We turn into the open gate, the familiar crunch of gravel under our tires. Stepping out of the car, the scent of the pine forest fills my nostrils, evoking twenty-five years-worth of fond memories in this place. Already late for the first evening meeting, we head for the auditorium nestled in the trees. A towering, thickly forested mountain juts skyward in the background. Such beauty. Every year, I breathe in the sight. We hurry to join the others from our church network. For a good chunk of our lives, we have worshiped alongside these people, experiencing stirring messages and Continue Reading
Why Some Soul Wounds Require Understanding the Mother Heart of God
Going through my journals recently, I ran across an entry from February 2020. I was scheduled for a total hip replacement surgery, quite nervous about how the whole process. Sometimes I let the Lord speak to me through my pen. The deeply comforting words I found myself writing were these: "Let Me mother you in this situation." When we see God only as a father, not as a mother, we are left feeling like spiritual orphans bereft of the nurturing comfort and support provided by a mother. Read my article on this here - and may you experience the entirety of God's love for Continue Reading
Why I long to see gender equality in the Church
It was a simple enough assignment—reflect on the last eight weeks of class and share how I’ve grown spiritually by studying Luke-Acts. Little did I know I’d need a box of tissues at the ready. After discussing what I learned from the three texts we had read, I began to articulate something that touched me deeply. Permit me to share a portion of my recent spiritual formation essay: "One thing that was emphasized in this class is Jesus’ intentional and constant outreach to the oppressed and excluded, particularly women. Addressing this topic has a two-fold effect on Continue Reading
How Jesus’ Incarnation inspires awe in believers
Judah stretched and yawned, absently fondling the soft ears of the sheep lying nearest him. Shepherd’s Field was quiet at night, as usual. The tiny town of Bethlehem lay just down the road. Not much going on there tonight, either. Judah didn’t mind. He was a thoughtful lad, an animal-loving daydreamer. The older shepherds often teased him about his wandering imagination. “The boy’s mind must be in the heavenlies again!” Zebediah would say, causing the others to chuckle and shake their heads. Despite the teasing, Judah enjoyed his apprenticeship as a Levitical shepherd. It Continue Reading