There's this little idea that started growing today during church: a space to share stories of the voices of women in the Church. I don't know the details yet, what it looks like or how it works. Just the idea. Just a quiet idea.
So much of the Bible is narrative. Stories of the men and women who listened to God. How do we share those stories now?
Sunday, November 25, 2018
Saturday, October 20, 2018
the sleepy ones
All of the boys are still sleeping in our home.
The fans hum in each room. The heaters, too. It's the kind of quiet that I remember in this house. So much has changed in the last two years that I forget what the house used to sound like.
The fans hum in each room. The heaters, too. It's the kind of quiet that I remember in this house. So much has changed in the last two years that I forget what the house used to sound like.
Sunday, September 30, 2018
the opposite of worry
A little over a year ago, worry re-established residence in my heart. Two blue lines changed the way I thought about every aspect of life, present and future. Now there's a 20-lb extension of my heart, tasting the world with his face and rolling across the floor at his highest speed. Trusting Jesus is the lesson of every season, always. Trusting Jesus with our blessed adventurer is the hardest application yet.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. -Philippians 4:6-7
The explorer that God added to our family is busy wiping his snot all over me and his adventure blanket. I want to anxious about every little thing that could go wrong to our Little Love. I'm called to trust our Great God with every request. We're called to trust Him in every opportunity.
Soon, Little Love will adventure farther than the blanket. His world will grow to be a larger place with greater risks and greater unknowns. But thanksgiving is always the appropriate response. Thanksgiving is always the better response.
Anxiety doesn't need to live in my heart or my home. I'm loved by the Great God, with the greatest Love.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. -Philippians 4:6-7
The explorer that God added to our family is busy wiping his snot all over me and his adventure blanket. I want to anxious about every little thing that could go wrong to our Little Love. I'm called to trust our Great God with every request. We're called to trust Him in every opportunity.
Soon, Little Love will adventure farther than the blanket. His world will grow to be a larger place with greater risks and greater unknowns. But thanksgiving is always the appropriate response. Thanksgiving is always the better response.
Anxiety doesn't need to live in my heart or my home. I'm loved by the Great God, with the greatest Love.
Friday, August 17, 2018
a different return
I've moved back to the little yellow house before, after a summer in Malawi. This time was very different. We returned to the little yellow house as a family. The shift in identity is bigger than culture or language. We returned with new layers of identity and responsibilities to each other and our Little Love.
Today is my last week of maternity leave. I've learned so much about love. I've learned so much about grace, finding patience I never believed could exist. I'm learning about joy, too, as struggles continue to turn into victory.
Weeping may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5
Today is my last week of maternity leave. I've learned so much about love. I've learned so much about grace, finding patience I never believed could exist. I'm learning about joy, too, as struggles continue to turn into victory.
Weeping may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5
Saturday, April 14, 2018
getting ready
There's an impatience settled over our tiny apartment this week. Yesterday was my last day of work for awhile, now all we need to do is rest and wait for our little one to arrive.
We're as ready as we know how to be.
There is so much left to learn as we grow with him.
At this point, I'm not sure what else we could do to get ready. He still has more than a week til his due date. Taking time to rest and reflect, to pause and pray while it's quiet, seems like the only course left. It's time to stop all of the doing and wait.
“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10)
We're as ready as we know how to be.
There is so much left to learn as we grow with him.
At this point, I'm not sure what else we could do to get ready. He still has more than a week til his due date. Taking time to rest and reflect, to pause and pray while it's quiet, seems like the only course left. It's time to stop all of the doing and wait.
“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10)
Monday, January 15, 2018
living love
Many days in 2017 felt like the darkness was winning. Some days in 2018 feel like the darkness has won. Even this morning, as I walked to my car in the foggy parking lot, darkness seemed to have more traction than light. Then, I went to a celebration of Dr. King's birthday this afternoon in Tacoma.
Over and over again, children and civic leaders boldly proclaimed Truth with Grace. The themes of Gospel are revolutionary and transcendent. Darkness and hatred may gain momentary momentum, but light and love will always prevail. As long as their are hearts touched by Grace, the Truth will win out.
So, today on this day of service, be inspired and encouraged and empowered. Challenge systems of oppression and hatred. Speak against the darkness and the hate that flows so quickly from sin. Stand exposed and vulnerable in the light, for the true Power is only in the Light.
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” -John 8:12 ESV
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that." -Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Over and over again, children and civic leaders boldly proclaimed Truth with Grace. The themes of Gospel are revolutionary and transcendent. Darkness and hatred may gain momentary momentum, but light and love will always prevail. As long as their are hearts touched by Grace, the Truth will win out.
So, today on this day of service, be inspired and encouraged and empowered. Challenge systems of oppression and hatred. Speak against the darkness and the hate that flows so quickly from sin. Stand exposed and vulnerable in the light, for the true Power is only in the Light.
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” -John 8:12 ESV
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that." -Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Ephesians 5
Therefore, be imitators of God as dearly loved children and live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. But among you there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints. Neither should there be vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting – all of which are out of character – but rather thanksgiving. For you can be confident of this one thing: that no person who is immoral, impure, or greedy (such a person is an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Let nobody deceive you with empty words, for because of these things God’s wrath comes on the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them, for you were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light – for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth – and find out what pleases the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For the things they do in secret are shameful even to mention. But all things being exposed by the light are made evident. For everything made evident is light, and for this reason it says:
“Awake, O sleeper!
Rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you!”
Therefore be very careful how you live – not as unwise but as wise, taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil. For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise by understanding what the Lord’s will is. And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for each other in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, because the husband is the head of the wife as also Christ is the head of the church – he himself being the savior of the body. But as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her to sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of the water by the word, so that he may present the church to himself as glorious – not having a stain or wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. In the same way husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one has ever hated his own body but he feeds it and takes care of it, just as Christ also does the church, for we are members of his body. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This mystery is great – but I am actually speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless, each one of you must also love his own wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.