Here’s God’s Real Labor of Love
I AM the vine. Long before Jesus took on the imagery of the vineyard for Himself, God had been using vineyard imagery to communicate His heart to the people. The Song of Vineyard is nestled in Isaiah 5:1-7. This delicate yet ferocious poem provides the most detailed...
The Secret Strategy to Multiply Your Productivity
Several years ago, I spent time with several vintners to better understand vine and wine imagery throughout the Bible. This became the foundation for a portion of the Scouting the Divine book and Bible study—this is the Bible study we’re diving into during our online...
The Magic and Mystery of Honeybees
I asked my sweet friend, the Rev. H. Elizabeth Back, an Episcopal priest and beekeeper to share what she’s discovered about God through her beehive. I hope her words will be as much of a blessing to you as they are me: Jesus first made himself known to me when I was...
How to Live a Better Story
Well-told stories capture the imagination, inspire the soul, awaken the spirit. Well-crafted stories can also cast a dark shadow, embed prejudices, invoke enmity. Like dynamite, a well-devised story requires careful handling, great attention to detail, accurate...
The Uncommon Cure for Anxiety and Fear
Did you know one of the most common prayer requests I receive circles around fear? Fear over job security. Fear over finances. Fear over broken marriages—or perpetual singleness. Fear over diagnosis. Fear over kiddos. We live in an anxiety-laden culture—fear lurks in...
The One Prayer You Need to Pray Today
On far too many days I read the Bible and don’t connect. It feels flat. Cold. Distant. The pages may contain timeless tales, but they feel boring. Flat. Stiff. They feel written endless miles away, in distant cultures, far off lands, a way of life I can’t relate to no...
3 Ideas to Entertain your Kids and Grandkids This Summer
Confession: I love being a Super-Aunt Mawwget to some beloved kiddos. On some of my favorite days, you’ll find me nestled up with my dear friend Jess’ snuggly little four-year-old. All the while Hershey looks on with disdain. So many of my friends are super mommas and...
How to Change One Life for Generations to Come
I knew it was going to be dark, but nothing could have prepared me for this. This week, I traveled half-way around the world to better understand cultural slavery and the sex industry in Thailand. On the outside, Bangkok is a bustling city, but when the sun goes down,...
What If God Gave You Everything You Ever Wanted?
Sometimes my prayers look like a laundry-list of to-dos. Like a 7-year-old who creates their Christmas wish-list in July, I stack request after request to God. Dear God, Mend. Heal. Redeem. Release. Forgive. Provide. Bring. Carry. Choose. Give. Fix. Help. Make. Do....
Here’s How to Recognize God’s Presence Today
I don’t know about you, but on so many days I wish God would show his face, speak up so I could be sure, draw an arrow on the ground so I know the way. I find myself frustrated with the lack of direction… with the lack of God’s tangible presence… with my lack of...
