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.
When I was a young girl, one of my favorite things to do in the summer was to explore the ravine behind my best friend’s house. She had a huge backyard filled with what seemed like an endless forest of trees. We spent a lot of time building forts, eating sticky peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and navigating the trails that wound through the woods.
The main avenue into her woods was a wide and easy to follow trail that had been landscaped into the property. It was a large U shaped path that started on one side of the backyard and if you followed it completely around, would bring you right back to the grassy lawn behind the house. Continue reading
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
Staring out my living room window, I see a vibrant mix of magenta and green. The buds on my crab apple trees are bursting open to reveal delicate pink petals that wave and flutter gently with the breeze. It’s a beautiful picture that dares me to believe that spring has finally sprung in Minnesota.
I love this time of year. Spring is a season that points to the promise of new life. It reminds me that no matter how cold, dark, and bitter the winter may have been… there is warmth and new beginnings just around the corner. Continue reading
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
I once read a devotional by author and speaker Max Lucado in which he instructed his readers to pull out a piece of clean white paper. He then asked them to place a black dot somewhere on that paper. Interestingly, even though there is an entire sheet of paper to look at, most people will zero in on that one dark speck.
Isn’t that so true of life in general? We can get so focused on the negatives – those dark spots in life – that we miss out on the blessings that may be all around us. Continue reading
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
When I was a little girl I loved to go fishing with my older brother and my dad. Mom would pack a cooler of snacks, and send us on our way. Once at the lake, my Dad would make sure we had our life jackets strapped on tight and we would set off through the water, on the hunt for the perfect spot to catch loads of fish.
When we found an appealing location, we would cast out our lines and patiently sit and watch our neon bobbers go up and down in the water. I remember on more than one occasion, silently pleading with God to let me catch a sunny or perch… anything besides the dreaded weeds that often tangled my line. The funny part is I hated to eat fish, but they were sure fun to catch! Continue reading
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’m hungry!” My 3 ½ year-old son said repeatedly as we made our way down the stairs and into the cluttered kitchen below. Still rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I mumbled a drowsy: “what do you want for breakfast?”
Much like the red laser beam from one of his favorite nerf guns, my son’s gaze zeroed in on his target: a stash of candy that I had placed on top of the refrigerator. I tend to keep “the really good stuff” up and out of reach. But some of the kids lingering Valentine’s Day candy had recently been moved to the top of the refrigerator as well. I had naively thought that it would be safe from grabby little fingers up there. Continue reading
Christy Engelhart 