- 9 Things I Learned in Winter 2020
If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always be where you’ve always been. – T.D. Jakes If you’ve been around this space for a while, you probably know I practice a quarterly habit of sharing some self-reflections and things I’m learning. Self-reflection allows me the opportunity to put words to experiences after they’ve …
- Ash Wednesday: The Measure of the Ordinary
Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings. – William Arthur Ward This past week, Christians around the world celebrated Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday is a quiet, solemn occasion. This observance is one of my favorites, although I didn’t go to my first Ash Wednesday …
- Christmas Day – Come + See
Readings: Luke 2:6-20 Today is the day. Today is the day the Messiah entered the world as a humble babe. God chose the most human way to come into the world. And the first people called to come and see the newly born Jesus was a group of humble shepherds. God comes first to the …
- Day 26 of 26 – Silent Night
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Luke 2:6-7 This year has been a weird mix of noise and quiet. The world has been noisy, full of speculation and fear and everchanging information. But our small world, the world inside our house, has been relatively quiet. We’ve spent lots of …
- Day 25 of 26 – Hope in the Unexpected
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Matthew 11:1-19 + Luke 3:18-20 There’s a lot about this year that didn’t go as planned. Trips and vacations called off. Family gatherings postponed. Many families have felt an uncomfortable tightening of household finances. Others have said unexpected goodbyes. We all have mourned and …
- Day 24 of 26 – O Little Town
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Exodus 12:1-12 + Luke 2:1-5 + Matthew 2:1-2 If I step back and look at any given day, most of the goings-on feel ordinary. Of course, random and unexpected things pop up. We make decisions and deal with things that come up. …
- Day 23 of 26 – Light in the Darkness
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Isaiah 9:2; 6-7 + Matthew 2:1-12 If you’ve been watching or reading the news, I’m sure you’ve heard about the upcoming ‘Christmas Star.’ This evening, Jupiter and Saturn are coming together in what scientists call a “great conjunction.” From Earth, the two …
- Day 22 of 26 – God Uses the Small
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Psalm 8 This week’s Psalm has some powerful imagery in it. As he writes, David praises God for his majesty, glory, and strength. Our God is a big God. He made the universe, setting the moon and stars in their places (v. …
- Day 21 of 26 – Worth Given by God
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Luke 1:13-17 + Luke 1:67-80 + Mark 1:1-8 John the Baptist is a fascinating person. He’s known as a wild man, living in the wilderness and subsisting on honey. But John also has a unique origin story, which undoubtedly drew attention to his …
- Day 20 of 26 – Provision in Community
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Luke 1:39-56 When I married my husband, I knew I would have to move. He was living and working south of my hometown. For the first time, I would be uprooting. I lived in my hometown for nearly 30 years before I was …
- Day 19 of 26 – Saying Yes Before You’re Ready
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Luke 1:26-38 I am not a particularly good decision-maker. I can decide, but I don’t like when things need an answer time-yesterday-hurry-up-already. To feel confident about a decision, I usually need lists, research, some what-if wonderings, a few sleepless nights, and a partridge …
- Day 18 of 26 – Faith in Action
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Matthew 1:18-25 + Matthew 2:13-23 Growing up, my family didn’t regularly attend church. As I made my way through college, I started attending services. I especially love services for holy days – Ash Wednesday, Christmas Eve, Maundy Thursday, and Easter. As major …
- Day 17 of 26 – Praise in the Quiet
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Luke 1:5-7; 23-25; 57-66 I have several secret writing mentors. Although we don’t know each other personally, these are people that I watch and follow. I want to know how they do things. One such writer is Annie F. Downs. I pay …
- Day 16 of 26 – In the In-Between
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Luke 1:1-22; 62-80 As I was reading for today, the first image that popped into my head was from kindergarten. Hang with me here. At that age, one of the most coveted duties, at least as I recall, was line leader. The line …
- Day 15 of 26 – Make Space for the And
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Psalm 13 Throughout this season, many of us focus on joy. Christmas’s excitement and expectation cause our hearts to beat faster, and the anticipation starts our adrenaline pumping. But I know Christmas time isn’t that way for everyone. For many, this season is …
- Day 14 of 26 – Waiting to Belong
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Matthew 1:1-17 + Luke 3:21-38 + Galatians 4:1-7 It’s the spring of 2015. My not-yet-husband and I have met for our second date, choosing a city halfway between the two of us. As we’re driving around an unfamiliar city, we explore a subdivision …
- Day 13 of 26 – Waiting with Expectation
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: 1 Samuel 16 + Psalm 142 We all go through periods of waiting. It’s inevitable. But how we wait can make a big difference. Often, I think of periods of waiting in my life like a doctor’s office waiting room. I sign in, pick up a …
- Day 12 of 26 – Waiting with a Vision
