Life in Words

"Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened  with death?" (Romans 8:35) I have read Romans 8:35 several times but today the way the NLT version worded the question after the first statement caught my attention. "Does it mean he no longer loves us if..." I can fill those dots after the "if" with a myriad of different scenarios. In the end, I feel like it boils down to that frustrating question--why do bad things happen? Can I go a little deeper? Why do bad things happen when you're doing your best to follow God? Have I lost His love? There's multiple scenarios, explanations, possibilities given when pastors are asked this question. There's God's sovereignty, His ultimate will, human consequences and free will to factor in the answer. The answer is never an easy or simple one. Sometimes the answ

 "'You have made my life  no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath.' We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it. And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you." Psalm 39:5-7 I dare say that one of the biggest lessons of 2020 is how very quickly life can change. Sure, that's a fact that is in the back of most people's minds, but this year it was highlighted in a whole new way. Meditating on that for a while can become depressing rather quickly, which is why I love the bluntness of David in this Psalm... God, everything could change in an instant. So where do I safely place my heart? What do I hope in? How do I navigate the anxiety producing reality that I can not control this life? You... only You . You are the answer to the panic that swells inside me. You are the answer to the doom that tries

 Merriam-Webster defines "empowerment" as 1) "the act or action of empowering someone or something: the granting of the power, right, or authority to perform various acts or duties." 2) "the state of being empowered to do something: the power, right, or authority to do something." Empowerment. I feel like I've heard that word often when correlated to the female gender. For years, we girls have sought the right to be treated equally as human beings. (Rightly so) There is no reason that a woman should be thought of as less important, intelligent, capable or valued. As human beings, male and female hold the same value. As human beings, we all have our own unique, God given talents and abilities.  Sadly, I fear that along the path to gaining rights for the next female generation, a deceptive "new beginning" was passed on that has ended up wounding and enslaving millions.  What empowerment comes from sensually promoting female minors? What benefit

My nephew loves to roll around the house in his walker. His little legs move him as fast as those wheels will go until he hits an obstacle. Once his walker is wedged up against that obstacle, no matter how hard he tries to move his legs, his little walker is stuck. My sister is an extremely patient mom who will lovingly readjust him so that he can continue moving forward toward his goal every time he gets stuck. He knows to look for her as he frustratingly grunts or starts to whimper. Getting stuck even as an adult is not any fun. I see my goal. I know how to get there; but for whatever reason, I'm stuck.  There's something known or unknown in my way and no matter how hard I try to move forward, I can't. Even worse is when the goal has been on your heart for YEARS and you still can't seem to ever make it all the way there. Oh there are forward progressions, but just ever so slight ones before feeling stuck again. That frustration can almost cause a complete stop or givi

I have a friend whose name is Charles. He is married and has a daughter. He and his wife are college graduates with well respected careers. While attending a private Christian university Charles was elected class body president his senior year. He has met many important government officials and even ran for a public office. If you had to guess which box he would check on the census for his race, would you guess correctly? I have a husband whose name most people can not pronounce. His parents picked the name because they thought it would be an easy, two syllable name for native English speakers. When people meet him for the first time, he often has to repeat his name slowly multiple times. He's been asked if he could go by a different name so that it would be easier for those around him to say his name.  Would you prefer someone change his name so it is easier for you to pronounce? I have two friends whose husbands put on a uniform, carry a weapon and have promised to uphold the law

“You must burn their idols in fire, and you must not covet the silver or gold that covers them. You must not take it or it will become a trap to you, for it is detestable to the Lord your God. 26 Do not bring any detestable objects into your home, for then you will be destroyed, just like them. You must utterly detest such things, for they are set apart for destruction." (Deuteronomy 7:25-26) I find it interesting that God is letting His people know that not only is the actual idol repulsive but the pieces of gold and silver attached to it are too. So not only were they supposed to destroy the actual idol but the gold and silver too. ... I don't know about you, but if I found a statue with real gold or silver attached to it, I would not want to destroy that gold and silver. I could very easily reason with myself that the gold and silver are not the idol itself and could be put to much better use in my hands. Yet, God is saying that any part of that idol is marked fo

Keep your eyes on me. It was a very clear command I heard Him give me. Matthew 14:22-31 tells the story of how an ordinary fisherman walked on water. Jesus had sent the disciples ahead of Him—telling them to travel by boat. During the night, the winds picked up and the water was not acting favorably toward the boat and its occupants. At some point during the evening, Jesus decided to catch up to His disciples by walking across the water toward them. Not knowing if they were seeing a ghost, the disciples start shouting at this supernatural figure approaching them. In only the way Jesus could, He reassures them that it’s Him walking toward them.  Peter, in all his boldness, asks Jesus to call him to Him. So Jesus does and Peter walks on water. Then... he takes his eyes off Jesus. The wind is howling. The water is lurching. The tension from the others left in the boat must have been palpable. Confidence gone, he begins to fall through this previously invisible solid and yells ou