Find the place deep within me where anxious thoughts and sadness live, and console me. Nothing is beyond your understanding. You are God Almighty. Wrap me in your gladness and give me voice to sing your praise even when trials and tribulation surround me. You are my joy.
Tag: Love
A Prayer for Humility
Thank you for being a God who is big enough to hold all of my insecurity, fear, and failure. Thank you for forgiving me time and again, for allowing me to grow—even if it’s hard—to be more like you. I am so thankful to be your child, and I trust you to be the one who is in control of my life. I lay down my anger and my pride in exchange for your grace and a humble heart. I surrender to you, Lord, and humbly ask to partake of your peace in love.
A Prayer for Compassion
Lord, thank you for your compassion and being mindful of me. Help me turn from selfishness and find contentment in you. As a beneficiary of your divine compassion, help me advocate for the needs of others. Help me notice those in need, and help me honor others more than myself. I cannot do this without you, Lord. I need you.
Jesus Changed My Life
I always loved God. As a girl, I went to Sunday School where felt boards were my favorite. Later in childhood, my family got wrapped up in an organization that claimed to be Christian—but they taught heresy about Jesus, saying he wasn’t God, just a necessary, good person—but one who did not deserve exaltation. They…
The Fullness of Love
Lent is here, and I have been thinking not just about that principal moment when Jesus died on the cross—but also on the days of his life before that very tangible moment of sacrifice. Love is not simply a floating, fluffy idea. It is not an intense feeling. It is not even solely an intellectual…
On Hiking and Husbands
So let me start by telling you how I feel about hiking. First, my husband loves to hike. He’s hiked in places all over the world. He has a Camelback and one of those fancy overnight hiking camping backpack things that strap around your waist. He’s legit. I am not a natural hiker. I do…
My Notes for Talking to My Kids
Watching the Olympics with my family this past weekend, you can’t escape it. Athlete after athlete after athlete has overcome some amazing challenge or hurdle or disability or life-change to train and prepare for being an Olympian. The have a goal, they make a plan, they pursue it with diligence, and then they revel in…
Fireworks and Freedom
I watched the fireworks last night. One child likened them to fairies. A different child called them missiles. As I watched the fire fall from the sky, I realized that in some ways they were both right. For so many of us, fireworks are almost a magical spectacle of dazzling light, a symbol of freedom,…
When Something is “Mostly Dead”
My girls had their annual dance recital this month, and their sweet daddy bought them both a bouquet of tulips. The flowers were in water, but being in the hot car for hours caused them to wilt. By the end of the long day, I had no hope of their recovery. My husband, though—he had…
Jesus and His Mama: I laugh, I melt, I kneel
I don’t think too much about what kind of a son Jesus was to Mary. We hear a lot about how Jesus is the Father’s Son, how he came to be about his Father’s business, how he was sure of his identity as God-made-flesh. But I think it’s important to also remember that he was…
Harper Lee
The author is gone, but what she contributed to the landscape of American culture will not soon be forgotten. Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is a classic, my favorite. Even the name of my blog is inspired by To Kill a Mockingbird. My family quotes the book and the movie on a regular basis….
A Picture of What 