The Closure of No Closure
One recent Sunday, our pastor preached from Deuteronomy 34. Preparing us for impending pastoral change, he invited us to embrace the journey to the Promised Land knowing that God's unwavering faithfulness will carry us through the pervasive uncertainty of leadership transition. As he read the passage, my heart became snagged . . .
Posted in: #assurance#grief#healing#peace
Do You Have a Need to Know?
My Waze and God's Ways
Every weekday, I drive into downtown Nashville using a navigation app on my phone. Mindful of the adventure of navigating through a city that is experiencing unprecedented growth, I am grateful for the heads up that it provides alerting me to delays, hazards, and even potholes along the way!
On a recent trip, while attentively . . .
Posted in: #assurance#guidance#technology
Upset and Troubled
"Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things" (Luke 10:41 NASB).
The One who spoke those words so long ago gently reiterated them to me as I drove to work one recent morning. Agitated (and perturbed for feeling so irritated), I clung white-knuckled to the steering wheel, lost in an inarticulate yet . . .
Chirping and Tweeting
I am very grateful for a work schedule that allows me to linger at the kitchen table in the mornings. This quiet time is filled with reading, writing, and more moments than I care to admit of mindlessly scrolling through social media. The soundtrack to my morning is filled with the peaceful sounds of nature and the occasional rustle of . . .
Go Ahead, 'Bother' the Teacher
A Not-So-Tongue-in-Cheek Invitation
“Don’t bother the teacher any longer.” That was the rebuke that derailed my focus from the sermon one recent Sunday morning. Abandoning the preacher's train of thought (sorry, pastor), I lingered in that Luke 8 passage, trying to understand the context for such a harsh statement.
Jesus, returning to the shore . . .
Posted in: #assurance#grief#healing#peace
Three Minute Miracle... or Maybe Not
On a recent stroll through the aisles of a discount department store, I came across a large endcap displaying a product called “3 Minute Miracle.” I chuckled, admiring the ample supply of divine favor in shiny-golden tubes at never-before-seen prices.
Further reflection, however, brought an unexpected weightiness as I thought . . .
Posted in: #assurance#characterdevelopment#hope#peace
"End of Cycle"
Reflections Inspired by an Old Clothes Dryer
Our 15-year-old dryer has an “End of Cycle” signal. When set to “on,” the dryer emits a piercing, five-second buzz at the completion of the cycle. Let me simply say, when the cycle is over, you know it!
I am mindful, however, that we are not always offered this luxury in life and in ministry. The One who . . .
Posted in: #assurance#guidance#hope#peace
