I was in my late teens, working at a summer camp. Enjoying a rare and brief moment away from the kids at the end of a long day. Walking through the trees with another counselor, one of the few fellow Christians at the camp. I don’t remember exactly what led up to it, but after…
Imagined by God, Created with Joy, Gifted with Value
“Worthy are you, our LORD and God to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they exist and were created.” Revelations 4:11 ESV “Mom!” My oldest child appeared in the room. “You’re gonna be mad.” I had an idea of what I was about to encounter. I…
The Light of the World
The world feels dark right now. I don’t know if it’s darker than it “used” to be—I don’t know how you would even measure that. Man has always been sinful and has relentlessly propagated evil on earth. But currently, the darkness in the world feels especially palpable. I think this is partly because basic, foundational…
My Favorite Name
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14 (NIV) Immanuel is Your holy name.I marvel at the way You came.God with us in helpless infant form,Only a mother’s love to keep You warm. Expectations of Your coming were high:A King to conquer,…
Knit Together: A Story of Adoption
Days ago my eyes rested on my 8 and 11-year-old sons wedged into a chair built for one, a book in each set of hands, and a fleece blanket over their collective lap. I smiled and thought to myself, “I cannot imagine those two without each other.” They share a room, are best friends, and…
Daughter
God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. Ephesians 1:5 NLT I am a sister of King Jesus,Daughter of our great loving God.I wasn’t born into this perfect family.In fact, I…
Taboo Truth
One day Dinah, the daughter of Jacob and Leah, went to visit some of the young women who lived in the area. But when the local prince, Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, saw Dinah, he seized her and raped her. Genesis 34:1-2 NLT. She said I couldn’t write about the trauma I went throughIn the…
God of the Deep
In the first year of my firstborn’s life, I remember sitting in the rocking chair late at night, scrolling my phone while I fed him. I remember headlines of awful happenings in the Middle East. I specifically remember reading a post about ISIS beheading Christians who would not renounce Christ. I can still see that…
2020’s Wisest Choice
2020 changed me. Most of us can say the same. Our world became an unfamiliar place that few imaginations could have even conjured. But a decision I made on January 1st, 2020, before any of these unprecedented events were a reality, changed me the most. That New Year’s Day I read Genesis 1:1, “In the…
Choosing Forgiveness
But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too. Mark 11:25 NLT Hard and fast I held a grudgeBuried long and deep Other’s actions I would judgeAll my rights to keep Each wrong plainly recordedBuilt a mighty wall Behind…
Anchored Voices 