Taste and see that the Lord is good.
Tag: closeness
Love is available even here
A friend of mine has a reminder tattooed on the outside of her wrist where it’s always visible. It says: “Is Love available even here?” I haven’t seen that tattoo in person for a long time, but I think of it often, especially now. In the wild, weird world of today, in the frustrations and …
Don’t Martha it up
I can’t be the only one whose brain is too full. There’s just so much to think about right now. (You know—a list will just make us both anxious.) Weirdly, I feel like I have less bandwidth, time, and energy than I did before COVID despite being home more and having fewer responsibilities. My mind is …
Your father is right here with you
When I was 28, I had a massive hip surgery. I’d never had a wisdom tooth pulled and was utterly terrified. The day of the procedure, I was dull and numb and the world moved in unreal slow motion. Thankfully, Mom was there. There I was, a grown woman, clinging to my mother as …
Social distancing, not spiritual distancing
It seems bleak right now, doesn’t it? Schools closed.Events cancelled.States of emergency. The news addiction is real, too. I’ve been on Facebook more in the last 24 hours than the last 24 days, watching reports—both official and anecdotal—roll in with increasing anxiety. It’s not the virus I’m concerned about. Yes, coronavirus is nasty. But people can …
Never not in His presence
Where do you encounter the presence of God? At church? In worship? In prayer? What about while you’re cooking? Or exercising? In line at the store? God is not separate from your daily life. He’s not hiding or absent or locked in a building you visit once a week. He’s WITH YOU. All the time. …
Surprise!
How willing are you to be surprised? Me, not so much. Ask my husband how much I liked it when he surprised me with a promise ring in front of his family at our first Christmas together. But my resistance to surprises doesn’t just rob me of enjoying fun things (like presents) when they’re good, …
Body-positive alternatives to fasting
You ever get triggered on someone else’s behalf? That’s me writing about fasting. I suffered with disordered eating for 20 years. It wasn’t until coming to Christ that I saw any lasting recovery, and while there’s still a ways to go, I’m grateful that God has healed my particular brand of crazy to the point …
What are you really hungry for?
If you’re fasting this month, you’re probably super hungry today. And every day. And it’s probably messing with your daily life. Like, I can’t be the only one who happened to be walking through Walmart at the exact time they bake the chocolate chip cookies and literally RAN AWAY. Just me? Dang. ANYWAY. What I’m …
Fasting is about what you gain, not what you lose
P R A Y E R & F A S T I N G That’s what the rest of my month is about. Yesterday our church began a 21-day fast during which we’re sharpening our awareness of God by foregoing creature comforts to remind our flesh it’s not in charge. Some folks alter their food, …
God cares about little things (like the Christmas present you should have bought weeks ago)
Yesterday, I was that woman crying in the toy aisle at Walmart. But not for the reason you might think. All my daughter asked for from Santa is an Elsa doll. But despite months of walking past aisles full of them, it didn’t occur to me to buy one until last week. Rookie move. Now, …