(In my September post at Inspire a Fire, I reflect on the change of seasons in life and reminisce about the day I sent my baby to school.) Homemade cheesebread with marinara sauce. “Oh no, what if Lewis can’t open his milk carton?” Those were the first five words on the back-to-school lunch menu and that was the thought that ran through my head sending a fresh waterfall of tears down my face. Yes, I read the school lunch menu and cried. And cried. And cried. That was several years ago, but I remember it like it was several blinks…
John Piper speaking at Passion ’97. (Taken on my not-so-high-quality camera with real film that had to be sent away in a cute little black tube to be developed.) Dear Mr. Piper, It is 1997. Me and my 6 friends, ready to hit the road. I am 21 years old, and I just hopped into a van with six of my friends to drive 17 hours from Ames, Iowa to Austin, Texas for the Passion ’97 Conference. I have no idea who you are. Just a name and a photo. A middle-aged…
Marlowe, Hildy and me the summer after Grandma died The night before my surgery, I received this email from my great-uncle Marlowe. HILDY HAS BEEN FEELING PUNK THE LAST FEW DAYS AND WENT TO BED EARLY TONIGHT. I WAS WASHING DISHES WHEN SHE CALLED ME TO THE BEDROOM. SHE SAID THIS IS STRANGE. “I’VE BEEN HEARING THE VOICE OF MY FATHER PRAYING FOR KIM AND HER SURGERY. WRITE THEM AND EMAIL AND LET THEM KNOW THAT ALL IS WELL AND THE SURGERY WILL GO WITHOUT INCIDENT. NOW I CAN GO TO SLEEP”. YOU HAVE BEEN…
Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed. Matthew 26:39 I’ve been thinking a lot about a little farther. When Jesus was preparing for his death, he took his close friends with him to Gethsemane to pray. Three of those friends he took with him further into the garden. But even those three couldn’t go as far as Jesus needed to go. Where he was heading, he had to go alone. I am definitely not Jesus, and my circumstances are a bit less consequential. But I am beginning to understand a little farther. I…
January 6th was my deadline for my contribution to the TCW devotional book, Sanctuary For My Soul. January 9th I found a lump in my breast. January 20th I was diagnosed with breast cancer. My devotion quickly forgotten, (along with pretty much every other non-essential part of my life), I was shoved into a daily struggle to trust in God’s plan for me. I didn’t doubt God’s goodness or love for me on January 9 or January 20. But I didn’t like where he was taking me. (That’s an understatement by the way.) Over the past few months I have felt…