I’m still full of wonder at the mercy of our God—the fact that I don’t receive the punishment I do deserve, but instead am given grace—the gift of His unending and extravagant love I don’t deserve. I wonder what it would be like for every heart to be found by His mercy and transformed by […]
For You to Know His Mercy {A Brand New Place!}
My heart beats fast as I write, groping for just the right words to welcome you to this new place … this beautiful light-filled mercy-space … the one I’ve dreamed of for so long. The place where I have the chance to meet with you–the privilege to invite you in, with the hope that even amidst […]
Your Voice is the Bridge From Your Heart to Mine
Your voice is the bridge from your heart to mine as we walk amidst the vivid colors and falling leaves of this far away place. And what rest my heart has found to hear your voice. The voice I read on the screen yet today I can hear. For the spinning noises of life to pause […]
I Want to Look Beyond the Now of Who You Are
I want to see. I want to learn how to look past the surface and see the deep places where others really live. Because I know where I really live. I know my struggles and the pain of my moments. And when I’m deeply honest, this life is hard. Hard because transparency is risky and […]
When Our Heart Aches, He Meets Us Even There
I cry the ugly cry and can hardly type through the blur. My heart is aching and I know the ache is nothing compared with what some others may be facing. But my tears only know my ache, the reality of my situation, and there’s nothing more real than my very own heart. I’m alone, yet I know God is here. I’ve heard […]
Only God Can Change Tragedy Into Beauty
Only God can change tragedy into beauty. And it is only because of Him we can give thanks in everything, and by doing so find joy. I first met her 2 years ago when she became my neighbor. I’m really not the bold and brazen type who randomly knocks on a door. And I’m certainly not a door-to-door evangelist, but […]
How Joining in Relationship is Worth the Risk
Relationships are the beauty in life–standing tall amidst life’s challenges. And we build relationships as we join together in shared experiences, in the joys and the challenges we face. Every tiny action builds upon another, joining to strengthen our bonds–bonds formed by having fun together and by grieving together. And all this can be a […]
We All Need A Community to Call Our Own {Somewhere to Belong}
We all need community, somewhere to belong. For two years now, I’ve visited the Puerto Rican pigeons-a community of their own. And what I observed was nothing short of remarkable. It taught me some poignant lessons… About how we all long for somewhere to belong, How we all desire to be welcomed and included, How we […]
Naming and Living Our Dreams {She Speaks 2012}
The dreams of our hearts hold the breath of our souls. And it’s these God-sized dreams that change lives. We all have dreams. And although some of us have named them, others haven’t yet noticed them. But that doesn’t mean they’re not there … waiting … wanting to give us hope for a purpose beyond […]
When You Need to Stop the Expectations So You Can Find Joy
Anger and frustration are the children of unmet expectations. And unmet expectations kill relationships. I should know this by now. It’s a lesson always before me, one I never really learn. It happens in my marriage, with my parents, my children and my friends. And it all starts in my mind. I begin to imagine […]
