It was a big day in Jerusalem. The temple built by Solomon, but destroyed by the Babylonians, was being rebuilt. It was a day of great celebration for the Israelites. The Jews had suffered for decades because of their disobedience (see 1 Kings 9:6-9). They endured exile and captivity, besiegement and destruction. However, Ezra tells the […]

“It wasn’t supposed to be this way.” Have you ever said these words? Thought them? I suspect I’m not the only one. We all experience circumstances not of our choosing, situations that don’t go the way we want or expect. Our supposed to’s may seem harmless, but they can easily become idols. If we’re clinging […]

It’s still dark when I get out of bed and quietly make my way downstairs. I grab my bible and journal, intending to spend time with the Lord. I make coffee. I load up the dishwasher. I fill out some medical forms I’ll need for an upcoming doctor’s appointment. I return a few emails. There […]

Light gets our attention. Our eyes are naturally drawn to it. The warm, illuminating effects of light beckon us to come closer. We become curious to see what the light frames for our eyes. Our interest in the light often involves our desire to become spotlighted. Many find it difficult to resist being the center […]

Four thousand years ago, an Egyptian servant fled to the Arabian desert after being forced to marry her mistress’ husband and conceive a child. The son that grew in the servant’s womb was the result of the mistress trying to “help” God fulfill his promise of an heir. A bitter rivalry with implications reaching into […]

Dear Young Mother, You may feel invisible during this season of life. You aren’t. We serve El Roi, the God who sees us (Genesis 16:13). You are seen. You are known. Your selfless love and service, though imperfect, matter for the Kingdom. You, dear momma, are changing the world as you raise up the next generation. […]

The end of the movie, The Quiet Place, contains a heartbreaking scene. (If you haven’t seen it yet, be forewarned: spoilers follow!) A father sacrifices his life to save his children. In this fictional world where silence means safety, this dad chooses to use his voice at the ultimate cost to himself. By yelling loudly, he […]

A few years ago, while traveling to Uganda, I met a little girl and completely fell in love with her. My family began caring for her needs from afar, visiting her twice a year and praying for her. Eventually God made it clear that He wanted us to pursue her adoption. I thought my heart […]

We live in a me-first culture. We want to be the best. Our flesh is hungry to worship itself, and that appetite is satisfied through a hardy diet of selfish ambition. So we form our identity through our accomplishments. We work hard in our careers, our education, our lifestyles—and even our churches—to guarantee success. Ambition […]

**Disclaimer: I wrote this article to encourage the Church to obey God even in the midst of fear and uncertainty. I used my own fears involved in our upcoming adoption as an example. Unfortunately, about a month after I wrote this, our daughter passed away before we could complete her adoption. Having my fears become […]