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  Going for a "walk!" is one of this little guy's favorite things to do these days. Picking "flow-ders," watching "cars!" go "bvroommmm" past us while we pause on the sidewalk to watch each one, unable to successfully differentiate between cars and trucks, and yet always asking where the "digger" is. A tractor drives by and a big toothy grin looks up at me as he says, "WOWW!!" And we keep walking. He's not a big fan of holding my hand while we're just walking, but when we get to a bump in the road (or in the yard), and usually at each transition between the two, he reaches up his hand towards me. He doesn't look up. He blindly extends his arm upward; he stays focused on the bump or grassy knoll ahead, but holds his hand open, knowing and trusting that I'll grab ahold and help him over the more challenging terrain. Every time. __ "for we walk by faith, not by sight." ~2 Corinthians 5:7 __ I snapped...

"and though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him — a threefold cord is not  quickly broken." ~Ecclesiastes 4:12 This verse can be so easily taken out of context, and has long been food for debate as to what it's really saying. Is it talking about the Trinity? Marriage? Gatherings of believers that grow quickly from two to three to more? Is it referring predominantly to unity or to strength? To friendships or intimate relationships?  Whatever the case, most would agree that in its simplest form, it's reminding us that people were meant to do life together . In community (not alone).  It quickly jumps from two to three, almost assuming the "third" person is just *there* all along - and that's why a lot of people jump to the conclusion it's talking about God simply being there.  "Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two o...

John Ortberg writes in his book The Me I Want to Be: Becoming God's Best Version of You about how the invitation to "taste" is an invitation from a CONFIDENT chef. "Taste what I've made! It's good!!" He or she might say to you, offering a delicious sample of the greater cuisine they've masterfully created. And it's delicious. A chef who is not confident in their cooking would be unlikely to say "taste and see that it is GOOD!"  In Psalm 34:8 we see an invitation from our Creator, the most magnificent chef there ever was: ___ "oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!" ___ As we read his word, we get a taste of his goodness. As we experience his goodness in creation we learn more of his faithfulness. As we see his day to day faithfulness we remember that he's a covenant-keeping, consistent King, who cares for us, communicates with us, and considers our deepest needs and desires. Every taste of him is good.  May this serve ...

I cracked an egg, watching its yolk emerge and plop slipperily into my mixing bowl. And in such a simple task as mixing together the ingredients for banana bread, God nudged my heart with a reminder of what it means to be a member of the church.  "For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ."  ~ 1 Corinthians 12:12 The reminder? That being part of the church is like being an ingredient in a loaf of banana bread (respectfully). While being part of the church WAY better than banana bread, for the sake of the example, stick with me. :)  Christians are part of the universal church - and together, we make up Christ's bride. God created us for community, and he didn't intend for us to walk alone in our faith. That's why we have brothers and sisters with different abilities than we do; because the variety of skills and gifts we have create a beautiful result.  "For the body does ...

Honored to write for Gospel Centered Discipleship this summer! Check out this article  here !

The Bible is laden with birth stories. Eve's. Sarah's. Rebecca's. Rachel's. Elizabeth's. Hannah's. Mary's. And so many others. But laden throughout all scripture is the undercurrent of a greater birth story in the lives of you and me: the story of us being born into the family of God.  We hear of increased pain in childbearing (Eve). Giving birth as an elderly woman (Elizabeth, giving birth to John the Baptist). Barrenness (Rebecca, for 20 years!), twin birth (also Rebecca, giving birth to Jacob and Esau), post-menopausal birth (Sarah), dying in childbirth (Rachel, when she had Benjamin), and even giving birth as a virgin (Mary, giving birth to Jesus). It is no wonder we hear about birth so much in the Scripture; it is is a significant event. It's incredibly hard, but it's also something we can be proud of, because the end result is, or is supposed to be, beautiful new life. But unfortunately, birth is broken. It doesn't always end in new life, a...