What makes Jesus different? What makes Christianity different from other religions? The answer is relatively simple, and yet I believe human pride has turned it into the hardest question of all time. I’ve seen posts on Patheos that ask, and attempt to answer, the question: Do Adherents of Abrahamic Faiths Worship the Same God? Since Christians, Jews, Muslims, Baha’is all claim to worship the God of Abraham, the question would seem to be easily answered yes. However, I think this... Read more
Love and mercy are at the heart of faith. As a parent, my hope was to raise my son to know love and mercy, to know Jesus. There have been times I thought I had failed. But as I see my son Benton now, I see a heart of love and mercy. My Son Is “Not Religious” “I’m not religious.” That’s what my long-time friend from church said Benton told her. I’m not sure why she thought it so important... Read more
Today I am navigating grief. Love, loss, and irony have been on my mind since my last article in which I wrote about my sweet Cockapoo Roman. In that article I said that I didn’t know if he would make it to 19. He barely lived 24 hours from the time I posted that article. I began that morning as I do every morning, reading my Bible and journaling a short prayer. I read Psalm 36, which was the next... Read more
Love is risky business, but love is worth it. “God is love.” (1 John 4:8). When we give and receive love, whether it be with another person or a beloved pet, we are close to God. But when we lose one whom we love, it hurts. Is, therefore, it better to not love? Is that the best way to avoid being hurt? I think not. Love is worth every bit of hurt; Jesus showed us that on the cross. A... Read more
Loving our neighbor requires taming our tongue. The art of maintaining strong relationships requires obedience to the teachings of Jesus about loving our neighbor. One way we sometimes fall short of this command is in the words we say to and about others. Words can be encouraging or destructive, and each day we must choose which type of words we will use. Lessons from James on Taming Our Tongue This summer, I have been doing a mini-study of the book... Read more
God loves diversity. He is the Creator of this diverse world. All around us are examples of His beautiful handiwork. We should honor and be grateful for all the plant, animals, and other beautiful humans God has placed in our lives. God Created Diversity among the Flowers Last week, my husband and I stood in our kitchen talking. “How many flower pots do you think we have on the deck?” he asked. “I don’t know. 30?” I replied. He laughed.... Read more
If you live on planet earth, it’s almost impossible to avoid people. But sometimes that’s okay, because God’s blessings are sometimes people He puts in our lives. Such was the case for me when I met Lonnie Hull DuPont, an editor with Revell at the time I first met her. Lonnie passed away on August first, leaving the Christian writing community, as well as her family and friends, feeling a big loss. And yet her passing meant the end of... Read more
I believe a legacy of forgiveness is what God wants us to leave for our family and friends. It can be a difficult legacy to achieve. I have my own family to attest to that fact. The End of a Generation June 11, 2016, was a beautiful sunny Saturday. Perfect for walking the three blocks to my local farmers’ market. There probably wouldn’t be any green beans yet, but I hoped to score some loganberries or boysenberries, and spicy fresh... Read more
One of my greatest weaknesses is my temper. I pray for inner peace; I have for years, decades even, asked God to help me be more patient and even tempered when provoked. A longing for inner peace and the ability to overcome my anger often find a place in my prayer life. With each new frustration and irritable outburst, it feels as if my prayer has gone unanswered. Anger Sparked by Vinaigrette Everywhere One evening this past spring, my husband... Read more
We live in a world filled with sorrow and strife, a world in need of hope. I find the hope I need in Jesus. He can be your hope, too. Finding a Favorite Bible Verse of Hope Many people, if asked their favorite Bible verse, will cite John 3:16, and it is a good one: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal... Read more
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