My family is a divine huddle that God pulled together. Except for my husband, David, every one of us is adopted.I'm adopted, my two daughters were adopted at two days old, and all the glorious extras that populate our home and our lives feel adopted! I remember back when the girls were small, I'd once in awhile run into a well-meaning but odd soul who would say something like "It's such a wonderful ministry you are doing, giving those little…
David and I are away for the day at a Generous Giving workshop. We've spent the day being challenged in unexpected ways. This late at night I haven't been able to process everything, but I thought a list of the questions it brought up in my mind might be interesting! Here are at least a few... You can only meet other people's needs with enough margin, or white space, in your life. Have I built in enough margin so that…
Within minutes of meeting some people you know you have found a kindred soul, a new "tribe" member, a person who shares so much of your outlook that you know time and distance can't erase your friendship. I have been blessed by several of those in my life, including one with whom I've lost contact. Seems impossible not to be able to find someone in this digital age, but i can't find Denise, one of my bridesmaids. Recently I "met"…
This is an unauthorized rip off of my friend David Helbig's post. He's a surprise guest blogger! Surprise, Dave! When I read his account of life at Christ Fellowship, my church, I decided to reprint it here in case there are one or two of you who don't read his blog. This is why I love my church. This is why so much of what happens there begins in the community. This is why I wake up day after day…
This has been another intense ministry season for me, which partially explains the gaps in posting these days! I love writing. I love reading. Sometimes I love them more than, well, the people in my life. Lately, God has not been letting me get away with that attitude, and I've been fighting him. He wins. So while I was fussing in my mind today over the back-to-back-to-back-to gym-to ministry events today (yeah, I complain over the gym, too), I happened…
Life never fails to surprise me with its twists and turns. Life spent in the kingdom, particularly, turns us upside down on our heads now and then. Last week I spent some time praying over my ministry, the blog, my kids. OK, I do that every week, but last week was one of those periods of time when you readjust your reality to your purpose. Am I really doing the things God wants me to be doing in the kingdom?…
I need a little space! I just figured it out today. I've always had a touch of claustrophobia in certain spots -- cruise lifeboat drills, crowds, couches where people sit too close -- but I didn't realize that there is an emotional claustrophobia, too. But the past week I've been swamped with ministry situations again, topped with lots of family and my normal busy schedule. And suddenly I was feeling claustrophobic in my emotions and spirit. So yesterday David and…
"I love it here, but it isn't home!" "This is my key to the front door at home." "Where do you come from? Where is home?" "Welcome home." How powerful our homes are! I watched Jillian bopping out the door the other day with her house key in her hand, labeled "Home" and I was suddenly overwhelmed with the thoughts of home. She's grown up here; the memories we make day in and day out are her concept of home.…
Thesis: The value that God has bestowed on people, is the standard by which we should value others. In other words, people matter to God. Three Reasons Why You Are Important to God: 1. Because of who you are. We are made in God's image, after his likeness. Meditation for 2009: "God loves me as I am, not as I would like to be, or as I appear to be, but just as I am." 2. Because of what you…
Today has been a day of small minutes: no big blocks of time, just disconnected moments to ponder. I could easily feel as if this was a frittered away day, but I'm not going to. For instance, I got to spend an hour in my car with the windows down, reading a good book and making a few plans for the coming year. An hour of time all to myself...lovely. I know that sounds like a big block of time,…
