Robbie and I have been dancing. I say this because we never dance. I never did learned to dance well, and in Rob’s early years, he was always in the band instead of on the dance floor. But we are having a little time away, just the two of us, and we have been dancing. Oh! Something inside of me has been set free on the dance floor. So sweet. Sometimes I am far too analytical for my own good.... Read more
Nothing animates me more than to teach the abiding life of Christ—I love speaking and I love interacting and watching lights go on. But the first time I spoke took me by surprise! It was at the women’s group at Grace Bible Church in College Station, Texas, to about seventy-five women. It was a new and exciting chapter in my life, and I had a wild idea: I prayed for God to keep me humble. It was a pure prayer... Read more
Love. God’s love. To love another without condition of receiving anything in return. OH. MY. GOSH. I so do not love this way… even though I sometimes, kind of, maybe think I do. To love without requiring anything in return. To be love waiting to happen. That’s God. God is love waiting to happen. To want nothing in return. Gosh, who does that? I always want something. I want to be liked, admired, well thought of, included, known. I want... Read more
“We must go forward on our knees.” Hudson Taylor, on bringing China the good news of Jesus Christ Prayer. The journey of discovery continues. And I’m discovering that I have severely undervalued prayer. As if I’m living on a oilfield and I just use little buckets of oil here and there. I completely underestimate how much my life and my loved one’s lives would change if I tapped into its full potential. I talk about prayer — and I actually... Read more
My family knows me for my prayer life — talking to God in the kitchen or walking through the house. I enjoy the ongoing relationship I have with Him that way. But recently God pulled the floor out from under me: He said, Pray specifically. My habit has been to praise Him, thank Him for what’s going on in my day, ask for His guidance in my family. But He told me that when I get specific with Him, it... Read more
I’ve got a date. Bible study starts this morning, and I was having a little crisis-of-confidence about attending. Should I? Shouldn’t I? Usually love it, not sure I’m feeling it. Love to learn something new, see friends. Don’t love missing a morning with so much work to do. Looked at the choices. Prayed. Is this a good one? Maybe this? Sure I want to commit when I’m so — bluh about it? Not sure. Then I saw it. Jesus whispered,... Read more
My precious friend called from Phoenix today to share something that had happened at her church. (I share with her permission.) The praise team was playing soft music, and people were in quiet reflection. “As I sat there,” my friend said, “the Lord gave me profound insight into a wound I’d had from my father since before I left home. God revealed a lie I had believed about how I thought my dad viewed me, and He told me the... Read more
Trust God. The bible tells us to… we tell each other to. But do we? How? When the rubber meets the road, does His presence make a difference in our daily challenges? My sweet daughter had a job interview this week. This girl gets tied up in nerves before interviews. Always has. The higher the stakes, the more the nerves, and she really wanted this job. As we talked, I was searching for where God comes into this—how is His... Read more
“One of the most awesome tools in God’s hand is a man, woman, or child who has suffered well.” A note in my bible next to Romans 5:3. My friend has suffered the effects of mono for over a year now, which has left her exhausted. It’s also wrecked her immune system, so she is easily knocked down again. Ugh. I hate to see her suffer. “…tribulation produces perseverance; perseverance character; and character, hope,” says Romans 5:3. I’m not loving... Read more
We long to take the risk out of life because it seems so much safer than riding through the unknown. But when we reduce risk, we reduce opportunity! God’s best for us is never inside our comfort zone. My son and his beautiful bride will marry on Saturday. After a prolonged flurry of activity, the wedding day is here. And then, a marriage. Observing the preparations, I notice that regardless of how great you are together, marriage is always a... Read more
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