I know all about Construction Zones. As the wife of a road builder, I have been to and through all sorts of highway and bridge Construction Zones over the years. I know the difference between concrete and cement, and I can tell whether a road has been paved in concrete or bituminous asphalt. I’ve seen […]
“The Kingdom of Heaven is like… yeast that a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.” (Matthew 13:33 NLT) Seems pretty straightforward, doesn’t it? A small amount of yeast is mixed into the dough, where the yeast […]
It’s PINK Tuesday! Last week we explored, from a Christian perspective, ways in which our faith and resources might be given as gifts to those in need. We established the importance of BOUNDARIES, we discussed the temptation to buy into GUILT, we learned that it is our RESPONSIBILITY to know how God has shaped us to […]
What’s a conscientious Christian to do in the midst of overwhelming need? When the people whose lives intersect with ours have needs that threaten to consume the time/energy/generosity of everyone around them, how can we remain true to the call of Christ (and help them) without burning out or wanting to run away? I suspect […]
Along with a dozen beautiful believers-under-construction, I am re-reading the classic ‘Celebration of Discipline‘ by Richard Foster. Clearly an oxymoron to the spiritually faint of heart, Foster makes a strong case for placing the words ‘Celebration’ and ‘Discipline’ into the same sentence. Week after week my small group of women comes together to wrestle with […]
Jesus prayed for His disciples: “Holy Father! Keep them safe by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one just as you and I are one.” John 17:11b How hard is it for people to be “one” – completely unified in heart and mind? Is Jesus praying […]
I’ve been around the block. When it comes to studying the Bible, I’ve made my way through this method and that format, using these tools and those materials. I’ve studied with the help of this translation and that paraphrase. I’ve considered his detailed commentary and her in-depth workbook… After all, if you’re like me and […]
Can I just start by saying that Thomas gets a BAD RAP?! Forever known as Doubting Thomas… Of COURSE the others believed that Jesus was alive – THEY had SEEN HIM! Good Grief! But this STORY of Thomas and his honest expression of doubt is REALLY a story about GOD and HIS extravagant GRACE; His […]
Let’s face it: when Jesus said He didn’t come to bring peace, but a sword, He wasn’t kidding. And the Good News He proclaimed wasn’t happy “fluff” designed to make people feel good. Jesus the teacher – rabbi in the culture of the day – appeared on the scene some 2000 years ago and […]
I can be a bundle of nervous energy at times (I know, I know… excessive coffee consumption doesn’t help). I can seemingly curl up into a little ball of my own mental activity, focusing solely on what’s happening inside my head. This is where God found me two weeks ago, sitting in the window seat […]