Walking the path outside back door through newly sprouting fields, I came upon a fallen bird lying on a patch of gravelly ground. It’s featherless form barely survived more than a couple hours. Looking to bury it, I hadn’t any tool for digging, and the soil stiff as cement. I stood there, feeling helpless, knowing…
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THE BODY OF CHRIST & HOW WE BECOME A SAFE PLACE TO LAND
“Because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it be given.” Matthew 14:9 King Herod made a fools move—trading anything within his power for one dance from the queen’s daughter. I always thought this story a good lesson in taking extreme caution when making promises. With that said—I also believe there’s much more to…
“For this people’s heart has grown dull.”
Matthew 13:15 While reading Matthew today… this struck me: Jesus quoted Isaiah to His disciples—because what was true about people’s hearts growing dull a thousand years prior, was still true in His day—and hearts will continue growing bored with the Lord until the earth passes away. There are many attending Sunday service who talk like…
FIGHT YOUR FEARS IN PRAYER
When anxiety creeps in unexpectedly, it can feel like we’ll never get control of it. I do all the things: antidepressants, abdominal breathing, I stay away from caffeine, eat right, walk every day, I’ve spent enough hours in counseling, and it’s all helping—but let’s be realistic—nothing & no one has what it takes to silence…
Taste & See What You’re Missing
My sweet, precious grandkids are at an age when familiarity is the only thing that tastes good. Anyone who has ever shared a meal with a three to five-year-old knows exactly what I’m talking about. An unknown texture, a funky color, an unusual scent is all it takes to push back out what barely touched…
Fear & How It’s Meant To Heal Not Hurt
What do you fear? Cancer, bankruptcy, public humiliation? The true God who pulled us from the dirt of nothingness says, in Isaiah 10:24-25, “Be not afraid of the Assyrians when they strike with the rod and lift up their staff against you as the Egyptians did. For in a very little while my fury will…
“Woe is me!” Isaiah 6:5
We musn’t mistake God for some overextended father figure. One busy with putting bread on the table. One who tires, errors, requires food for strength, rest from toil, shelter from the storm. Do not assume His patience for passiveness, His tolerance for acceptance, His timing for limitedness. Conceit can make us think prosperity a thumbs…
“You are beautiful!” Song of Solomon 4:1
The magnolia is blooming. When it buds I scramble outside to photograph its beauty. Taking fragile stems in hand, I kiss tips of white to my nose. Twenty-four hours later, petals unfold like soft silk fingers, cupping pink fruit like precious jewels. It’s easy to see God’s glory in nature—it’s strenuous to find beauty in…
What’s So Good About Good Friday?
I asked the Lord this morning, “Why would we call this day of remembrance, good? Wasn’t this the worst day of all—Your public, gruesome execution?” Of all the titles we could come up with: Broken Friday, Awful Friday, Crying Friday—anything feels truer than, Good Friday. My love makes it good, whispered the One who said,…
“Draw near to listen.” Ecclesiastes 5:1
Do not imagine God has nothing to say. We have 66 books, some 1,550 pages, roughly 785,000 words to the contrary. God has wisdom to spare. There be no shortage of knowledge and insight, no question about it—understanding abounding. Surely reading what God has breathed through the lifeless pen of sinful men be as coming to…
JO ANN ALO 