Tag: jesus
-
Love One Another (Like Jesus)
Love one another…as I have loved you. These are some of the last words Jesus spoke to His disciples before his crucifixion. The world does not understand this kind of love. The world says: Love those who love you. Love those who look like you, talk like you and agree with you. The world divides…
-
Where Are You Aslan? We Need You Now.
I’m writing during our recent winter storm. It’s snowy and beautiful outside. The giant pine tree boughs are laden with white fluff. Suddenly, the weight is too much and the mounds of snow flutter to the ground. This white mask encases everything in my world and a bluish-gray mist hovers over the mountainous horizon. The…
-
A Gift of Quiet Grace
That morning, I made my decision. I would trim Dad’s fingernails. It was a simple task, wasn’t it? I could offer this service without much effort. It would be a gift of quiet grace. Dad had needed his nails trimmed for some time, and I’d asked his nurses to do it when I had them…
-
Epiphany: A Revival of the Heart
Every early January we celebrate Epiphany, a Christian festival commemorating the journey of the Magi or Three Kings to Bethlehem. They followed a divine star in the sky that led them to the Christ child. These Wise Men recognized Jesus’ identity as King, while the rest of the world remained unaware. This earth-shattering revelation quietly…
-
Christmas: When Our Expectations Flip Upside Down
Christmas time is packed full of expectations. Every parent tasked with decorating their home and buying gifts for their children understands exactly what I mean. Even those hosting the holiday meal make sure to serve it with all the expected traditional dishes. No one wants to disappoint their loved ones. We strive instead for that…
-
Advent: When God Broke Through the Silence
The Advent season is upon us. Now is the time for retelling the story of Jesus’ birth in Christmas pageants across the globe. Tradition paints us a picture of a diverse cast of characters from the very young to the elderly, the poorest in ancient society to the most powerful. The word of the Lord…
-
Seeking Strength Within the Struggles of Life
If there’s one common diagnosis (besides viral illnesses) I see often in my medical practice, it’s anxiety. We all carry worries. High social standing or a stellar financial portfolio do not make us immune to life’s challenges. They only lead us to believe we can handle every set back on our own. But this couldn’t…
-
If You Want to Overcome Anxiety—Learn Contentment
What is one dependable way to lessen worry and anxiety immediately? Learn contentment. Yes, this sounds counter to everything we hear and read in the media. From television commercials to Facebook feeds, we’re lured into thinking that we’ll never have enough. Sound bites and Instagram reels convince us our lives are not as glamorous or…
-
Boldly Break Free from This Self-Imposed Silence
There’s a strange sort of dynamic going on in the US for some time now. Even though everyone is guaranteed the right to free speech and religion, a number of people don’t fully exercise that freedom. A vocal minority bullies the majority into remaining quiet about their opinions and beliefs by claiming such talk is…
-
Discovering How to Be Still and Wait on the Lord
If you were to ask anyone who knows me well to rank my strengths, knowing how to be still and wait wouldn’t even make the list. I’m the first to admit, calmness within a delay is not a quality I possess. But if you need ideas and action, I’m your girl. Give me a problem…
-
Bent But Not Broken: 5 Ways to Grow Resilience
A solitary tree stands like a sentry in our backyard stretching upward into the sky. It marks the entrance to the holler leading up to the natural spring feeding water to our home. Although only a common tulip poplar, this tree has a distinctive feature not easily noticed in the tall grass. The base of…
-
Celebrating a Different Kind of Freedom
This year’s Independence holiday reminds me how thankful I am every day for the freedoms afforded me in America. It’s important to recognize that our rights are not entitlements, but gifts paid forward by the sacrifices of our forefathers. We must never take them for granted. For as we’ve witnessed in other parts of the…
-
God’s Grace Is Never Stagnant
The Jordan river in Israel flows into the Sea of Galilee then moves southward until it ends in the Dead Sea. It enters and leaves the Sea of Galilee, vibrant and full of life. Fishermen are still seen on the shores of the lake, as in Jesus’ time on earth, harvesting the tilapia that thrive there. In contrast, when the Jordan…
-
Walking With God: A Powerful Partnership
Hiking is my passion. Over my lifetime, I’ve found that nothing calms my soul like a trek through the forest. The scent of pine and the chatter of birds within the trees draw me into a holy communion with the Lord. Nature is His tabernacle. It’s in these wild places—not within the walls of a…
-
Hope When Life Throws You Roadblocks
It’s difficult to maintain hope when life throws you roadblocks. This is especially true when one obstacle after another litters your path. Sometimes these situations only act as speedbumps. But at other times, they’re a massive rockslide blocking your way. How do you keep a positive attitude when these roadblocks make any forward movement impossible?…
