Come, prized pearls of purpose, who Jesus adores! Dance free with your Lover who wins all your wars. The Bright Star of Heaven came perfect and weak. He died this way too, that His face you might seek. Come praise and proclaim Him who pardons your soul. Who heals and delivers each part of you, whole! Leap high like a child who your Savior pursues. Come boldly embrace Him who walks in your shoes. The Lord seeks and sees you. Find purpose and rest. His Presence proves perfect, amidst every test. poem by Cheryl Ricker Dwight and I began our …
Storm-stepping
I’m now home from our 25th anniversary celebration in Clearwater Beach. Pondering storms and focus. Three of us four Rickers have been long-battling a fairly serious physical storm, even as we intentionally focus on the Son. Storms feel confusing. They don’t make sense. They’re a test. How do we get to the other side? What should we do? What now, what next? The list goes on. Here are a few short lessons I’ve learned from our storms. As always, I pray you’re somehow encouraged and blessed. When you start to feel overwhelmed, meditate on the Word and the good that …
Selfless Example
The fact that Jesus emptied and limited Himself when He came to earth, makes me wonder exactly how much the human part of Him grasped the extent of His imminent suffering. Jesus eagerly desired to save the world, but as the end drew near, as Jesus talked to His Father in a garden reminiscent of the one where the first Adam hid from His Father, as Jesus prepared to absorb in His sinless body all the sins of the world, all the wrath of His Father… His heart picked up, His hands trembled, blood-red beads of sweat awakened the raw …
Sore Spot
The Lord gives me tons of these phrases which I promptly post on Facebook to encourage people. Every now and again, it does the opposite and hits a sore spot. After a positive outpouring, I read this comment a woman named Angela posted: Why do I doubt this? 2 guys tried to break into my home 7 times… I chased after them once, they continued to harass me, I couldn’t sleep for a year and my nerves took years to recoup and only now do I feel a little better. Tonight I spend the night alone and ain’t going to lie, …
Spiritual Caulking
Ooo… Ahh… We have a brand spanking new bathroom. After gutting our old one, we put in a new one with the most beautiful floor to ceiling tiles and clean white vanity. That’s probably why our hearts hit the floor this morning when our son took a shower, went downstairs, and discovered a major leak from the new bathroom above. “No!!!” Morning Surprise We opened the closet, shone a flashlight on and around the pipes behind the new tub, and everything was drenched, especially our new so-called “drywall.” How could this be, Lord? Don’t we have enough fires to put …
Falling Down Safe
Sometimes in the pruning, little homes get toppled. Creature comforts get turned upside down. Fear. Sometimes warm hands reaching out feel cold and foreign. Sometimes they just want to love. Sometimes we need to climb higher. Have a holy huddle. Sometimes we need to see down times as opportunities for more closeness. Sometimes loving touches speak louder than words. Sometimes we’re blessed to make a new friend. We can taste and see the goodness of God. In everything. Everything can be a learning experience… When we’re open and brave… …
The Ugly Wife
When I hear Jacob tell my father how much he loves my sister, my heart sinks. I’m second place because of my sister’s good looks. Passing by, I can’t help but notice the twinkle in their eyes as they hold each other in their gaze. Him, tall and ruddy; her, bright and curvy. I couldn’t possibly feel any more plain or invisible. I almost choke when my father wants me to slip me into Jacob’s tent and marry him secretly. What a horrible trick. Am I that ugly that I need to lower myself like this? I do as he …
Raging Seas
Shaken Heart Waves ride high, licking the sides of your boat, toppling inside. Water deepens, clawing tightness in your chest. Jesus had snatched this boat at the end of a long, crowd-saturated day, so he could reach the other side of the sea. With Jesus asleep now, you feel abandoned. Must you and your friends battle this storm by yourselves? In a howling gust, your boat couldn’t be more tossed and you know you’re going to drown. What in the world? Shouldn’t Jesus at least see this mess he threw you into? Winds roar so loud you can hardly hear …
U.S. Son on Malaysia Flight
News Video: Grieving US Mother Clings To God Grievous disappearance How does a mother respond when crisis strikes? Sondra Wood had just seen her son, Philip, the week before he disappeared on the Malaysian aircraft, flight 370. Philip had visited her Texas home and shared about his IBM job-move from Beijing to Malaysia. “He was excited about his new adventure,” says the devastated mother. “Only people who know God can survive things like this in a good way. I know in my heart I will get through this.” As a Christian, Sondra knows God doesn’t spare us from trouble. He does, however, …
Press On Strong
As many of you know, I’m working on a new book that will release with Zondervan next year: Jesus in my Room At least that’s what it’s called for now. We’ll see if they change it or not. Have you ever worked on something where you continually feel that streeeetch of the soul? Then you know how I feel. Sometimes I wish I could order a little more trust and patience. Maybe press the “buy with one click” button on Amazon. Here’s me talking to myself again: [box] Did God call you to do this? Yes. Absolutely. Well, if he …
