power is a hard thing to talk about. as Christ-followers, it is even trickier because Jesus was so anti-typical-power that talking about it can be misconstrued. i feel this sometimes when i am advocating for women’s empowerment (and others, too, who are underrepresented) because it can be perceived as being contrary to humility. some also […]
Read Moreformation friday: no condemnation
years ago when my kids were little (and we only had a couple!) jose and i did scripture memory cards together as a spiritual practice (oh, those good old days). it is amazing how many of those passages are still embedded into my heart and i am thankful for them in all kinds of ways. […]
Read Morethree things about one word: serving
* this post is part of january’s synchroblog, which is centered on serving others in 2013. i always like the synchroblog because it challenges me to think about certain topics in new ways. i wanted to start a new series in 2013 of shorter posts that are called “three things about one word” and i […]
Read More"you're a pretty good speaker for a woman" and other wacky memories
(but they can sure try!) a weird thing happened to me a few weeks ago. i was at the twins’ basketball game on a snowy december night, sitting by myself, when a vivid memory swooped in out of the blue from 7 years before. it was when i was still on big-church-staff and we hosted […]
Read Moreformation friday: go to beautiful
i thought i’d mix it up a little this week for formation friday with a video reflection instead of using words. i love this song and sometimes it’s nice to just look & listen instead of read & think. beauty is God’s image reflected in all kinds of wonderful & simple ways. so often, it’s […]
Read More"it's my own crazy story"
happy new year! i hope you had a safe & good holiday. we have had a great vacation with all my kids home together and still have a few days before it’s back to reality. my word for 2012 was “focus”. it makes me laugh when i think about it because if i look back […]
Read Morethe carnival turns 5 (aka, i'm getting old)
exactly 5 years ago today i was putting the finishing touches on the carnival in my head, my first adventure into solo blogging. it’s been quite a wild ride & it honestly feels like a year or two ago but not 5! whether you comment regularly or you’re one of the lurkers, i am grateful […]
Read Moreformation friday: free-er
“they suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. and when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. we’re free of it! all of us! nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. and […]
Read Morewhen christmas is hard: honoring paradox
well, so much choosing for “help, thanks, wow” for when christmas is hard. sometimes things just shift and new ideas come. that’s what i love about blogging; it is current. this week, i got a completely new thought on how i wanted to wrap this series, mainly because it’s what seems to always help me […]
Read Morewhen christmas is hard: "look toward the light"
“finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” – phiippians 4:8 i don’t know about you, but i’m in a fog. friday’s tragedy coupled with so much going on here in real life plus […]
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