“I’m not one to judge… but…” I knew what was coming, the same thing that comes anytime anyone starts any conversation with those words – judgment. I struggle with that. I think Jesus struggled with that, too. The same Lord that warned us, “In the same way you judge others, you will be judged” (Matt.…
Life is loss.
In Ann Voskamp’s book “One Thousand Gifts” this is her admission, her announcement, her proclamation. Life is loss… when, what, who will you lose? It’s not a matter of will I lose, but solely when will I lose. Loss is familiar to me. One of my first childhood memories is wrapped in death.…
Little Orphan Annie
The other day at the movies, we saw a preview for the new Annie. I'm going to have to see more than that one trailer to judge whether or not I'm going to see it. You see, "Annie" holds a special place in my heart. The roles played by Carol Burnett, Albert Finney, Bernadette Peters…
A Missing Missive
Graham Cooke said that "God doesn't focus on what is wrong with us, rather, He is attending to what is missing." My daughter wants to be a cheerleader. This is a pretty tall order - Not because she isn't capable but because she is missing some key components in order to do so. As a…
Beauty and The Beast
"Let's just go." She said it with a voice of defeat, tears on the verge of breaking free. We had been in the same store for almost an hour trying on outfit after outfit. On the hanger they looked cute, anything hangs beautifully on air and wire, but on a real body fabric pulls, and…
Couch Parenting
Could you imagine if you were the coach of an NBA team, hired for the sole purpose of coaching your team to a victory, leading ultimately to a national championship and you never even left the bench? My guess is you wouldn't be a very effective coach. You would most likely be fired for not…
Healing the Sick
Today's blog is linked to my dear sweet friend, Lyn Smith. She asked me to guest blog for her, and God laid a pretty heavy message on my heart for the Church. You can read it here:
Suffering for Jesus
We use this term loosely in ministry, usually followed by a stay at an all-inclusive resort or a trip to some exotic place no one would consider “suffering” at all. But, despite our quips, suffering is a part of ministry; it is a part of relationship with God, in taking on His work in the…
Walking In His Will
I've had quite a few conversations lately with people who are downright scared they are messing up, that God is disappointed in them, and that He is one more bad decision away from disowning them altogether. Have you had that thought? It's actually rather common. I admit I have had those fears before, and let…
Happy Holidays… Not so much.
Just about the time my heart gets excited about all that Christmas holds and the celebration of Jesus, Christians everywhere ruin it for me. See, instead of rejoicing in the holiday, we make it a war against words and hatred of tradition. I've seen just as many rants in the last few weeks as I…
Sifted Wheat Podcast | Where It All Began 