Mary was the one who actually had a nightmare Christmas
It was my worst Christmas ever, and it all got ruined by a pine tree, laundry detergent, and some really good intentions. Read more
Posts from the ‘Trusting God’ Category
Dec 23
Dec 6
Surviving Christmas: it’s really hard to fake happiness for a whole month
A few years ago, on Christmas Day, a friend was celebrating with her family when they heard a single, loud pop outside. They didn’t think anything of it, but soon the sound of sirens filled the neighborhood.
Their neighbor had walked out to the back patio and shot herself. Read more
Nov 23
Facing Thanksgiving in the midst of loss
I have a friend who will have an empty seat at his Thanksgiving table this year. That seat belonged to his father, who died recently.
A few days ago, a doctor told another friend that his dad probably wouldn’t live to see Thanksgiving next year.
I have yet another friend who was in a car accident and is in the hospital with serious injuries right now. He will be having Thanksgiving there. Read more
Sep 10
What did Jesus say about natural disasters?
Several years ago in my hometown, a man was driving down the highway with his wife when a tree fell down across the highway, landed right on the cab of their pickup truck, and killed them both.
Later that week, I was in a church service in which the pastor referenced the freak accident and said, “Do you think that kind of thing happened by accident? There’s no way.” Read more
Aug 11
One baptism was enough for me
I wasn't exactly sure what I was doing when, at nine years old, I was baptized by my father in a river – and I'm OK with that.
There are people who think nine years old is premature for a person to be baptized. I'm actually surprised my parents didn't have me do it sooner. Read more
Jun 28
Running to an Answered Prayer with No End in Sight
“Hope deferred makes the heart sick,” says Scripture. A lot of us feel sick with unmet hopes and unanswered prayers right now.
I know people who are waiting on jobs, babies, marriage, healing, and restoration of relationships, among other things. The needs are as unique as the people and their circumstances.
I’m in my own race right now, and yesterday I wrote some thoughts to put words to what it feels like. Maybe you can relate. Read more
Jun 14
Being Grateful When God Makes No Sense
“Gross.”
That’s typically not the word I think of when contemplating a miracle Jesus performed, but there’s one exception. Read more
Jun 7
God Isn’t Just in Your Heart
I have this one childhood memory that used to haunt me. When I was in first grade, a careless adult did a great deal of damage with very little effort and it seemed like the hurt from that incident couldn’t be undone. Read more
May 31
I Didn’t Realize He Was My Real Dad
One Sunday morning when I was in my early 20s, my mom came up to me after church and said something that stuck with me: “I notice you always pray to Jesus. You should think about calling God ‘Father.'”
I thanked her for her input but it agitated me a little. I was more comfortable keeping things on a first-name basis with the Lord and starting all of my prayers with “Dear Jesus.” I didn’t like the way it felt to address God as my male parental figure. I already had a father-son relationship and it was complicated. Read more
May 24
The Nightmare God Turned Around in a Moment
Ten years ago this month, I started the day by getting on my face before God and saying, “Lord, I’m getting down on the floor because if I get up, I’m afraid I’ll do something stupid.”
I had good reason to be concerned. Read more
