shifting faith takes its toll in so many ways–changed friendships & relationships, loss of connection & belonging in churches, and disorientation on how we connect with God. so many of the old ways stop working. what used to fill us up now sometimes repels us. what used to feel so comfortable now feels so foreign. […]
Read Moreand…8 ways you can support friends or family experiencing a spiritual shift
yesterday i shared some things to remember when we are in the midst of a spiritual shift. one thing i want to remind everyone–no matter how hard we try, we can’t make certain people fully understand. at the same time, i think sometimes people are just at a total loss on how to respond. our […]
Read Moreformation friday: thirsty
“but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” – Jesus to the samaritan woman in john 4:14 it’s a little hard to believe that christmas came & went and now we are diving […]
Read Morewhatever you do, don't let them take your faith.
almost exactly 7 years ago i lost my job as a pastor on a mega-church staff. it was one of the craziest, weirdest, surreal, dysfunctional experiences of my life and there are some days where i still shake my head and wonder “did that really happen?” but oh, it sure did. it was ugly & […]
Read Moreformation friday: when we're mad at God
* formation friday has kind of become formation saturday. or now maybe even sunday. that’s just the way it goes sometimes. i decided this one is maybe perfect for sunday–a day when some aren’t in church because we’re mad at God or are sitting in church feeling some of these things with nowhere to say […]
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 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 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 […]
Read Morein the wake of unfathomable tragedy: things that might help
God is close to the brokenhearted – psalm 34:18 the tragedy in connecticut has ripped apart our hearts. i am so sad & overwhelmed with the magnitude of this reality. when i kissed the twins goodnight last night after they were already asleep i just started bawling, imagining those precious parents and never kissing their babies […]
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