Dance in the Rain
Welcome to My Journal
My life has often felt like a raging storm. A hurricane without an end. And yet God has given me joy in the midst of it. And through the raging storms and the intermittent drizzle, I’m learning to dance in the rain. (Figuratively, of course.)
The Manger is Part of the Miracle
The manger highlights the way God uses our deepest pain, the things we wish were different, to bring him the greatest glory.
When Disaster Comes: The Lingering Ripples of Pain
Surviving a crisis isn’t just making it through the first day of disaster. There are long and lingering ripples of pain.
Is God Withholding Good from Me?
God’s good things, actually his very best things, are whatever bring us closest to Jesus.
Not by Might, Nor by Power: Lessons from Zerubbabel's Faith
“Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord.” Those words were spoken to Zerubbabel, but might they apply to you today?
The Gift of Joy in the Rockiest Places
Sometimes joy grows deepest in barren places, in rocky soil that I never would choose for myself
Do You Struggle with God’s Timing?
Have you ever wondered why God's timing often feels so frustratingly different from your own?
Suffering and the Upside-down Kingdom
Have you ever considered that leaning on Jesus, trusting him in suffering, is a way to serve the kingdom of God?
Suffering and Serving in the Shadows
What if the people who suffer and serve in the shadows are having the greatest eternal impact?
How Can Being Mindful Help Us in Suffering?
Being mindful in suffering, fully present to the current moment, makes me aware of God’s presence and his endless grace.
When All Seems Lost: A Prodigal's Return
In the midst of our doubt and despair, God may be doing his deepest work
Five Things Not to Say to Suffering Friends- and Five Things to Say
Do you ever wonder what to say to your suffering friends? Here’s what I’ve learned.
The Power of Vulnerability: Finding Hope through Shared Struggles
When I felt desperate, I wanted someone to tell it to me real, to be honest and vulnerable, and not to hyper-spiritualize everything.
How Questions Can Strengthen Our Faith
The way to go from despair to hope is by facing our questions, doubts, and disappointments and looking for God in the midst of them.
Waiting with No Answers in the Dark
Today you may feel hopeless as you wait, but light is coming and it will obliterate the darkness.
What Would You Name Yourself?
What we name ourselves, what we are telling ourselves in the midst of our pain, will profoundly impact us.
How Could ALS be Called a Gift?
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints -Ps 116:15. While we on earth are grieving, heaven is rejoicing that Jeanne is home.
Do you feel safe enough with God to be honest?
At the core of lament is trust. The Lord wants to walk with us through our grief, so go to him with your unedited emotions.
Choose Hope
Encouraging others to choose hope in suffering acknowledges what is hard today while trusting God’s mercies that are new every morning.