Shame & Shame-based Identity

Photo of crucifix over book with "This is a symbol of hope" text overlayed - This is a symbol of hope

The Dark Place of Fear

I read of another suicide today. Those headlines only tell part of the story. They tell of the battle lost. They tell that fear won and God’s kingdom has another hole in it. People judge based on the facts they read. Someone who seems to be successful took their life is the fact they read.…

Woman of Faith

I have been asked how I came to have such a strong faith in God. My answer had always bee “oh my Mom.” Until recently. “But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Older women likewise are…

Photo of friends sharing pizza - friends should be a safe place to share

Fears…

“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God, I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 What do you do when you are in the midst of fear? How do you not allow that fear to…

Daily Grieving

How do you grieve? What do you grieve? Where do you grieve? Do you find yourself lost in grief without a sense of an end? Do you grieve the longings you feel for community, to have a place to belong? Grief is overwhelming at times. I have been there and am currently walking through a…

Lumpy Rug

I have an area rug on my hardwood floor that appeared to have a few lumps under it. Come to find out it had a few things that had been hidden under there. Sweeping things under a rug can be a literal thing or a figurative thing. Luke 12:2-3 “Nothing is covered up that will…

Labels

Labels can be helpful, but what happens when those the labels are hurtful. Sometimes labels help us identify an issue, like Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). Understanding ADD helps others understand the person who has it. But what if you just thought (or heard) they were lazy. The label of lazy hurts. I was diagnosed with…

Kintsugi is the art of restoring broken pottery

Beautifully Broken

There is a piece of jewelry that pops up on my newsfeed on Facebook. It is one with different size rectangle cubic zirconia in a row. It is called “Beautifully Broken” and contains a written piece of encouragement. When I see it, I think about how many different ways I have experienced brokenness and God’s…

Breath of Heaven

Amy Grant released a Christmas CD in 1992 that contained the song “Breath of Heaven (Mary’s Song). I played it over and over for weeks. There is just something about the song that affects me. This morning as I was sitting reflecting on God, this song came to mind. The Chorus is a prayer for…

Walls

What do you think of when you hear the word “walls”? Of course, you think of buildings or houses. But what about the walls we put up around ourselves? Why do we build those walls? Who are we keeping out? Or who are we keeping in? I have built walls around me. I learned to…