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As We #Reopen, Let the Children Lead
If you’re like me, I get a “verse of the day” on my phone. Today’s verse was Jeremiah 17:7-8 which states, “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit”. What a timely word. The words “. . . does not fear”, “ . . . is not anxious”, and “does not cease to bear fruit” are so contrary to much of the what the…
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One Gift of #COVID? The Chance to #Walk by Faith
We now must do what we should have been doing all along, tread carefully and prayerfully day by day, and walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8) instead of plowing headlong into every expected activity, without even consulting the Lord about his agenda for us in these unprecedented times.
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I Don’t Know About You, but I Need Some #Rest
Fortunately, God is in the business of rest. Not the kind of rest after the source of stress is already eliminated, but the rest that happens in the middle of the storm, when the waves are still crashing in, disrupting plans and lives, rest for the truly weary.
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What do we need in a world that’s upside down? How about an upside down gospel?
It really is hard to believe. Who could have believed the barrage of change we have seen since last Christmas? Sure, we knew it might be a bit crazy with an unknown virus and a U.S. election. But a pandemic? Countries and states shutdown? Protests, violence and destruction?
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5 #Biblical Promises for #2020
I don’t know about you, but I am tired. Weary of many things, many circumstances I expected to be better by now, back to “normal”. It is times like these, times of seemingly endless waiting, that the promises of God we daily take for granted are our only hope. Here are five I am meditating on today. I hope they encourage you as much as they did me. We have salvation in Christ alone. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. 2. God gives us strength when we are weak. Isaiah 40:29-31 He gives…
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Practicing Perseverance
As a public school teacher, I have had the privilege of meeting some remarkable individuals. It never ceases to amaze me, the determination some of my students show as they face disabilities, neglect, abuse, mental illness, death, etc. . . . At such a young age, they just keep moving forward, fighting for their futures when most of us would have thrown in the towel. In March of this year, I fully believed the yard signs posted saying, “This Too Shall Pass”. I honestly posted comments to my struggling students saying, “This won’t last forever”. But it seems “this” is going to last a while. And we are tired. There…
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There is Only One True Savior, Even in #Election Years
It happens every four years. And no matter what we told ourselves after the last election, we all fall for the lie again and add at least one “Savior” to our list-at least until the election. They say history repeats itself, and elections are a vivid example of this. We all saw it four years ago, conservatives and liberals alike, the absurd way we let the election run our lives, strain (or ruin) our relationships, overrun us spiritually. We worshipped an idol-some politician who God definitely wanted, maybe even had “ordained”. And many of us vowed, to ourselves or others, that we wouldn’t do it again. “Next time I won’t…
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For Such a Time as This
It took me a while to notice. I mean, the first week back at work was such a whirlwind with new protocols, last minute schedule changes and the typical business of a new school year, and I’ll admit, I was fairly inward-focused, drowning in all I needed to get done. In the midst of this, one of my former students came to drop off a book, and stayed. He honestly didn’t like my class much last year, but he wanted to talk to me, tell me about his new schedule. He was happy to be back. And it kept happening, students stopping by just to say “Hi” and catch up…
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A #2020 Confession
Lord, Forgive me. During this time of shutdowns, COVID, and unrest I have despaired Feeling overwhelmed and isolated from others I have failed to trust in your sovereign will and promises I have feared You continually say, “Do not be afraid” But I have feared disease, death, discomfort and change I have hated In my pain and discomfort Those who disagree with me and those in power over me Instead of trusting that “ . . . nor anything . . . in all creation can separate me from your love” I have spouted off In person and online Impatiently voicing my frustration for all to hear Instead of being…
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When Step by Step is All We Have
I love school, in any form. The smell of pencils, crayons, new books, all of it gives me a strange feeling of excitement. In fact, I have never missed a fall in school, not one. My boys have bought into my excitement, and are ready to go back now-especially after spending 6 months at home. But, I have to admit, this fall has a different sentiment, an added feeling of unpredictability I’ve never experienced before. Sure, there are plans, but they are all tentative. I am hopeful we will go back, but there are so many unknowns. How will it work? Masks, schedules, lunches, sports-the questions are endless, and unanswerable…