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Immanuel: God With Us Changes Everything
The clock reads half-past two, and the moon hangs high in the inky black of a December night. I’m lost in deep sleep, and I have no idea that I’m about to have a life-changing encounter with Immanuel—God with Us. At first, I’m not sure what stirred me from sleep. It takes just a moment before the source of my awakening is clear. “Mom! I’m sick!” a little boy’s voice calls from across the hallway. Rushing to his side, I soon realize that this will not be a restful night. Immanuel: God With Us Ten minutes later, a huge load of bedding is sloshing in the washing machine, the little…
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What Is God Doing in My Life? 4 Truths About Trials
This morning, I was startled to find the wood line painted grey. Nevertheless, the bleak scene matched the state of my soul. I sat by the window and wondered, What is God doing in my life? Above the hardwoods, a lavender cloud arched its back into the shape of a question mark. Perhaps the heavens were questioning God’s purposes as well. Later in the day, I took a walk beneath the naked arms of the maples, oaks, and sycamores. I let my mind trace the footprints of a handful of recent disappointments—disappointments that felt far heavier than a dismal shift of seasons. I counted the losses, stared down some shattered…
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8 Bible Verses About Change and Transition
The cobalt skies have faded to grey, and aside from a few crumpled leaves, the poplar tree beside our house has shed her summer foliage. Most of the leaves are scattered on the deck in shades of burnt sienna, and I don’t have the heart to sweep them away just yet. I’ve never been great at handling change. I pull out my Bible in search of a few encouraging Bible verses about change and transition in life. Today, I want to hold on to lingering twilight, campfires in the yard, and supper on the deck. Everything within me wants to hold onto barefoot water fights and footraces around a flourishing…
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When God Closes a Door, He Opens a Window—or Does He?
A scrim of periwinkle clouds hangs low in the morning blue. I stand at the window and admire the scene with an aching heart. The thrum of disappointment beats in cadence with my pulse, and I think of an often-repeated adage: “When God closes a door, he opens a window.” I’m not sure who said this first, but in my experience, it’s not always how life works out. When God closes a door, it often feels like being locked in a dark room with no clue of where to turn next. I’ve experienced this more than a few times, and I suspect you have, too. We set our goals and…
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Trials of Faith: 3 Promises for Tough Times
We all face trials of faith. When these times come, we can respond in a variety of ways. Some people blame God for trials, take offense, and turn away from him. Others try to fix the broken circumstances as quickly as possible. Meanwhile, some of us numb ourselves or escape into work. Today, we’ll talk about how to grow through trials of faith instead of being thrown off course by them. Trials of Faith Last year at this time, the valley behind our house flooded. After three days of rain, the ice encasing the creek finally gave way, and the whole valley was swallowed in the icy torrent. Standing at…
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Paralyzed by Fear? 10 Bible Verses for Anxiety and Fear
The amber light of morning finds me through a partially drawn curtain. Within the first moments of the day, my mind returns to a situation that’s been filling me with anxious thoughts. “Not today, fear,” I whisper, and I open my Bible in search of Truth. Instead of meditating on my fears today, I decide to make a list of Bible verses for anxiety and fear and meditate on Truth. Opening my Bible, I’m reminded that when anxiety and fear come at me, I always have a choice. I can buckle beneath the weight of my paralyzing emotions—giving the enemy a seat at my table. Or I can use the…
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Cast All Your Burdens on God: 4 Practical Ways
Do you want to learn to cast all your burdens on the Lord? I invite you to join me in the woods, and we’ll talk about practical ways to cast our cares on Jesus. Cast All Your Burdens on God: 4 Insights The forest is silent this morning. Shrouded in a fresh cloak of frozen ivory, every fallen log and standing hemlock dozes beneath the weight of winter’s breath. Suddenly, a rustle behind me catches my attention. I turn, startled, expecting a deer or coyote. The forest sleeps. I hear it again and realize the noise is coming from somewhere closer than I first realized. Looking at the ground just…
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What If This Disappointment Is God’s Protection?
The towering summit of North America’s tallest mountain loomed in the distance as I trekked through the Alaskan wilderness with the invincibility of a 21-year-old. I was alone, dozens of miles from civilization, and the dusky midnight sky made it hard to see the path in front of me. As the bushes along the path rustled, I prayed for God’s protection and kept pressing forward. I knew I could be mauled by a grizzly at any moment. I’d already walked close to 30 miles throughout the past 12 hours, and I wouldn’t reach the cabin for at least two more hours. I knew it was unwise to walk through the…
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God’s Provision for the Assignment You Didn’t Choose
A few years ago, God called me to an all-encompassing assignment I did not choose for myself. I spent the first weeks grumbling and resisting it. Finally, on a cold winter morning, God led me to the familiar story of Mary’s angel visitation. I was reminded that God’s provision is enough to carry me through every assignment—even the ones I don’t choose for myself. Most of us have heard the story of Mary’s angel visitation. The angel Gabriel appears to Mary and tells her she will give birth to the promised Messiah. Immediately after receiving this earth-shattering news, she wants to know how this will happen since she has never…
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Casting Our Nets
Today isn’t my usual day to post, but I’m excited to share the words of one of my dearest lifelong friends today. I met Courtney McNamara when we were in fourth grade at East Lawrence Elementary School, and we’ve been friends ever since! Courtney is a gifted artist, a talented published author, and a tender soul with a huge heart. Her friendship is a treasured gift. She’s one of a small handful of friends who receives my 6:00 a.m., “I need prayer” texts. As we all know, these friends are rare gifts! Courtney’s wisdom on the topic of casting our nets challenged me and blessed me, and I trust it…