Marriage

A wedding band shines and shimmers. It tells a love story between a man and a woman to anyone who will listen. But somewhere along the line, someone dropped it. Now it is lost in a sandy beach or in a relentless ocean or down a drain or in a street gutter or in worldly pride or in warped ideas or it has been given over to unbridled lust. The sanctity of marriage has slipped off our fingers. But I don't think it has been lost completely. No, it can be recovered.

"... if we are faithless, he will remain faithful..." -2 Timothy 2:13

My Heart

My heart beats to the rhythm of your grace, knowing that the beat of any other drum does not satisfy. So I rejoice in the rhythm of the music heaven makes. And I smile, giving thanks to the Lord for playing our song...

"I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." -Ezekiel 36:26

Just be you

Ever since I can remember the world has said, "If you can't be skinny, you should be athletic. If you are not smart, you should at least be witty. If you don't seem popular, you should start a new trend." And ever since I can remember the Bible says that we are to be in this world, but not of it . . .

So I say, "Just be you."

"For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well."
-Psalm 139:13,14

The Power of Prayer

Sometimes my hands feel tied. My calendar is full. My pockets are empty. Knowing that I do not have the time or money to give to a cause leaves me feeling paralyzed . . . until I remember the power of prayer.

"The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." -James 5:16

Bridges

I do not believe in airing dirty laundry. But I do believe in telling others about those times and places in our lives that God has redeemed. We should share our stories to build bridges into the lives of others. Those bridges lead us to the gospel.

Do you remember the story that built a bridge in your life?

"Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble
and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.
Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in;
hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them.
Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress;
he led them by a straight way, till they reached a city to dwell in.
Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to the sons of men!
For he satisfies him who is thirsty, and the hungry he fills with good things."
-Psalm 107:2-9

A Ransom

Jesus is not my homeboy. He's not a mascot I salute. He's not a lucky charm I carry in my pocket. He's not a genie in a bottle.

So why do I sometimes view him this way when I know He is so much more?

"For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men-"
(1 Timothy 2:5,6).

The Path

Sometimes I clearly know the path God wants me to walk, and yet I still tip toe along the way. Perhaps I feel timid, perhaps I have doubts. But then faith takes me by the hand and confidently leads me on. Suddenly I don't feel quite so timid as my heart bravely swells.

"You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." -Psalm 16:11

The Truth

A sugar coated story is no story at all, just like a sugar coated truth is no truth at all. You see, sugar coated words may taste sweet in our mouths, but they can eventually leave us with aching bellies-or even worse, aching hearts.

"If you hold to my teaching you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
-Jesus (John 8:31,32)

A Clean Slate

A fresh start. A clean slate. A blank page . . . that's what I need.

A fresh start. A clean slate. A blank page . . . that's what You offer.

"The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us."

-Psalm 103:8-12

Being Still

Noise hovers around me like a pesky fly disturbing the silence. While the vacant space on today's calendar reminds me that I am really good at "doing," but not so good at "being." So complacency rolls in, all dark and ominous until the truth of your Word breaks through . . . and you gently whisper, "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10).

Life

Life is a pilgrimage of sorts. It is a collection of experiences we keep tucked in our pockets. It is a collage of people we keep close to our hearts.

Life is a journey with a beginning and an ending. But I would say that life does not begin in the cradle. It begins at the cross. And it does not have to end at the grave. It can end with grace.

"I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.'" -Jesus (John 3:5-7)

Changing

Giant character flaws lurked in the corners of my heart, eager to pounce on anything good.

Until you came along and showed me how to die to myself.

But then I died to myself so much that I forgot who I was.

But then again, isn't that the point?

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" -2 Corinthians 5:17

Seeking

I thought all I wanted was a seat in the shade until you offered solace in your shadow.

So in my weariness, I sat down, knowing that you can be trusted.

And I realized that while I merely sought after shelter, you sought after me.

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.'" -Psalm 91:1

Healed

When I first came to Jesus, I did not feel like a golden girl of summer.

I felt burned and blistered after staying out in the world for too long.

And even though the world scorched my life, Jesus still soothed my soul, healing the blisters and burns.

"For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them." -Jesus
(Matthew 13:15)

Slaying Dragons

Some days I think we still run around in our super hero jammie's with plastic swords in our hands, conquering fire breathing dragons.

Only our dragons no longer appear green and scaly, but instead they come knocking on our door for a 9:00 a.m. conference call, or they jump right out of our day timers.

But now that we are adults, we have a choice to make. Do we slay the day, seize it, or put our swords down and surrender it?

"Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." -Proverbs 16:3

A Silver Spoon

According to the world's standards, I have been a daughter of privilege, born with a silver spoon in my mouth. But now my mouth is open and the silver spoon sits in my hand, ready to feed others; perhaps not with food from the kitchen or with money from the bank, but with ample servings of God's Word that fills the belly with truth and the mind with wisdom.

According to the world's standards, I have been a daughter of privilege. But now, according to God's standards, I am his daughter, and I stand with his Word in my hand, eager to share it with anyone who will receive it.

"Taste and see that the Lord is good." - Psalm 34:8