The world is messy, so messy, it makes my skin crawl sometimes. I am messy, too, maybe even messier. But the best part, I am being redeemed, and I am loved even, especially, when I am most desperately broken -- and so are you.
Love Your Neighbor
This year has been a stepping-away season in a lot of ways. For a variety of reasons, it’s required us to step away from church-related ministry and other kinds of services sorts of things in our community. This was very disconcerting for me. I’ve never lived my life this way. I’ve always had lots and lots of items on my Christian Resume. I thought that with such a lack of regular “service” opportunities I’d have all kinds of time on my hands, but actually I realized eyes shifted from everyone far away and realized the gaping needs of the people right in front of me. I’m realizing that loving my neighbor means the people outside my context, yes, but it also definitely means the people very closest to me.
You Have a Story
Growing up, I had the deep privilege of consistently hearing who Jesus is. I heard Bible stories everyday and was branded with an identifier: you are a Christian. You are a child of God. I have no doubt that the greatest gift of my development was being taught the truth about the Bible. This was …
Dear Graduate.
Your dreams will change as you change. What you believe your purpose to be shifts as you learn more about who you are supposed to be. To think that you are certain of what you should do, the path you should be on, also assumes that the person you are right now will think the same way as the person you will be in 20 years. I don't know about you, but I do not want that. I want to continue to grow and learn and as I mature my sense of purpose will adjust and deepen as well. What I believe my purpose to be shifts as I learn more about who I am supposed to be.
When Things Fade Away
There’s this song, “Suit and Jacket,” by Judah & the Lion. I heard it first almost two years ago, at a time when life seemed to be going pretty darn well and I felt like I had my stuff together. It’s a good song, catchy, but the lyrics confused me: “'Cause everybody I know, everybody …
Who You Are Is Not What You Do
My mornings go something like this: My alarm buzzes at 6:00. I hate this part of my day -- that moment where I know the bliss of sleep is over and what comes next is just cold, groggy, darkness. I contemplate this and hit snooze. My alarm buzzes again at 6:02. I burrow further into …
My Marriage Isn’t Enough
I can vividly remember the day, even the moment, Stu and I met. I remember what I was wearing (white shirt tucked into navy shorts). I remember what I was doing (ordering a veggie wrap in the student union of Grove City College) and why I was there (returning from babysitting and dashing for food …
When All Feels Forgotten
Days after Stu and I got married I picked up my life and moved to a place I’d hardly given a passing thought to until it was my destiny. We moved for the job, a fresh start, adventure, independence, a place to establish ourselves as husband and wife, to leave and cleave. No one expected …
Grace First
My best and worst quality can be described something like this: I have high expectations of myself and others. On my good days this looks like waking up on time, throwing all of my effort at my job, believing in other people, cooking healthy meals and keeping a clean and tidy home. On my worst …
You Don’t Have to Be OK.
According to Pinterest and the Internet and every young adult novel ever, 2015 should have been the most beautiful season of my life. I was starting my senior year of college, I was going to spend the summer abroad, I was planning my dream wedding, I was engaged to the love of my life, summer …
Etched in Stone
I’ve spent a lot of time angry over the past few days. Just generally angry. I contemplate what I’m angry about, who I am angry at, and I don’t have a lot of insight for myself. I know what sparked my anger -- and maybe it’s at this moment that you’re moving to click the …
To Those Who Have Loved & Lost this Father’s Day
If you’re like me, Father’s day carries a lot of sweet, nurturing memories--dinner dates and father daughter dances, walking down the aisle with the one who taught me to love while staring towards one who holds my heart, late night talks and desperate phone calls. My dad was the one who soothed my anxious heart …
Continue reading To Those Who Have Loved & Lost this Father’s Day
MILK + HONEY 