do you ever have those moments where really old worship songs pop into your head? like out of nowhere? over 13 years ago at the little sweet church we used to go to in the mountains we sang this song almost every week: Jesus, name above all names beautiful savior, glorious Lo-o-o-rd Immanuel, God is […]
Read Morehope is dangerous.
this saturday night marked the first week of advent leading up to christmas, a season we celebrate very intentionally at the refuge. it’s a hard time of year for a lot of people i know. it seems like loneliness, depression, fear, and shame seem to set in a little extra. in our community this year […]
Read Moregiving, receiving.
thanks, all, for the prayers and love. it’s been quite a week but i am happy to say that i am writing this blog post sitting at my kitchen table, yeah! i have a nifty little pillow & still can’t sit for more than 30 minutes at a time but after 7 full weeks of […]
Read MoreGod interruptions
“the gospels are stories of interruption after interruption” – follow me to freedom, shane claiborne & john perkins * * * * * God interruptions. they’re annoying. they’re unnerving. they come at al the wrong times. they mess up all our plans. they usually stir up some kind of trouble in our heads and our […]
Read More"desperate", chronic pain & bad theology
“in this crazy world, there’s an enormous distinction between good times and bad, between sorrow and joy. but in the eyes of God, they’re never separated. where there is pain, there is healing. where there is mourning, there is dancing. where there is poverty, there is the kingdom…” henri nouwen * * * * * […]
Read Moreconnection, resiliency & identity
a little while ago a friend of mine was telling me what he was learning in the overseas adoption book he was reading. he and his wife are dear friends of ours, and they are adopting 2 boys from ethiopia. we are all so excited for their arrival into our extended family! he was sharing […]
Read Morespiritual midwives
if you’ve been reading here for a while you know that i have more kids than the average person–5 lovely little bunnies, ranging from my oldest who just left for college down to twins that are almost 11. when the twins were born, there were a few months that i had 5 kids under the […]
Read Moreparadox
“ a paradox is something that appears to be a contradiction, but from another perspective is not a contradiction at all. you and i are living paradoxes, and therefore must be prepared to see ourselves in all our reality. if you can hold and forgive the contradictions within yourself, you can normally do it everywhere […]
Read Morerecovery under the big tent
* this post is part of a week-long synchroblog hosted by big tent christianity, a collaborative event in raleigh september 9-13. so many fun conversations will be had there, i’m sure. i wish i could go, but it was just too much to pull off this fall. * * * * * it’s a dingy […]
Read Morecodependence, independence, interdependence
the #1 word that i use at the refuge (other than nutty, messy, wild and beautiful) is relationship. to me, when Jesus summed up the law and said it’s about loving God, others, ourselves that he was basically saying “it’s about relationship, people.” it’s not about stuff or knowledge or words–it’s about love. i also […]
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