Tag Archives: faith

Transitions

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I have been traveling through life, navigating a winding road of what feels like never-ending transitions…

Graduating from College.

Starting Graduate studies and a ministry internship.

Marrying the man of my dreams. (Sigh)

Graduating from Seminary.

Starting my first professional ministry job.  (YAY!)

Becoming a mom for the first time.

Being a working mom.

Becoming a mom again!

Choosing to stay home with my kiddos.

Becoming a mom AGAIN!!!

Sending the first kid to school (mom tears up a bit)

Sending the second kid to school (mom does the happy dance!)

Restless…

Feeling pulled and called into something more… but what?!

FRUSTRATION!!!!

And yet… maybe this restless angst is the beginning of something new.

Again.

I guess that’s what life is.  It’s a series of new experiences.  It’s learning how to live in and through these new experiences until they are no longer new.  And then repeating the process over and over and over again. Continue reading →

Running On Faith

The wind gust blew hard against my tired body.  My feet felt clumsy and heavy, almost as if they were encased in cement blocks instead of snug inside my trusty asics running shoes.  To make matters worse, half-way through my run, I started to feel a cramp in my side.

This was supposed to be an easy run!  It was a mile shorter than my last trek.  I didn’t even have the usual added resistance and weight burden that came from pushing my 2 ½ year-old-daughter in our jogging stroller.

Continue reading →

You Are Not Alone

Posted in Parenting by

I could hear the baby wailing from across the department store. My first reaction was to breathe a sigh of relief that it wasn’t one of my kids.  I was enjoying a quiet shopping trip all alone, a scenario that rarely happens, especially on a Friday afternoon.

My husband had the day off and had graciously offered me a chance to sneak away so I could buy some much-needed items for myself. We both knew what a nightmare it could be to try to corral our kiddos in a dressing room while we frantically tried on clothes.  I was definitely relishing in this unexpected moment of retail solitude. Continue reading →

God Sees You

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Have you ever wondered if God really sees you or cares about your circumstances?

There’s a beautiful story found in the gospel of Mark about a woman who suffered with an unfortunate medical condition. The condition caused her to bleed continually and she lived with this burden for twelve long years.  During this time, she spent all the money that she had visiting multiple doctors and undergoing numerous medical treatments.  However, instead of finding relief, her condition got worse.  Continue reading →

The Gift Card

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Last November, I was blessed with an unexpected gift card to one of my favorite restaurants.  I ALWAYS love an excuse to go out to eat.  If I don’t have to pay to go out?  Well, that’s even better.

So this was a very good surprise!

I couldn’t wait for the chance to use my new little plastic friend.

The more I thought about putting the card to use, the more enthused I got. Continue reading →

Build A Dream

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LORD, build a dream inside my heart. Let it be YOUR DREAM and not my own.

LORD, whisper YOUR PLANS into my mind.  I want to hear your voice, above all the other voices that clamor for my attention.

LORD, put a desire within my soul to SEEK YOU FIRST.  I know that you are the only one who can satisfy.

LORD, start a revolution in my home. A revolution that says WE BELONG TO THE KING!  We are His and He is ours.  And we WILL NOT BOW to any other name or any other throne.

LORD, put a passion on my lips. A passion to SPEAK THE TRUTH about who you are and the great things that you have done!

LORD, direct my steps. I want to GO WHEREVER YOU CALL me to go.

LORD, open my eyes.  Let me see the ways that you are at work all around.  Show me how I CAN PARTICIPATE in those good works.

LORD, build a dream inside my heart. Let it be your dream.

Oh that I could be part of building YOUR KINGDOM…

COME!

YOUR WILL be done.

On earth as it is in heaven.

Amen

 

The Gift Of Doubt

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Over the past several weeks, I have been reading through the Gospel of John. It’s fascinating to me, how such a familiar book can still surprise me.  There is always something new to discover and reflect upon.

For instance, I have really enjoyed reacquainting myself with well-loved Bible verses and stories about Jesus’ life. But the thing that has really stood out to me, quite unexpectedly, is the prevalent theme of disbelief found within the gospel.

Over and over again, despite the incredible signs and wonders that Jesus performed, many people struggled to believe in Him. Continue reading →

A Fatal Distraction

Posted in Parenting by

My four-year-old son was silently struggling for his life near the edge of a swimming pool filled with people, and no one knew it… including me.

It happened so quickly.

I had just taken my little guy’s life jacket off so he could run into the house and go to the bathroom.

The pool party we were attending was starting to wind down and my mind was preoccupied with our after party plans. I wanted to call my husband to confirm our dinner arrangements. Just then, my son tugged at my arm. Continue reading →

Back In The Saddle Again

Posted in My Crazy Life by

When I was a young girl I absolutely LOVED horses. Okay, it was more of an obsession.

I had pictures plastered on my walls, read numerous books, and watched countless movies about these “noble steeds.” I don’t know how many plastic Breyer models that I accumulated over the years, but it was significant.

Sometimes, in the privacy of my room, I even imagined that I WAS a horse. It’s true! I would get down on all fours, pretend to munch hay, and would kick my legs backwards into the air, neighing loudly for effect. Continue reading →

I’ll Give You Something To Talk About!

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“I don’t want to wear glasses!” my six-year old said anxiously from the back seat of the car.  We were on our way to see a Pediatric Ophthalmologist at the University of Minnesota, after our oldest son unexpectedly developed a lazy eye in November.

My husband and I shared an uneasy glance before shifting our attention to the bundle of nerves in the backseat.

“Why don’t you want to get glasses?” we gently pressed him. Continue reading →