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…
Shells of Wonder
Last month my family embarked on a 5-week, 8,000-mile road trip around the United States. Through flaming deserts, sticky swamplands, verdant valleys and hills, and endless miles of corn (so much corn) we drove. A newfound sense of awe and wonder for the beauty, diversity, and vastness of our country was sparked. However, no sight…
Creation’s Legacy
Few of us, including me, ever step back and contemplate the wonder of God’s creation as we experience it moment by moment. On rare occasions, I’ve been struck by a particularly spectacular sunset or a glowing rainbow, but I generally don’t think of creation as part of my everyday life. It’s an event that happened…
Braving Summer’s Heat
Summer is waning, but the sun is still beckoning us out into the great outdoors while concurrently threatening to burn and blister the skin. Thunderstorms periodically shake the skies reminding that tension forms when opposites collide. Warm nights and long days usher in a sense of restlessness and the temptation to throw off responsibility. When…
Stand in Awe
Let the whole world fear the Lord, and let everyone stand in awe of him. Psalm 33:8 NLT All my glory is built with strawHe is a fortress great and strongSo let the whole world stand in awe As we transgress His perfect lawWithout love just a clanging gongAll our glory is built of straw Never…
Wandering Through an Unknown Tomorrow
I love to learn. The process of asking questions and finding answers exhilarates me. However, the speculation surrounding the pandemic paired with constant outrage from every side has been the catalyst for overwhelming societal confusion. Personally, one lesson has been louder than all the others—get comfortable with mystery. Make conclusions, and walk in wisdom, but…
Anchored Voices 