Breathe

If you are around me when you are stressed or frustrated, you will hear me say, "breathe." I used to think the important part was the inhale, since that is where you get the fresh air. The good air goes in. You can tell when someone is not really breathing. One time I was encouraging …

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God Buys Dirt

One of the many blessings of being in full time ministry is getting to hear stories about how God came through in a way that only God could. Sometimes it is through people, and other times through crazy situations that you cannot make up. A verse that is often misquoted, but used as a reminder …

Measuring My Days

I have told my kids over and over, we are blessed beyond measure. Sometimes it is to declare this amazing truth, and other times to remind us, because life can be hard and it is easy to forget. Many years ago I started on a journey of joy. I did not know it was a …

Baking Cookies

You will not find my strongest spiritual gifts on any spiritual assessment or even mentioned directly in the Bible.  I have taken a few and as much as they say my gifts are this or that, I am convinced that chocolate chip cookie making is really my spiritual gift. Meaning I do not have to …

Serve Like You are Serving a King

  The plaque was above the oven in the “soup” kitchen. The manager of the kitchen pointed the sign out as he gave us directions on preparing and serving the meal. Every person who came in was to be treated as a king or queen. Every person was to be treated with dignity and honor. …

Sunday Quotes

Few of My Favorite Things

https://amzn.to/2CT5BUF  This is the followup to One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. Both are worth your time. This one is another one of my top ten with much highlighting and notes. Also one of my few that I have read twice. She does a beautiful job of writing about the tension of brokenness and giving. …

Jesus in Jail

I was surprised to find Him there, not sure why. Jesus said in His own words, “I was in prison and you came to visit me.”( Matthew 5:26b) He said we would find Him there.  The day we were getting the tour of the jail and getting the rundown of all the rules we had …

The Pastor’s Wife

Who me? Are you introducing me as the pastor’s wife? I remember the first I time I realized that someone saw me differently than I saw myself. (I know, I am slow). It was many years in and someone introduced me to their sister as the pastor’s wife. In my mind I was startled by …

Nehemiah Ministry (and other not so spiritual ideas)

Righteous anger, yes! Jesus flipping tables because someone was being taken advantage of, yes! Nehemiah plucking beards of elders who were abusing power, yes! Sign me up! Righteous! Anger! Or...not so righteous… but I mean well, and start well, but in Ephesians it says,"in your anger do not sin."  I somehow start well, and end …