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Isaiah 9:1-7 + Isaiah 11:1-9 Has God ever given you a vision for your future? Husband was in the military before we met. When we were dating, we discussed what a life together might look like. We knew marriage would mean a shift for me, turning …
- Day 11 of 26 – Provision in the Waiting
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Exodus 16 + Deuteronomy 8:10-18 + John 6:25-51 Likely, many of you have heard the story of God providing the Israelites with manna in the desert. The Israelites hadn’t been out of Egypt very long; only a month had passed since their departure (Ex 12:18, 16:1). The people, watching …
- Day 10 of 26 – Waiting with Purpose
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Exodus 3:1-17 + Exodus 4:1-17 Sometimes, you sit down to write something for someone else, and you end up speaking to yourself. Today’s story is that for me. Maybe you need to hear this too. Last week, Husband and I were troubleshooting our move, scheduled for …
- Day 9 of 26 – Abraham + Waiting Well
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Genesis 12:1-9 + Genesis 15 + Genesis 18:1-15 + Genesis 21:1-7 With much of his story recorded in the book of Genesis, we get a front-row seat to Abraham’s life. Abraham’s story is rich in lessons on faith and obedience. But after waiting twenty-five years for the birth of Isaac, …
- Day 8 of 26 – A Season of Waiting
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Psalm 34 Advent is a season of waiting. It’s a time to anticipate the physical coming of Christ into the world. Just as we decorate our house for Christmas, Advent gets our hearts ready for Jesus. But that doesn’t mean the waiting is easy. …
- Day 7 of 26 – God is our Salvation
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Micah 5:1-5a + Matthew 2:1-6 + Colossians 1:15-17 When I think of being saved or rescued, what comes to mind is heroes in capes. Our culture loves the imagery of a good guy fighting the bad guy. Millions of dollars have been spent and made on these images. …
- Day 6 of 26 – God is Faithful
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Genesis 17:3-8 + Exodus 13:17-22 + 2 Peter 3:8-9 In my working life, I’ve had a lot of jobs. I worked retail and restaurant, dance teacher and after school counselor, phone banker and Montessori teaching assistant. I’ve hustled my way through multiple nonprofits, including affordable housing and education. …
- Day 5 of 26 – God of Hope
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Jeremiah 32:36-41 + Romans 8:18-25 Have you ever decided something that, at the moment, seemed terrible but with time, ultimately worked out for good? Jeremiah 32 opens with Jeremiah in prison, confined within the walls of king Zedekiah’s house. As a prophet, Jeremiah had received a …
- Day 4 of 26 – God is Trustworthy
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Genesis 8:13 – 9:17 + Revelation 22:1-6 As a kid, I know I made promises I couldn’t keep. “We’ll be best friends forever.” “I’ll sit with you at lunch every day.” “I promise to let you borrow that book tomorrow.” Even last month, I found myself …
- Day 3 of 26 – God is Just
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Genesis 2:15-17 + Genesis 3:1-8 + Hebrews 12:7-11 Ten years ago, I was barely a year out of college. Living at home and working a retail job, I was still finding my place in the world. I had my friends and regular routines, including a practice of attending …
- Day 2 of 26 – God is Eternal
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Genesis 1:1-5; John 1:1-5 My memory isn’t great. I’ve forgotten many things, and often I rely on a combination of journaling, photographs, and someone else’s retelling to remind me of past events. Even though I don’t remember specifics, I know there was a time I …
- Advent 2020 Day 1 of 26 – Who is God
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Reading: Psalm 145 As a child, my family didn’t celebrate Advent. There was no candled wreath, no calendars, no nightly traditions. But, in our own way, we still created space. We put together our ancient artificial tree, sprinkled fake “snow” over the tops of bookcases, …
- Don’t Miss the Journey
All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware – Martin Buber It’s 2009 and I’m a junior in college. In my dorm room, the chill of winter slowly melting into spring, I’m packing a bag. I hold up different items, weighing their effectiveness in keeping me cool. I’m traveling south, spending spring …
- Grief is like Moving Furniture
Grief is the price we pay for love – Queen Elizabeth II Warning: This post deals with the sensitive content of miscarriage and grief. Please protect your heart, friends. A year ago, we were expecting a baby. It was a surprise, and while we had discussed “trying to start trying,” it was still a few …
- Inviting Fear into the Passenger Seat
Fear is static that prevents me from hearing myself – Samuel Butler Friends, in the spirit of honesty, I have a confession to make. Writing is hard for me. Ok – so writing is hard for a lot of people. But as someone who feels a tug on her heart to share via the written …
- Blessed Ordinary: A Life of Small Moments
Most humans are never fully present in the now, because unconsciously they believe that the next moment must be more important than this one. But then you miss your whole life, which is never not now – Eckhart Tolle Like many of you, my current pace of life has forced me to slow down. Although …
- Grace + Grit: The Joy + Challenge of Leaving My Comfort Zone
As you move outside of your comfort zone, what was once the unknown and frightening becomes your new normal – Robin Sharma It’s 2007, and I’m 20 years old. I’m riding a charter bus with thirty of my not-yet-closest friends, heading south. Today, I’m on my way to Ireland, embarking on my first international adventure.