God’s Detours
[box] When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt armed for battle. Exodus 13:17-18[/box] I love how God considers our weaknesses when planning our itineraries. Yo, Gabriel! Better steer that Cheryl Ricker toward Sam’s Club instead of HyVee down the street. HyVee has a sale on chocolate and they’re …
Balancing the Love Scales
Poor poor Leah. I know what it’s like to be picked last on a team, but I’ve never been my husband’s second choice for a wife. Jacob liked Leah’s sister, Rachel, the pretty-faced hottie with a body. Jacob thought he was working seven years for Rachel, but woke up the night after the wedding with a gasp of horror at his father-in-law’s switcheroo. Because Leah wasn’t what Jacob wanted, he kept working another seven years for the one he truly adored. Rachel. Our Compassionate God [box] But because Leah was unloved, the LORD let her have a child, while Rachel …
Scars of Trust
It felt like a punch in the gut. My husband and I wrote this for the classifieds: FREE older playground set, complete with swings, slide, and climbing fort. First person to pick it up, gets it! We fielded constant calls before a couple finally padded across our lawn, inspecting their potential treasure. “Oooh…” they gushed. “Our kids will looove it! But we can’t pick it up until Monday. Is that ok?” The couple won us over, so we deviated from our first-picker-upper-gets-it plan. We shook on it, and it was a done deal for Monday. We thought. Monday was family …
Everything Happens For A Reason?
“How can it be possible that everything happens for a reason? Some things are too painful!” Has a hurting friend ever said this? How did you respond? [box] “In your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” 1 Peter 3:15[/box] As Christians, our hope isn’t based on feelings and circumstances; it’s based on God’s character, Sovereignty, and unshakable love. The bright Jewel of heaven went through hell for us. Why? Because He’s all about redeeming our broken places. Look How …
Ok, God, I’m Listening
Prayer with a friend stopped short when I received a call from the school secretary saying, “Justin was in an accident during gym class.” Racing for the soccer ball in a one-on-one game against time, my eleven-year old collided heads with another boy. Arriving at the nurse’s office, my son lay flopped on her bench with an icepack to the back of his head, eyes glazed. The doctor said he suffered a concussion. A CT scan showed a fracture to his temporal bone, the part of his skull behind the ear. My pastor’s words rang in my spirit, dangling with …
Redeeming Sensitivity
Susan Delaney was mad at herself. After a misunderstanding with her coworker, she willed her voice and face to stay intact. But she lost the battle. As she stood in his office, her eyes misted and her lips quivered. With no turning back, she wondered, will he understand? In light of his knowledge about her current stress, she guessed yes. When she first got the job, Dan reminded her of a father-like figure. A whole lot better than her father, actually. “Are you trying to manipulate me?” The question jolted her, cutting deeper. She last heard it from the lips …
A Time To Die?
Leaves litter the ground, reminding me how seasons bleed, one into the next, as quick as a blink, while God waits for us to catch new vision. I kick back on the swing, crunching my feet in fresh crisps of color as I mull over memories of my dear Aunt Shirley. How strange I can’t call her anymore. As sudden as a Minnesota temperature drop, her brain aneurism leaves my own brain reeling. I crumble squeeze a bright orange leaf, blink away pictures of us splashing together at her cottage, of us wizening from sun and water, coming out smelling …
Dear God, Why Can’t I Have a Baby?
One in six couples suffer with infertility, feeling ostracized and alone. “Too make matters worse,” says Janet Thompson, “few churches offer support groups to counsel this large overlooked group.” After surgery for a ruptured ovarian cyst at age twenty-one and newly engaged, the doctor told Janet that her ovaries were cystic and looked like those of a 90-year-old woman. “Sorry, you’ll never be able to have children.” Three years into marriage, Janet was miraculously pregnant with her daughter Kim! Still, Janet couldn’t shake the worry that maybe Kim would have trouble getting pregnant too. Years later, her fears proved …
In My Distress
[box] “In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry.” Jonah 2:2[/box] Jesus Whispers: Your troubles are safe in My ears. I don’t always answer the way you expect, but I answer. When people hurt you, don’t carry the burden of judge and jury. That’s my job. I’m the only who sees the heart. Pray for your enemies, leave room for my discipline, and allow my grace to flow through you. Freely you have received; freely give. When you’re …
The Empty Fix
Lord, I marvel because… You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar… Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? Psalm 139:2,7 Jesus whispers: I am your greatest fan, but I do more than cheer you on, more than weep with your tears and shout with your victories. I celebrate you. When the world tries to empty you dry, I bathe you in living water, reminding you that in Me, you posess everything. I was stripped of My glory so you could wear My righteousness. In my …