Little Josiah, from my recent book, Josiah’s Fire: Autism Stole His Words, God Gave Him a Voice, inspires thousands with his great wisdom. I especially love one of the things Josiah shared with his mom, my coauthor, Tahni: “If you love the child you have, you’ll have the child you love.” The more I considered it, the more I realized this same truth truth could also apply to marriage. If you love the spouse you have, you’ll have the spouse you love. Dwight and I recently had an opportunity to give marriage counseling to a guy on the phone who was at the …
Happy Thanksgiving
Reconciled
Isn’t that what it’s all about—being reconciled to God and living as if we truly are? Jesus is all about reconciliation. Bridging the gap between the Father and us. “It is finished.” The curtain tore in two. We can enter a meaningful life of intimacy with Jesus. Christ the King lives within! The same Spirit that raised Christ from the death lives in us! [box] “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” 2 Corinthians 4:7[/box] Merry Christmas! In the comment section, name one thing you …
However, Whenever
However, Whenever You are My crystal pitcher, pure refreshment, poured out. Depleted, exhausted, spent? Let My Living Water fill your space, richly. Again and again, I satisfy. Making you satisfying to quench. See My sparkling face shining through you, never dulling? You know Me deeper daily, but I know you deeper still. You lived with Me from the beginning, a spirit-seed awaiting place and time. I waited with you before you even knew how to know. I waited to breathe in you and be your love-blood. I waited to get messy for you and raise you …
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 …
Your Blooming Dreams
Dear God-Sized Dreamer, When fear screams as loud as your dreams, drink Him in. He will brighten you. Your Creator is a dreamer too. He “gets” you and He wants to work with you. The soil is tough, but the same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead, breathes in you. He is your whole reason to dream. The One who holds you will bring it to pass in due season. [box] “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” …
Poem For God-Sized Dreamers
Dream a dream. A God-sized dream. But never dream alone. Link hearts with God, your dream-Maker, in every dream-seed sown. That hope he planted in your heart to do that God-sized thing~ Keep dousing it with prayer and work, and watch your dream take wing. The path of dark and dirty soil may hide you long and low, but deep in Christ, you’re safe to trust He’ll grace you as you grow. A little here, a little there, as days and nights accrue, your heart will beat as one with His. There’s nothing you can’t do. …
Good Words and Flying Balloons
It was a no good, really bad day, and I couldn’t hide my tears. To make matters worse, my son caught sight of me as he scuttled by. But he held his calm. He did a double take, and flashed a smile. “You’re God’s warrior,” he said. I blinked. Did that really come from his twelve year old mouth? His words found their place. They flickered some kind of light in me. You know how love plus truth equals hope, right? Well, I daydreamed as he skipped off to his room. Then he returned. “Remember, you’re God’s warrior!” he repeated …
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 …
God’s A Planner
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 Satan is our disaster-planner, but he’s not the writer of our future. God is. Best of all, God is into the details, right down to our cellular level. Consider the word disaster. An “aster” is a star-shaped structure that forms during cell reproduction. It’s formation is crucial to sustain all future life. We know Satan “disses” or disrespects all things “life,” especially Jesus, the author of life. That’s why …
Beside My Cross
In truth, be rooted in Easter Love today, light and free as a tree bud, purposed and held together by Divine dwelling in your small, simple swelling. You’re your Branch’s crowning hope-jewel, Heaven’s waving, waiting, merry-making tool. The Easter Seed broke to tell your glory story, singing you to fullness, clothing you in new, death-defying nature, securing all you could ever want to be, simply, in Me. Nothing speaks of our potential and value to God like the cross. The cross is why we have a glory story. Because of Christ’s sacrifice, we can wholly lean into grace, …
A Word to the Dying
Cindy Finch Suffering from roller-coaster emotions? I wish I could tell you some sweet little words that would make it better. But I can’t. You are on a long, hard journey. But you are not alone. When you’re reduced to nothing but grit… and even that is diminishing, God promises to hold you in His tender care and stand tough on your behalf. Watch His light shine brightest in your darkness. To the Terminally Ill: Hold hands with God; He knows the way. Do everything you know to do; then leave the rest to the all-powerful One. Let Him choose …
King of the Sewer
Crisis When my friend, Cindy Finch, was pregnant with her youngest son, Brandon, she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. “You’d be dead in a few weeks if you didn’t come to see me,” her oncologist told her. When doctors gave Cindy the most aggressive cancer treatments available, they said, “they’ll either kill you or save you.” Cindy became sick beyond functioning; but by a miracle of God, the medicine worked! Five years into remission, Cindy was thrust in another test: The treatments had caused her to develop serious heart and lung failure. Open-heart surgery removed the damaged …
Why Read the Bible?
My child, I’m with you, waiting to lighten your day with Truth. Open yourself to freedom, joy, hope, health, & soul rest. Bathe in My pages that spear each test. Lean on Me when you can’t see. I’ll help you over-stand. Soak in grace. I was poured in your place! Truth seeps in the secret places, mending, brightening. I stumbled through wrath to make your path secure. Tiptoe close. Absorb My sweet-somethings in your ear. As the flower turns to the sun, or the dog to his master, so the soul turns to God. – William Temple To him who …
Purpose in the Darkness
When Lazarus was deathly ill, Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus. They waited. And waited. Where was their beloved Master? Four days in a tomb brought more than a foul smell. It brought more mourners ~ more potential. “Many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.” (John 11:19-20) Here was this kitchen-busy Martha, kicking her beautiful heart into action while Mary stayed home this time. “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you …
Why Would God Allow This?
I wasn’t prepared for the phone call. Jay, a friend I hadn’t talked to since high school, had just heard that an innocent little girl in town was raped and murdered…
“Where’s your God in this? Why didn’t He do something?”
God Never Wastes Pain
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROz6m7DP5oc[/youtube] Whatever you’re going through, Christ sees the purpose beyond your here and now. In 2005 He arranged my friendship with a young wife and mother who was dying of stage four lung cancer. Chantale invited me into her world for regular visits. I was nervous because I didn’t know what to say, but God reminded me of my gift to write poetry. When Chantale said it brought her peace, I kept writing these home and hospice-delivered gifts. What started as poetry in obscurity has become a faith-building gift book. Because God never wastes pain, A Friend in the Storm …
Business, Busyness, & Big, Brave Dreams!
“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5