- Motherhood + Miscarriage: Finding My Place at the Table
All my longings lie open before you, O Lord; my sighing is not hidden from you. – Psalm 38:9 This year has been an entirely different experience than all the years that came before. With the current state of the world, that seems like an understatement. Daily life is uncertain and unstable for many of …
- Learning to Dance in the Rain
Into each life, some rain must fall – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow When it rains, it pours. But I’m learning rainy days are good too, even if they don’t always feel like it.
If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always be where you’ve always been. – T.D. Jakes If you’ve been around this space for a while, you probably know I practice a quarterly habit of sharing some self-reflections and things I’m learning. Self-reflection allows me the opportunity to put words to experiences after they’ve …
Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings. – William Arthur Ward This past week, Christians around the world celebrated Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday is a quiet, solemn occasion. This observance is one of my favorites, although I didn’t go to my first Ash Wednesday …
Readings: Luke 2:6-20 Today is the day. Today is the day the Messiah entered the world as a humble babe. God chose the most human way to come into the world. And the first people called to come and see the newly born Jesus was a group of humble shepherds. God comes first to the …
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Luke 2:6-7 This year has been a weird mix of noise and quiet. The world has been noisy, full of speculation and fear and everchanging information. But our small world, the world inside our house, has been relatively quiet. We’ve spent lots of …
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Matthew 11:1-19 + Luke 3:18-20 There’s a lot about this year that didn’t go as planned. Trips and vacations called off. Family gatherings postponed. Many families have felt an uncomfortable tightening of household finances. Others have said unexpected goodbyes. We all have mourned and …
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Exodus 12:1-12 + Luke 2:1-5 + Matthew 2:1-2 If I step back and look at any given day, most of the goings-on feel ordinary. Of course, random and unexpected things pop up. We make decisions and deal with things that come up. …
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Isaiah 9:2; 6-7 + Matthew 2:1-12 If you’ve been watching or reading the news, I’m sure you’ve heard about the upcoming ‘Christmas Star.’ This evening, Jupiter and Saturn are coming together in what scientists call a “great conjunction.” From Earth, the two …
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Psalm 8 This week’s Psalm has some powerful imagery in it. As he writes, David praises God for his majesty, glory, and strength. Our God is a big God. He made the universe, setting the moon and stars in their places (v. …
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Luke 1:13-17 + Luke 1:67-80 + Mark 1:1-8 John the Baptist is a fascinating person. He’s known as a wild man, living in the wilderness and subsisting on honey. But John also has a unique origin story, which undoubtedly drew attention to his …
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Luke 1:39-56 When I married my husband, I knew I would have to move. He was living and working south of my hometown. For the first time, I would be uprooting. I lived in my hometown for nearly 30 years before I was …
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Luke 1:26-38 I am not a particularly good decision-maker. I can decide, but I don’t like when things need an answer time-yesterday-hurry-up-already. To feel confident about a decision, I usually need lists, research, some what-if wonderings, a few sleepless nights, and a partridge …
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Matthew 1:18-25 + Matthew 2:13-23 Growing up, my family didn’t regularly attend church. As I made my way through college, I started attending services. I especially love services for holy days – Ash Wednesday, Christmas Eve, Maundy Thursday, and Easter. As major …
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Luke 1:5-7; 23-25; 57-66 I have several secret writing mentors. Although we don’t know each other personally, these are people that I watch and follow. I want to know how they do things. One such writer is Annie F. Downs. I pay …
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Luke 1:1-22; 62-80 As I was reading for today, the first image that popped into my head was from kindergarten. Hang with me here. At that age, one of the most coveted duties, at least as I recall, was line leader. The line …
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Psalm 13 Throughout this season, many of us focus on joy. Christmas’s excitement and expectation cause our hearts to beat faster, and the anticipation starts our adrenaline pumping. But I know Christmas time isn’t that way for everyone. For many, this season is …
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Matthew 1:1-17 + Luke 3:21-38 + Galatians 4:1-7 It’s the spring of 2015. My not-yet-husband and I have met for our second date, choosing a city halfway between the two of us. As we’re driving around an unfamiliar city, we explore a subdivision …
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: 1 Samuel 16 + Psalm 142 We all go through periods of waiting. It’s inevitable. But how we wait can make a big difference. Often, I think of periods of waiting in my life like a doctor’s office waiting room. I sign in, pick up a …
