; the bliss and the discomfort; the excitement, pain, inconvenience, and hope; all of it is rolled up into that precious, holy season. Of course, this idea is not original to me. It’s woven into the story of Scripture from beginning to end. Over and over, God speaks to His people in terms of the cycle of life: growth and death, rebirth…
-
Waiting in Hope
Waiting … Who among us has not experienced the anguish, the stretching, the triumph of that word? The season of Advent is upon us, the time when the church prepares herself to welcome her King. On this side of history, we lack something of the uncertainty shared by earlier generations when it comes to this season. After all, we know Messiah came in the fullness of time, and we are confident He will come again, according to God’s sovereign promise … Or are we? No matter how much practice we’ve had with waiting, it doesn’t necessarily get easier. Even after experiencing the fulfillment of something God has promised, we tend…
-
From Barrenness to Birth
I feel a deep affinity for the barren women Scripture holds up to the light. While their childless state was obvious to all, the weight of unmet longing in their hearts could be fully shared by no one. Surely they tried to be content, knowing themselves to be loved by their husbands, cherished by their God … or believing themselves to be, if not quite feeling it. What they felt instead was surely inadequacy, unworthiness, an inability to participate successfully in this vital female role. After all, their value in society was determined by their ability to bear children. Without an understanding of biological processes such as we have today,…
-
A Parable of Hope & Healing
“Lord, Your Bride, the one You love, is sick.” The sisters Grace and Truth had urged the messenger forward; hastening to the Master’s side, he gasped out the devastating news. Lord, the one You love is sick! The Master did not appear startled or shocked by the news; He well knew the condition of His Beloved. He had seen her struggles, her angst. He watched as she had scorned her purity, prostituting herself to attract the World. He witnessed her growing bitterness, felt the full force of her betrayal; He absorbed the sting as she turned her back on Him to chase after the wind. “This sickness will not end in death,” He…
-
One Small Life
It’s a good thing I didn’t know what waited at the bottom of this particular cliff — I’m not sure I would’ve had the courage to make the leap. When I resigned my position and marshaled my savings last spring, I had little more to go on than a strong impression from God and a hazy vision of something called LightWater Mission. Flushed with the call of adventure and more than a bit proud of my obedient but uncharacteristically risky undertaking, I was convinced the name of Jesus would be splashed all over my steps — for His glory, not mine, of course … though I wouldn’t have minded basking…
