It was a bit too early. Little Tripp was snug in his mommy’s womb, and not quite ready to meet the world. But the doctors decided it was time for his grand debut.
My niece, Emily, developed preeclampsia in her last weeks of pregnancy. The doctors waited as long as they could, but surmised that it was best if little Tripp be welcomed into the world sooner rather than later. Read more…
I was riding down the crowded streets of Mexico City in a cab when I saw her. She measured about four feet high, backed curved, bent at the waist at a ninety-degree angle, and fingers gnarled and twisted shut. Like an upside down chair, her face was parallel to the dirty sidewalk. Feet, dirt, trash. That was her view of the world. Read more…
Ann. I just love her. In just the few years I’ve know her, she has taught me much about gracious, grace-filled living. My friend Jill has the privilege of being a companion to Ann two days a week. But Jill is more than a companion…she is Ann’s friend.
Last week Ann called Jill in a panic.
“Jill, Read more…
I sat on my porch with my Bible in my lap and a hot mug of steamy in my hand. Early morning is my favorite time of day. Just me and Jesus and a smattering of birds.
I closed my Bible and looked out across the backyard. My eyes landed on a rounded mound of fur nestled in the grass under the willow tree. Read more…
911
Mom punched in the numbers and waited for the ambulance to arrive. She was having intense abdominal pains and the vomiting wouldn’t stop.
I got the call, and for the next six weeks sat by her bed and watched her slip away. We talked about everything from the distribution of her material possessions to the best shampoo for shiny hair. Read more…
I’ll go out on a limb and say, that very single one of us, at one time or another, will struggle with feelings of inferiority, insecurity, and inadequacy. And the primary underlying falsehood that feeds the sense of worthlessness is I’m not __________ enough. You can fill that blank in with any number of qualities.
I’m not strong enough. Read more…
Have you ever watched a performer on a flying trapeze under the massive circus tent? A short horizontal bar suspended by ropes or metal straps dangles high above the crowd. The aerialist grabs the trapeze bar, jumps off of a high platform, and swings through the air.
She swings out once, swings back in above the platform, and swings out again. Read more…
I’m getting ready to get on a plane and head to Kentucky to speak at a women’s event. And a memory slid it’s way into my mind. Remember who you are and whose you are. You are not doing this on your own.
See, it was my first large speaking engagement about eighteen years ago. Read more…
I’ve been pondering this verse today: It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery (Galatians 5:1 NIV).
Most likely you can’t relate to being a slave, but maybe you can relate to the idea of being held captive in some area of your life. Read more…
This week I started reading Joshua and I got stuck on chapter 1 verse 3. I camped out on the east side of the Jordan for three days, just pondering that one verse.
“I will give you every place where you set your foot.”
I was about to head into the chapter 5 where Joshua leads the Israelites into The Promised Land…finally. Read more…