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Sometimes God uses the physical things of this world to teach us spiritual truths.  In this story, He used the rocks on the shore of Lake Superior to teach me about His heart.  Recently, while camping on the North Shore, we met our friends on the beach for a worship service.  Surrounded by the beauty of God’s creation, I was amazed by ALL the rocks: big rocks, little rocks, round rocks, flat ones, smooth and rough, gray and tan.  Such…

I’m thankful that these prayer clinics can continue  – because I know from first-hand experience how precious it is when we intentionally come into the presence of Jesus, and we invite him to meet us right where we are.   It is in His presence that healing comes. I want to tell you a little of my story, and then I’ll share a scripture with you. I am a person who values peace – I’m happiest when everyone around me is…

For me to even dare to stand before you, I have to remember who I am. I am a child of God, of Jesus, the Christ, the one true King. In Him I can do all the things He asks me to do. My focus today is on the phrase, “I have been set free.” First let me describe myself from a former time. I have a mental picture of a dog who’s always afraid it’s going to be reprimanded…

What do a broken arm, a tree along the North Shore, and the French Resistance during World War II have in common?  That is actually not a joke and there is not a punchline coming—these are all things that the Lord used over my summer to prepare me for what the fall would bring. In early July, I went for a Sunday morning bike ride to the farmer’s market and then through one of my favorites places to ride in…

Last August, my husband and I reveled in two quiet weeks away from the hubbub of our busy household and the pressures of work at a secluded and beautiful farm.  There was time for walking, napping, talking and reading.  It was glorious.  But In the midst of this idyllic getaway, I started to notice little thoughts of worry regularly popping up, such as, if my husband was gone on an errand that I thought would take 30 minutes, but 35 minutes had passed,…

God created us to live in securely bonded relationships and families.  We are conceived in relationship, and we grow and develop in relationship.  When we experience relational disconnection and separation, or rupture, we feel emotional pain. This pain (or its side effects) is there to let us know something is wrong — in the present, or in the past. God can use this pain, and our desire to find healing, to lead us closer to him and to others. And even…

Several years ago I was contemplating renovating my kitchen and having a hard time with the thought of change.  I sat down with a designer to put a sample computer-generated remodel together and I didn’t like what she wanted to do, at all.  It didn’t make any sense for my space and for some reason, it actually brought me to tears.  Later that afternoon, I was at church and somewhere in the midst of the worship, sensed that the Lord…

I’m the woodland steward at my house.  When we bought our home 16 years ago, we were attracted to the small woodland in the backyard – it seemed the perfect place for our 4 sons to ramble.  Little did I know at the time, how God would later use those woods to restore my soul. Have you heard of Forest Bathing?  It’s the latest health and wellbeing craze that began in Japan. Scientific evidence has shown that just being in the…

In the third week of January, 2009, my husband, Jeff and I had the privilege of vacationing on the Island of Hawaii. We took advantage of a Costco offer with an upgrade at the Hilton resort, and a car for an enticing bargain. In spite of a full fourteen hour travel day, we both knew escaping from the snow and cold weather into a warm sunny lush tropical island would prove to be rewarding. We arrived into our room with…

This is a story about woundedness, about loss and about music. (Names and details have been changed or omitted.)   A sister of a close friend died last month. From an overdose of heroin. In a field behind a Walmart in California. Her drug-addicted son, who introduced her to drugs, did not tell the rest of the family for more than three weeks.  Her obituary, written by her brother, describes her early life, growing up on the family farm and being raised in the Baptist church.  It tells how, in high school, she won…