Trust
Small boat, big God: Weathering Life’s Storms
You’ve read the story before, I’m sure…
Jesus instructed His disciples to go to the other side of the lake.
As they traveled, a storm began to rage; waves breaking into the boat.
Jesus was sleeping through it all.
Until they woke Him, asking whether He even cared that they might drown.
His answer? “Why are you afraid?”
Reading this passage a few days ago, I nearly skimmed right over it. It’s familiar.
But I slowed because He nudged me.
What’s here for me, Lord? I know this story already.
Read MoreWhen “new” feels scary and uncertain
I know you’ve experienced them, too: transitions. Stepping into a new job and leaving the old one. Uprooting your household to relocate. Or just entering a new season in life (anyone else watching their nest emptying rapidly?).
All change brings some degree of ambiguity–even if it’s a change we desire. And frankly, uncertainty can be really hard to bear. Transitions are difficult for most everyone… including the people of the Bible. I think Jacob—a forefather of our faith—dealt with it often. His response in a particular instance is instructive for us.
Read MoreWhen things change…but maybe you don’t want them to
Change is hard.
Even when it’s good, it can be difficult to let go of what we’ve known and planned for.
But sometimes it’s necessary.
Sometimes we don’t even know why it’s necessary.
If we know (even through circumstances) that God has called us onward to a new thing, a new season, a new place, how do we cope with that change?
Read MoreHow Christians can respond to COVID-19
What guidance does the Bible have to offer us in the midst of a pandemic?
How should Christians respond to the challenges presented by COVID-19? When (and how) will this resolve? We’ve all got far more questions than answers. The novel coronavirus isn’t specifically addressed in Scripture. But the Bible does offer the timeless, applicable wisdom we need–even for the situation we face.
I’ve been reading (and writing!) my way through the book of Genesis this summer. Noah’s “quarantine” in the ark in chapter eight felt oddly relatable (though I am not drawing a comparison between the flood and the coronavirus). So, I determined to follow his lead and discovered some practical nuggets that will help us continue to weather our current circumstances.
Read MorePut your money (and sunscreen) where your mouth is
I’ve dug my heels in. But I may not be winning.
I make a conscious, daily effort to take a stand against the cultural norms of our day in the area of body image. Yep, that’s me: middle-aged, suburban rebel. Americans worship youth and beauty, thereby shackling women (in particular) with concern over their appearance. We pay thousands of dollars, and spend countless hours, “managing” our bodies as measured in pounds lost, grays dyed, wrinkles stretched/treated/injected, breasts implanted, cellulite extracted, teeth whitened, and the like.
I want something different for my daughters and the young gals for whom I lead Bible study.
Where else can I go?
Following God is anything but easy.
Every day seems to bring news of tragic events. In recent days, it’s struck closer to my circles in the forms of the kidnapping and murder of an elementary student, and the suicide of an eighth grader. I looked at my own eighth grader through tear-filled eyes, thankful for her every breath. I recalled the scare we had this time last year with my younger daughter and was moved again to gratitude. The happenings of the last week have touched me deeply because of their proximity, but injustices the world over paralyze me with their enormity and pervasiveness. Evil seems rampant and I’m tempted to question both the goodness and power of God. Read More
Unbiased Ears
“The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.”
— John 10:3b, 4 ESV
It’s right there in the text, as plain as day.
But it’s easy to miss.
This passage of scripture is subtitled “I am the Good Shepherd” in our Bibles (though subtitles aren’t in John’s manuscript). As westerners, the subtitle conjures an image of a man cresting a grassy, green hill with his staff in hand, prodding the sheep along from behind the flock. Perhaps dogs are chasing the wooly creatures to keep them from falling into harm’s way as well.
And yet, that’s not at all what the verse says. Read More
Forerunner
I received a comment on last week’s blog post Heaven’s Anchor via email that was too good to not share with you all – as a post all of it’s own. You’ll recall the verse:
We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
— Hebrews 6:19, 20 ESV
The commenter said: Read More
Heaven’s Anchor
Hope. There’s a word we throw around quite easily, whether it’s a casual ‘fingers crossed’ for a specific birthday gift, or the earnest belief of triumph despite tragedy. In my musing meanderings this week, I decided I needed to know what it really meant.
As I reflected on these four heart-buoying letters, my initial thoughts were that it simply conveyed confidence about future expectations. My mind’s eye conjured images skyward, ethereal and misty. When I went to the scriptures, however, I found a different picture in Hebrews: Read More
Reliance
The road wended its way toward home, with the river and its steep, rocky embankment on the left. First a slight drizzle, then a light, pretty snow. I was relaxed after some time away with my sister and felt at ease on the roads. I was driving our reliable-but-aged SUV and casually commented to her that I was “so grateful for my all-wheel drive vehicle” in weather like that.
No sooner were the words out of my mouth than we began to slip. The initial fraction of a second alerted me, but I then realized that we were really sliding. Really sliding. The road was curving to the right and we were headed – quickly – for the ravine and the river. My prayer was a simple, “Oh, Lord” as I steered into the slide. Still sliding, I was way across the yellow line, about five feet from going off the guardrail-less road. “Oh, Lord.” A moment’s recovery. Sliding again… this time towards the concrete barrier on my right as the road was beginning to straighten out and turn left. My sister began praying, too, except she somehow had the wherewithal to utter more than my simple, “Oh, Lord.” More sliding and then sudden traction, just a couple feet before colliding with the barrier. “Oh, Lord.”
I burst into tears immediately. I was terrified, relieved and thankful, but none of these were the reason I was crying.
Scripture had leapt into my mind instantaneously:
Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. –Psalm 20:7
I was so humbled by this Word of correction that I was utterly beside myself. I had, moments before, given voice to my previously unspoken trust in a thing. I wasn’t trusting in God; I was trusting – quite literally – in my chariot. I was relying on my worldly goods for my safety, well-being and comfort. I should no more count on guardrails for my safety than my car. I was not relying on God. And He is too good to let me continue in that sin.
In hindsight, I don’t think we were ever in danger. It was as if God had His mighty hands on either side of the road, hemming us in where the guardrails were missing, yet allowing me to see the gravity of my misplaced trust. It felt like a bumper-car bounce when we regained traction, though we didn’t hit anything.
I’m asking God to show me my other chariots. I must not trust in them.
I must rely on God and God alone.
Please be sure to check out the Thanksgiving Offerings Project.
Send me your thoughts!