Like many people, I enjoy bird watching. We have two bird feeders, a bird bath, and a fountain feature which cascades into a small pond in our backyard. With at least half a dozen different tree varieties towering as a mini forest over our yard, we host many birds all year round. Our large picture window in the kitchen provides…
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Grief becomes dangerous when a subtle shift occurs moving us from a posture of mourning to questioning God’s goodness. I crossed a thin line as I cried out to God in painful lament. Forced into a difficult relational situation, which seems irrevocably broken; my grief over hurtful words spoken, futility in being misunderstood, and loss of my hope for reconciliation,…
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During a reflective moment resting in the shade, I savored what felt like a rescue from a life I no longer recognized. Despite the triple digit heat wave oppressing my little corner of the world, I had braved an outing with my dog, Shalom. Finding a tiny clearing in the woods sheltered by huge oaks, we settled into the cool…
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I woke up one day and found my life unrecognizable. So far removed from my original vision, my life story seemed to belong to someone else. Life is unpredictable and the story we hoped would unfold seldom becomes a reality. Our lives can change irrevocably in a moment—one bad decision or careless action alters our course. Or we find our…
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Though a friend of mine lost her husband to cancer thirteen years ago, she still describes grief as a frequent companion. She says over the years she softened to its presence, though it often comes without warning and never by invitation. After a pause, she added her belief in the healing power of grief. Her perspective resonates with me, and…
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Not long ago I spent time with someone enduring a long season of suffering. Sharing many things in common, our visits overflow with easy conversation and genuine connection. A rare friendship where we rest without the need to impress, suppress authenticity, or fear judgment, we open our hearts to wrestle with the hard things in life. We have both found…
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Have you ever felt disillusionment with God, holding the story of a life you no longer recognize? Have you sought for answers only to wonder, “where is God in the silence?” We all came to Jesus with broken pieces of ourselves we hoped He would heal. Whether physical healing, illness, addictions, financial woes, relational brokenness, or sundry other wounds, our…
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Do you have a signature scent? A perfume (or cologne) you never leave home without? As a chemically sensitive person, I am inundated with the toxicity of fake scents all the time. I often wonder at the motive behind wearing a scent so ostentatious that it announces your arrival long before your body appears and lingers abusively after you leave….
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Often likened to a wilderness, Lent, as the forty days of spiritual reflection, repentance, and revisitation of Christ’s crucifixion, invites us into the wisdom of the wilderness. While some of us go with willing hearts, others refuse, or slog in with reluctance. Yet this interval of time between the celebration of Christ’s birth, and His death and resurrection require something…
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