encouragement
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A Prayer to the God of My Life
Psalm 42:7-8 Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; All your waves and breakers have swept over me. By day the LORD directs His love, At night His song is with me— A prayer to the God of my life. Dear God, Remember when I played in the ocean waves as a…
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Out of Poverty, She Gave Everything
Mark 12:41-44 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus…
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I’m Going Fishing: Craving Comfort In Uncertainty
Salmon are an amazing species. They are anadromous—born in the fresh waters of a stream or river, they make their way downstream to the ocean, spend their adult lives at sea, and eventually return to the exact freshwater stream where they were born to spawn. Bypassing every other river and tributary along the way, they…
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Hope in Desperation: Two Stories, Twelve Years, One Savior
God works in the details. This message is given to comfort us, reminding us of His presence and His care. Jesus told us that even the hairs on our head are numbered. In Psalm 139, we learn that God searches us and knows us completely—our thoughts, our journeys, and our very inmost being. We see…
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Comfortable in the Darkness – Time to Wake Up
“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.” (Isaiah 9:2) I have the wonderful job of waking up a middle schooler for school. Every morning at 6:15, I open my eldest daughter’s door and step in. At the…
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The Power of an “Even If” Attitude
Daniel 3:17–18: “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” The God…
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Masterpiece In the Margin: See Beyond the Mistake
I make mistakes—a lot. My kids even have a running joke about my tendency to run into stationary objects with my vehicle. It’s true; there is a fresh dent, a new scratch, and a crack in my car’s frame to prove it. I just can’t seem to get it right, and every time I walk…
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Day 196: The Weight of the Wait
I once wrote about being 154 days into my own personal wilderness. Today is Day 196. How vast is this place? They tell you that in times of waiting, you must rely on hope. For a while, shimmers of it kept me moving, fueled by the belief that good things were just around the corner—clinging…
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Tigger or Eeyore: Who Are You Showing Up As?
I recently scored a free “adventure pass” from the library for a local museum. It was a niche spot with minimal interactive displays, a hyper-specific subject matter that my children cared little about, and a “waste of time” warning from a friend. Still, I grabbed it. It’s an iconic landmark in the city I’ve called…
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A Valiant Warrior: Prepared for Impact
Imagine a valiant warrior. What do you see? Chiseled features? Metal armor? Is it like a gladiator or a knight? Maybe camouflage. Is the warrior wearing a helmet? Are weapons drawn? What powerful armament is carried by such a warrior to aid in the annihilation of the enemy force? I see the stern eyes gazing…