What’s in a name? I was named Patricia Elizabeth. Patricia means of noble birth, and has its roots in Latin. Elizabeth is a biblical name meaning “my God is an oath.” * In the early days of our friendship, my friend and her husband were talking, and Rick was trying to remember my name. “You … Continue reading What’s In a Name?
Recently, there has been some disappointing and heartbreaking news about popular Christian leaders, singers, and writers who have admitted to not living rightly before the LORD. This is distressing to hear, but what has bothered me equally is what some other professed followers of Christ have written about them. We shouldn’t write, speak, or judge … Continue reading Handling Betrayal
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. Psalm 23:2-3 How many years did I go about my life knowing and agreeing with this verse, but never experiencing it fully. Even in the few moments when I gained a glimpse, the realization that it was … Continue reading A Restored Life
“He was despised and rejected by men, A man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.” Isaiah 53:3 NIV The faint sound of an infant’s cries, intermingled with the bleating of sheep, draws you toward the opening where the flickering of lantern light emits. The air, pungent with the lingering scents of animal waste, dampness and … Continue reading Advent – Week 3
“This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:12 NIV God is a God of humility. During Advent, we celebrate that Almighty God, who needs nothing and lacks nothing, humbled Himself to be born as a weak, helpless human baby. Not a … Continue reading Advent – Week 2
November. Leaves of red, lime-green, orange and burnished gold drop in blowing clusters outside my window. It is a visual feast for my eyes, but the underlying awareness that it is November dampens the pleasure and brings trepidation. Thanksgiving looms for my American friends and Christmas for us all. The word November brings the visual … Continue reading What Does Faithfulness Look Like?
I love puzzles. All kinds of puzzles. The challenge of figuring out the answer draws me like a lure on a fishing line. As cooler weather creeps in, I get excited about starting a new jigsaw puzzle. I have been doing them as long as I can remember. For some people, it causes anxiety, but … Continue reading Are You Puzzled by Chaos?
The LORD is the Lover of my soul. I have grown to know and love him because he first loved me and extended his grace through the Holy Spirit to me. But what have I learned about the Lord that causes me to increasingly love him? Let’s look at who the LORD is—his character and … Continue reading Why Do I Love Thee?
Are you in a season of waiting? Do you feel like a dry, withered stick, tired of waiting for the promised blooms to bud again? A dear friend gave me a beautiful orchid after I lost my mom four years ago. It had not flowered since. I watered, fertilized, tried different lighting, and talked to … Continue reading Hope Deferred
John 14:15-24 Some days, life feels overwhelming and like it is all up to you. The burdens of responsibility and busyness sap your strength and drain your soul. Loneliness settles in like a weighted blanket. How can I do it all? I’m dancing as fast as I can, and there’s still so much to do. … Continue reading Do You Feel Alone?