I’m working on a puzzle that I received as a Christmas gift from my sister. It’s a great diversion from binge watching shows on Hulu, which I have tendency of doing during these long winter evenings.   For me, it’s the thrill of the hunt when working a puzzle. I will pick up a piece and hold it in my hand as I scan the table looking for a likely spot where it will fit. I may have several failed attempts until “Eureka,” and a rush of pleasure washes over me as the piece locks

I was talking to a friend recently and she made one of the most profound statements that I have heard in quite some time. She said that God is not afraid of chaos, and I said “What?” You see, I am a creature of habit. I like order and predictably, and you can rightly assume then that I am not a fan of chaos. I don’t like confusion or unpredictably. It makes me uneasy and tense, and since I am afraid of chaos, I had unknowingly projected those feelings on to God. Now I’m not s

Have you ever wondered what God thinks when he looks at you? I’m looking out the window at our neighbor’s tree that has split in its trunk. It looks like a good gust of wind could take down half the tree, and I wonder if somedays that is what I look like to God? Especially those days when my tongue has wreaked havoc on those around me. I wonder how I can be saved and yet so broken all at the same time? I wonder how God puts up with me. Ugly stuff, right? But it’s the stuff th

Oh, how the mighty do fall. Last week I had my arms raised in victory as I shouted for all to hear that God’s word will never fail. He spoke and it shall be! I was ready to take on the world, and then Monday came. Monday, the day we buried my friend and as I threw rose petals on her coffin, I couldn’t help but be a little jealous because her race was done. Never again will my sweet friend have to face “death, or mourning or crying or pain.” (Revelation 21:4) I have to admit t

I know that Christmas is already becoming a distant memory as we forge ahead into the new year, but please indulge me as I look back one last time. You see, in the weeks leading up to Christmas, I always enjoy reading the account of Jesus’ birth. Every year I seem to focus on a different aspect of the story, and this year was no exception. As I was reading again the familiar verses, Luke 1:37 seemed to leap off the page: “For nothing will be impossible with God.” To give you

While I would never claim to have a good memory, I have this uncanny ability to remember useless trivia. Yes, for some reason, I can remember really random things about books, movies, and music. Let me just say that I kill at Trivial Pursuit . In addition to useless trivia, I also remember odd scraps of conversations. For example, while I was in college, I was home for some holiday and I met up with a friend of mine to go shopping. She was on the hunt for a bathing suit and m

A new year. A new beginning. A blank page on which God will continue to write his story. Yet, truth be told, don’t we all long for that crystal ball so that we can know for certain what this year holds. The adventures, the heartaches, the challenges, but then I smile because I know that we don’t need a crystal ball. No, we don’t need to know the future because we know the One who does. Our omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent God, and he alone is in control: “I am the Lord

One of my favorite things about the holidays is the music. I can’t help but sing along every time I hear White Christmas  playing, and Christmas carols at church are the best. Tears sting my eyes every Christmas Eve as we stand and sing Joy to the World  while holding our candles high to celebrate the birth of our Savior. Yes, music is woven into the fabric of Christmas, and I think there is theological basis for this too. Now, you know I’m no theologian, but when I look at L

A number of years ago my church began showing a short interview with each person being baptized. They are asked to share how they came to Christ and how it has transformed their life. Each testimony is powerful, but the kids are always the best. Their enthusiasm is contagious and you can’t help but smile to hear them explain why they love Jesus. I find that they seem to have a firmer grasp of their faith than many adults that I know, and a young girl, who was recently baptize

Kenny and I will soon be celebrating our thirty-ninth wedding anniversary, which means my sweet son is turning thirty. This brings to mind a funny story about Colin. When he was in second grade, on the drive home from school one day the topic of conversation was our upcoming anniversary and his birthday. After some careful consideration on his part, he announced from the backseat, “Mommy, you and Daddy were married on the twentieth of December, and I was born nine days later

Some days are just harder than others. For example, we recently had a big thunderstorm hit right as I was leaving work. I managed to get to my car without getting too wet, but I wasn’t going straight home that day. I was picking up a meal to take to a friend, which I was able to deliver despite the weather. However, the rain was coming down in sheets by the time I left her house, and to make matters worse, I was in Hewitt at a quarter til five. All I can say, is bless everyon

From the great theologian, Charlie Brown, “We have another holiday to worry about.” Yes, Thanksgiving Day is upon us and with it comes the official kick off of the holiday season. Every year, I make a solemn promise to myself that this year I am going to do things differently. This will be the year that I simplify things, but already my calendar is quickly filling up despite my best efforts to say no. Let’s face it, the holidays can be overwhelming and it’s easy to get lost i

A number of years ago, my dad painted a picture of men working in a vineyard. He told me that his inspiration had been Jesus’ parable of the vineyard workers. My parents currently have the painting sitting on their hearth, and during my recent visit with them, I found myself thinking again of the parable. Jesus wanted his disciples to see the difference between this world and the kingdom of heaven, and the illustration that he used was a vineyard. He said that the owner of a

Do you ever wonder about the Holy Spirit? I feel that he is so often overlooked because we don’t quite understand him, and calling him the Holy Ghost further complicates our confusion. It makes you think you are being haunted, which couldn’t be further from the truth. The Holy Spirit is very real, but he is not a specter. He is a person, and he is God. Let the truth of that statement wash over you. The moment we accepted Christ as our Savior the Holy Spirit came to dwell in u

As I said last week, I am nerd when it comes to C.S. Lewis, and before I put The Voyage of the Dawn Treader  back on the shelf, there is one last story I want to share with you. After Eustace became a boy again (remember that he had been a dragon), they continued on their journey and soon came across a vast darkness which enveloped the sea, “utter blackness as if they had come to the edge of a moonless and starless night.” What lay in darkness was anyone’s guess, so as any go

There is a reason why C.S. Lewis is one of my favorite writers…. The man knew how to write! Whether it was one of his deep theological classics, such as Mere Christianity , or a rollicking adventure in Narnia, it’s hard to put down one of his books. I just finished reading The Voyage of the Dawn Treader , which is the third book in the Chronicles of Narnia  series. In this story, Edmund, Lucy, and their cousin Eustace are on a quest to help King Caspian find the seven friends

It’s hard for me to believe that I’m in my third decade at my job, and that I’m now one of oldest members of the department. I remember in my early days ribbing people that I wasn’t even in school when they first started at the company, but I don’t find those jokes quite so funny anymore. However, I have discovered a few perks to being the “old lady” of the department, namely, I was around when things were created. I know the ends and outs, as well as the how’s and why’s behi

If Jesus were to come back today, what would he find you doing? Or, better yet, what would you not  want Jesus to find you doing? That...

I am on another road trip this week; however, this trip is for work and not for pleasure. I am headed to a meeting that could go one of...

I’m back from vacation, which means that I’m back to reality. When you are on a trip, it’s easy to push all of life’s demands to the back...