Tag Archives: faith

Why we should weep for the lost

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We are in the midst of Holy Week. The week that Christians around the world observe to remember and celebrate the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

This past Sunday, many of our churches may have highlighted Jesus’ triumphal entry. That moment in history when he made his final pilgrimage to Jerusalem, humbly riding on the back of a donkey. As he did, many of the people along the route spontaneously threw down palm branches and cried: “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”

I am well acquainted with this part of the story. But yesterday, as I was reading my Bible, something less familiar jumped out at me. It comes right after Jesus has passed through the crowds and is approaching Jerusalem. As he looks down over the city- knowing what will ultimately transpire in the coming days – he begins to weep. Not for himself, but for the people who will ultimately reject him and his gift of Salvation.

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A Table And A Prayer

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Recently, I had the cumbersome task of returning some ridiculously heavy tables to our church storage shed. I had borrowed them for a garage sale the week before, and was finally able to bring them back. My neighbor kindly helped me lift the hefty metal monsters into my mini-van and then I headed down the road alone.

Unorganized as usual, I hadn’t bothered to call ahead to let anyone know I was coming. I just assumed someone at the church might be available to help me unload my hefty cargo. Half way down the road, however, I thought I should probably ask the Lord to provide some assistance. Continue reading →

Even When It’s Cold Outside

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Baby it’s cold outside! We’re talking Polar Vortex cold. For the past couple of days, my beautiful State of Minnesota has been grappling with negative temperatures and wind chills that, believe it or not, have measured colder than Antarctica!

Don’t get me wrong, we Minnesotans are tough.  Last year, when our state hosted Superbowl LII, we actually came up with the logo “Bold North” to celebrate the fact that we aren’t afraid to get out and enjoy life when the temperatures drop.  We love our winter carnival, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, hockey, and of course – fishing on frozen lakes.

But the past few days have been RIDICULOUS!  So much so, that most of the state has been sequestered indoors.  Many of our schools have been closed for 3-4 days.  Some businesses chose not to open, mail delivery was suspended, and even the state senate called it quits! Continue reading →

Discipline and Delight?

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Last night I caught my seven-year-old son trying to sneak a nutella snack pack AND a package of fruit snacks into his room right before bed.  His ingenious plan? Hiding the treats in his socks.  His SOCKS! He might have actually succeeded if it hadn’t been for the distinct sound of plastic packaging crunching against his little ankles.

I have to admit that as I shook my head and confiscated the “stolen merchandise,” I had to hide a smile.  I wasn’t thrilled with the sneaky behavior (there WILL be consequences) but I was slightly amused with his creativity.  Continue reading →

A Day Of Reckoning

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It’s been awhile since I’ve written a blog.  Life has been a bit of a blur, and to be honest, I just haven’t made the time to sit down to write.  But in light of the many accounts of sexual abuse allegations that have blown up the Internet, news organizations and social media platforms alike – Matt Lauer being the latest in a long list of high-profile people accused – I thought it might be worth taking a few minutes to put some thoughts on paper.

First, to the brave women (and men) who have been victimized and have found the courage to speak out and share what has happened to you – THANK YOU!  Thank you for facing your pain and maybe your fear and for sharing your stories.  Thank you for bringing attention (i.e. shining light) onto an issue that has festered and flourished in the darkness for far too long.

Your voice matters!  You. Matter.

In Luke 12:2-3 we read: “There is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.  Accordingly, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed upon the housetops.” 

Things done in darkness will eventually be exposed.   At some point, we will ALL be held accountable for our actions.  A day of reckoning will come.  Continue reading →

The Power Of Praise

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I woke up feeling utterly exhausted.  I had barely slept.  My almost 4-year old daughter was up multiple times in the night, crying out from the darkness, pleading for someone to come and rescue her.   Her little body was urging her to get up to go to the bathroom, but her slumber weary mind seemed powerless to actually help her complete the task.

Experience had taught me that if I waited too long to respond, I’d be changing sheets in the dark, and doing extra loads of soil-stained laundry in the morning.  So I groggily willed myself out of bed and answered her persistent calls of distress. Continue reading →

How To Keep Past Mistakes From Defining Your Future

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Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a flash of black.  My heart sank.  Not again!

As I turned my head to get a closer look, my suspicion was confirmed.

They were back…

With a sigh, I grabbed a wad of Kleenex from the bathroom and then set out to track down my uninvited little intruder.  I found him marching resolutely across our freshly painted dining room wall. Continue reading →

Peace In Trying Times

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As I have browsed online articles, and scrolled through my Facebook news-feed over the past few days, I couldn’t help but notice an overwhelming sense of fear, anxiety, frustration, anger and in some cases, hopelessness, reflected back at me.  Tensions are high right now.

Transitions are hard.  It’s especially hard, if you aren’t a fan of the changes unfolding around you.

As I was thinking about this, a scripture popped into my mind.  John 14:27 says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Continue reading →

Let Me Be A Woman…

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The other day when I was looking online for some home décor items, I ran across a cute sign with the phrase: “Be the kind of woman who when your feet hit the floor each morning the Devil says, Oh Crap, She’s Up!”

I didn’t buy the sign, but the phrase has stuck with me.  I think it’s because it speaks to the heart of who I WANT to be.  Unfortunately, it’s not always the way that I actually live my life.  I can get derailed so easily.  Continue reading →

The Ultimate Guide

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This past weekend my family embarked on a spontaneous excursion to Interstate State Park.  It was a gorgeous, 70-degree October day in Minnesota.  The sun was shining bright in the blue cloud-streaked sky.  Red, orange and yellow leaves were just starting to dot the dominantly green landscape.

My husband, Chad, and I agreed that we couldn’t waste this opportunity to get out and explore with our three kids.  After-all, picture perfect autumn days can be sporadic in the land of 10,000 snow-fLAKES

So we packed our little crew into our mini-van and drove the 52 miles to get to Taylor’s Falls Minnesota.  Continue reading →