“Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, ‘He told me everything I ever did.’” (John 4:39) For years I studied John 4:1-42 with students at the Scum Study Center. We picked apart the text from the literary context to the poetic imagery to the place where they […]
The Truth of Who I Am :: Shame vs Love {...
It’s Friday and time for Five Minute Friday again. Kate Motaung has prompted us with the word “Truth.” I could go so many ways with this, but right now there is only one I want to talk about. The Truth of who I am. I’ve written briefly on shame for the past week or so. […]
Why Depression Won’t Win: An Easter Refl
I am a girl who feels she is not enough. Perfection seems like it should be possible and yet I fall short. I snap at my kids. I am jealous of other women. I am irritable, selfish, materialistic. I see my sin. I struggle with depression, shame, and fear. And I know I would be […]
As a Christian Perfectionist, I feel lik...
A month ago I preached what has been called my “best sermon yet.” While it didn’t feel that awesome to me (I was tired and a bit uncertain) I do believe that God had something to say. Here is the introduction to the sermon. If you want to hear the whole thing, listen here or get it on […]
Why I’m Grateful I Screw Up
The Way of Gratitude: Day 6 (originally posted here) Reading this, I remember why I’m naming our dog Gracie. Grace is amazing. In the full sense of that word. Last night, I didn’t post about gratitude. I didn’t feel it. I was worn out from lots of housework, only to find that the hose from the […]
What I Remember When I Feel I Don’t Have
The Way of Gratitude: Day 4 (originally posted here) This evening we went to Costco and stocked up. Apples, bread, pancake batter, mandarins oranges, pizza, sponges, toothbrushes… and on and on. So much so that I groaned a little as I paid for it all. I’m not sure how much we have left in our […]
For the first time, I acknowledged my lo...
Day 8 of 31 Days of Connecting My journey of 31 days is taking a little turn. Over the next days – as many as it takes – I want to share my recent story with you. It started here, yesterday. Please start there. I pray that hearing my story of connecting – of REconnecting – […]
You Did Not Kill Jesus
Day 2 of 31 Days of Connecting We are in church, worshiping, in awe and adoration of the Love God has for us when suddenly that line is there. There on the screen. And the condemnation and shame I felt as a Christian child, teenager, and young adult squeezes my throat, condemns my heart. “Ashamed I […]
Loneliness
Today, I’m feeling lonely. It’s not a loneliness caused by being alone, no, most often I’m surrounded by people and crave a moment to myself. Like, a moment to go to the bathroom alone without someone walking in or screaming at me from the other room. Or some time alone to remember, “what was I […]