I love when seasons officially change. I was just thinking the other day how glad I am that months end, weeks end, and days end. I think the Lord, in His wisdom, knew we needed new starts. No matter how dark a period is, it is only a period in our lives. For me, I am always so proud of myself for having made it through the cold seasons. Not as if there were any alternative but to make it through, but I somehow feel like if I can maintain health in my heart when the sky stretches gray for weeks on end, then I am in a good place. Part of what sustains me, and my friends, during winter, is the dreaming of what we'll do when its warm again. Take bike rides, go one the lake, hike, eat ice cream outdoors without shivering. Most of my winter dreaming, however, hardly stays with me in the summer. I fail to live out what I've dreamed, either because I forget or because I get too busy to consider what I wanted when it was cold. I guess that's a tribute to humanity in general, we forget our … [Read more...]

Whenever there is a testimony time at church I think to myself beforehand, “I don’t need to share, I don’t need to share…” You see, I know if I share, I’m going to cry. And really, who likes to cry in front of a room full of people? My throat closes up, my nose drips and I stand there awkwardly in silence while everyone is turned in their seats looking at me. I don’t love this. I do, however, love my Lord. When I find myself in a situation where I have the opportunity to share what God has done for me, I cannot keep my mouth shut. Praise God. “I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations.” Psalm 57:9 ESV What God Has Done: Let Your Story Inspire I cannot keep quiet about what God has done for me. I do not want to be ashamed of my story. I don’t want to allow my shame at my tears and evident emotion hold me back either. For some reason, sharing the story of what God has done for us with others can be intimidating. It doesn't … [Read more...]