The Lord is My Portion, My Hope, and Yours
The Lord is enough and our portion, but sometimes the suffering in life takes our eyes off of this truth. Listen in on one of my letters of grace to readers who subscribe to Welcome Grace. I'd love to send you these Grace Notes to you too! Sign up using the banner at...
The Paradox of Praise in Lament
The Paradox of Praise Praise is the final piece in biblical lament. It's the paradoxical nature of life with Christ. We worship in spirit and truth. God is both merciful and just. We lay down our life and live as living sacrifices. Lament is both pain and...
Asking for Help and the Power of Lament
Asking for help doesn't come without risk, and voicing questions holds opportunities for ridicule. But sometimes the risk is worth the ride and the questions unfold into glorious answers. However, before I give voice to my question, I jump through mental hoops like...
When Emotions and Lament Create Paths to Trust
Emotions scare me because they're so powerful, yet render me powerless. The power of them takes me by surprise, like touching a hot pan. I yank back in defensiveness, shielding my wound. Emotions surrounding the pain of shattered friendships, lousy news, and broken...
The Song of Lament and The Way to Trust His Heart
Lament is the language that leads us through our sorrow and into praise. Trouble comes to us. We know disappointment and frustration; sorrow and pain. Trusting the Lord and taking hold of courage in the midst of problems grows our faith when we use the language of...
Cry for Victory and Find Your Way Home
The cry can be one of victory or loss. It arouses a crowd in support of their favorite team. The battle cry sends warriors racing into battle, and the cry of a son lost rips from his mother's heart. The cry begins and ends so many of our life experiences. “The...
When Pain Overtakes Joy and What to Do About It
Leaning into Lament Lament is part of honest communication between God and man. It bridges the "give thanks in all circumstances and rejoice" with "in this world you will have many troubles." Expressing both rejoicing and suffering is integral to a growing...
How Our Focus Guards, Guides, and Grounds
Focusing Power I'm learning that my quick skimming of articles, emails, social media posts, and updates leads me to a lack of focus in my life. I use to be able to read for hours, getting completely lost in the journey the author takes me on. Now, I'm lucky if...
A Prayer for Wonder
Hello dear friends, December slipped in wearing white and displaying crystals dancing on delicate branches. Its beauty on display reminds me that even winter storms display artistry by a Master Artist. Will I have eyes to see? Will you? The next four weeks will...
A Prayer for When You Need to Seek God
I'm reading a book on worship--what it is, what it's not, and what it means for me as a follower of Christ. So often we start with the doing for God or we focus on becoming and we grow frustrated. Our doing seems unfulfilling and becoming becomes...
To Remain in Him–a Prayer for Your Heart
A Prayer to Abide “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine and you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in...
A Prayer for Cups to Overflow in Your Life
Cups overflow or empty? Our identity in Christ covers three basic needs: significance, security, and acceptance. It’s out of these three things that our ability to minister to others without experiencing twisting and turning based on their approval or...