“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” (Ecclesiastes 1:2) You might hear me cry these words as I toil over a sudsy sink of pots, pans, and floating food bits <shudder>. At the beginning of most days I try to empty the dishwasher so the kitchen won’t be a complete disaster by the […]
Day 10 :: 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles
The majority of the Old Testament was a confusing mess to me for many years because I did not know the history of Israel. I did not know that the northern 10 tribes split from Judah. I did not know the people were idolatrous. I did not know that they were eventually overtaken by other nations. […]
Day 9 :: Five Minute Friday… on Wednesda
In order to give myself some time to mull through the next post on the Old Testament (coming tomorrow), I decided to take a step back and participate in this week’s Five Minute Friday. I’ve missed it this month and since I think community with other writers is so important I’m going to join in… […]
Day 8 :: 1 & 2 Samuel {Man after God’s H
When 1 Samuel begins, it is still the period of the judges when everyone is doing whatever they want and generally ruining the country. However, there is the threat of the Philistines coming from the East and suddenly the people want someone to rule over them. But where is their heart? Do they want a […]
Day 6 :: Joshua & Judges {Rest & Rebelli
“Be strong and courageous.” These words of the LORD to Joshua rang in my heart this year as we made the Big Move “back home” from Colorado to Minnesota. I have experienced extreme ambivalence about this move. One half of me is ecstatic to be here. I love being near my parents and a couple […]
Day 4 :: Numbers {The Faithful One}
It was your typical Tuesday morning dash to get out the door: the spilled cereal, the “How many times do I have to tell you to put your underwear on?!”, the forgotten toothbrush… We were late. Again. While exhaling slowly to calm down, I hear my son break the silence in the car, “Mommy, will you […]
The prayer I pray today, when my questio...
I don’t have all of the answers. I like to think I do. As a pastor and teacher of all things Bible and theology, for five years people came to me for “the answers.” But when I was referenced in a sermon or meeting, “Ask Leah,” I felt a sense of shame and embarrassment. Because […]
What I am Fearing the Most (and my lifel...
He approaches the steep blue slide with excitement and gusto. The same slide that we went down together a few weeks ago only to have him cling to me and cry out in fear as we dropped to the bottom. I have never seen Ben go down a slide by himself, let alone this massive […]
How God Cared for Me
Day 20 of 31 Days of Connecting The other day, in a fit of exhaustion, I posted a link to my sermon on trusting God. I promised that part of my story (which starts here) is part of the sermon… and it is. But since I know most people do not have 30+minutes to listen to […]