Tradition tells us that David wrote Psalm 62 in the middle of devastating heartbreak. His son, Absalom, rebelled against his father, plotting to take his throne. When David turned to trusted friends for help, he learned that they had joined his beloved son Absalom in his betrayal. David could trust no one….
Read MoreLast week I introduced our new series, A Steadfast Woman in a Shifting World. We got a bird’s eye view of Psalm 62 where David, anointed King of Israel, declares his absolute trust that God is his Rock, Rest, Rescue, and Refuge…
Read MoreSome people who love me questioned why I put myself through such an emotional ringer in order to write Treasures in Darkness. My theology compels me to lean into the pain in order to offer help and hope to others. God promised Abraham that God would bless him and he in turn would be a blessing to others…
Read MoreMany times I had to force myself to stop crying so that I could keep writing, not just because of the memory of God’s sweet love but also as I stepped back into those early years of grief. I sometimes cried out, “Lord, this is more than I can bear. I can’t do this. Please take this task from me.” And God smiled as He held me tightly in His grip…
Read MoreSometimes all we can see is the crisis at hand. We pray for relief and often miss the treasures in the darkness God sends to help turn our hearts toward Him. I almost missed a priceless treasure in the middle of this chaos that helped me walk a steady path when the twins’ birth moved the earth beneath my feet…
Read MoreJust when we thought it was safe to relax and revel in the birth of our little grandbabies, death knocked on our door. Late at night Heidi called for us to come stay with their children while Greg and she rushed to the hospital. Abigail was very sick, diagnosed with a life-threatening infection. Our tiny granddaughter…
Read MoreSome of the most tender and intimate moments Chuck and I have experienced happen when we are the most broken by life. Such times are opportunities to remove any pretense, tear off masks and be completely vulnerable. Those are the moments I have felt the most loved by my husband…
Read MoreThe day I put my final manuscript for Treasures in Darkness in the mail, I reviewed the context of my life in which I wrote the book. I realized while the earth shifted beneath my feet, God held me steady through chaotic circumstances…
Read MoreI was 18-years-old and thought I was in love. My boyfriend was deployed to Germany and when he came home in December we wanted to get married. I would return to Germany with him. I announced my plans to my father (I chose this moment carefully - my mother was away on a retreat). Instead of putting his foot down and telling me absolutely not
Read MoreAs a young mom, it was important to me that our children learn about the God I was growing to know. Volunteering at our church gave me plenty of opportunities to join other parents who shared that passion. Together we took Scripture…
Read MoreToday and tomorrow you will hear from two grandmothers who have fully embraced the idea of Cousins Camp as a way to help cement their relationships to their grandchildren and partner with their adult children’s goals of teaching their children about Jesus…
Read MoreToday’s devotional is adapted from a blog post I wrote about eight years ago. I love the memories it brings to mind….
Read MoreI fingered the silky softness of the beautiful blanket and wondered what magical fabric could hold up to the marketing claim that babies wrapped in this blankie felt as though they were back in the security of the womb. We had just learned about the coming…
Read More"Do you have Grammy?" asked our granddaughter as she poked her head into the van and looked around. Our family of 21 was piled into several cars to head to Downtown Disney and everyone in my car laughed out loud at eleven-year-old…
Read More"Ahhh, here come the cruise guests!" my husband exclaimed as Dan and Laura dropped off their three younger children for the day so that they could enjoy biking around Washington, D.C. with their older two kids…
Read MoreJust before we welcomed our first grandchild into our family, a friend remarked, “The first time you see that child, you’re going to turn into a different person.” This from a grandmother who gleefully shared grandchild stories and pictures as thoug…
Read MoreToo many of us sit around and wait for God to make it abundantly clear what His plan for us is, as if God is under our command rather than the other way around. Tell me. Tell me right now. This job or that? Marry this person?
Read MoreWhere is “Barn Green Road?” It is in a little Scottish town of Arbroath. My wife has Scottish roots and on a trip of a lifetime, we made our way from Inverness to search for members of Sharon’s family tree. From her research, she discovered…
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