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Isaiah 9:1-7 + Isaiah 11:1-9 Has God ever given you a vision for your future? Husband was in the military before we met. When we were dating, we discussed what a life together might look like. We knew marriage would mean a shift for me, turning …
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Exodus 16 + Deuteronomy 8:10-18 + John 6:25-51 Likely, many of you have heard the story of God providing the Israelites with manna in the desert. The Israelites hadn’t been out of Egypt very long; only a month had passed since their departure (Ex 12:18, 16:1). The people, watching …
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Exodus 3:1-17 + Exodus 4:1-17 Sometimes, you sit down to write something for someone else, and you end up speaking to yourself. Today’s story is that for me. Maybe you need to hear this too. Last week, Husband and I were troubleshooting our move, scheduled for …
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Genesis 12:1-9 + Genesis 15 + Genesis 18:1-15 + Genesis 21:1-7 With much of his story recorded in the book of Genesis, we get a front-row seat to Abraham’s life. Abraham’s story is rich in lessons on faith and obedience. But after waiting twenty-five years for the birth of Isaac, …
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Psalm 34 Advent is a season of waiting. It’s a time to anticipate the physical coming of Christ into the world. Just as we decorate our house for Christmas, Advent gets our hearts ready for Jesus. But that doesn’t mean the waiting is easy. …
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Micah 5:1-5a + Matthew 2:1-6 + Colossians 1:15-17 When I think of being saved or rescued, what comes to mind is heroes in capes. Our culture loves the imagery of a good guy fighting the bad guy. Millions of dollars have been spent and made on these images. …
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Genesis 17:3-8 + Exodus 13:17-22 + 2 Peter 3:8-9 In my working life, I’ve had a lot of jobs. I worked retail and restaurant, dance teacher and after school counselor, phone banker and Montessori teaching assistant. I’ve hustled my way through multiple nonprofits, including affordable housing and education. …
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Jeremiah 32:36-41 + Romans 8:18-25 Have you ever decided something that, at the moment, seemed terrible but with time, ultimately worked out for good? Jeremiah 32 opens with Jeremiah in prison, confined within the walls of king Zedekiah’s house. As a prophet, Jeremiah had received a …
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Genesis 8:13 – 9:17 + Revelation 22:1-6 As a kid, I know I made promises I couldn’t keep. “We’ll be best friends forever.” “I’ll sit with you at lunch every day.” “I promise to let you borrow that book tomorrow.” Even last month, I found myself …
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Genesis 2:15-17 + Genesis 3:1-8 + Hebrews 12:7-11 Ten years ago, I was barely a year out of college. Living at home and working a retail job, I was still finding my place in the world. I had my friends and regular routines, including a practice of attending …
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Genesis 1:1-5; John 1:1-5 My memory isn’t great. I’ve forgotten many things, and often I rely on a combination of journaling, photographs, and someone else’s retelling to remind me of past events. Even though I don’t remember specifics, I know there was a time I …
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Reading: Psalm 145 As a child, my family didn’t celebrate Advent. There was no candled wreath, no calendars, no nightly traditions. But, in our own way, we still created space. We put together our ancient artificial tree, sprinkled fake “snow” over the tops of bookcases, …
All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware – Martin Buber It’s 2009 and I’m a junior in college. In my dorm room, the chill of winter slowly melting into spring, I’m packing a bag. I hold up different items, weighing their effectiveness in keeping me cool. I’m traveling south, spending spring …
Grief is the price we pay for love – Queen Elizabeth II Warning: This post deals with the sensitive content of miscarriage and grief. Please protect your heart, friends. A year ago, we were expecting a baby. It was a surprise, and while we had discussed “trying to start trying,” it was still a few …
Fear is static that prevents me from hearing myself – Samuel Butler Friends, in the spirit of honesty, I have a confession to make. Writing is hard for me. Ok – so writing is hard for a lot of people. But as someone who feels a tug on her heart to share via the written …
Most humans are never fully present in the now, because unconsciously they believe that the next moment must be more important than this one. But then you miss your whole life, which is never not now – Eckhart Tolle Like many of you, my current pace of life has forced me to slow down. Although …
As you move outside of your comfort zone, what was once the unknown and frightening becomes your new normal – Robin Sharma It’s 2007, and I’m 20 years old. I’m riding a charter bus with thirty of my not-yet-closest friends, heading south. Today, I’m on my way to Ireland, embarking on my first international adventure.
All my longings lie open before you, O Lord; my sighing is not hidden from you. – Psalm 38:9 This year has been an entirely different experience than all the years that came before. With the current state of the world, that seems like an understatement. Daily life is uncertain and unstable for many of …
Into each life, some rain must fall – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow When it rains, it pours. But I’m learning rainy days are good too, even if they don’t always feel like it.