Why we observe Advent and how to join the journey
Christmas is often the most celebrated occasion of the year. Wrapped up in the usual sights, sounds and smells of the season (colorful lights, jingle bells and peppermint hot chocolate, anyone?) is the wonder, mystery and excitement of God sending
God’s gift of grace
A long red envelope—subtle enough for a $100 bill to feel extravagant, but extravagant enough for even a single dollar bill to feel elevated. If you’ve ever received one, you know. It’s a thing of elegance and expectation. The red
How to have a ‘collapse-proof’ life
I have never been much of a swimmer. Actually, the real story is, I can’t swim. Once on vacation in Grenada, I was splashing around in the beautiful turquoise water, attempting to swim. I suspect my attempt must have looked
Say yes to being set free
All my life I’ve run the hamster wheel of achievement and acceptance; a headstrong, type-A control freak, looking for love. As a child, I earned love by working hard to fit in. At church, I earned love by memorizing verses.
Surviving 9/11: From terror to grace
In September 2001, my husband and I were newlyweds, having been married the year before. We had just moved back to New York City after living that first year in another state where Brian had been assigned a short project
How to eat your Bible: Truly knowing the Word of God
I vividly remember a point in my life when the Bible was completely foreign to me. I had heard and understood the Gospel, confessed my sins to the Lord, believed in Jesus Christ alone for salvation, attended church regularly, prayed
When Trash Becomes Treasure, part 4
A Scripture study from Caring, part four of four. Jesus still did good amid his trials. He had compassion and kindness and love—even to the point of death on the cross. Just as Jesus continued his mission to salvage the lost
When Trash Becomes Treasure, part 3
A Scripture study from Caring, part three of four. Through the Scriptures we’ve seen how Jesus responds to “trash” days. We’ve gained perspective on how salvation is like being salvaged from the wreckage of this world and how God not only
When Trash Becomes Treasure, part 2
A Scripture study from Caring, part two of four. Shortly after I had experienced my most recent garbage day, my husband and I had a Zoom meeting with our daughter’s teacher. Her teacher knows that we work for The Salvation Army
When Trash Becomes Treasure, part 1
A Scripture study from Caring, part one of four. Have you ever had a bad day? A terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day? One of my favorite books is “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day.” Alexander
What ‘he died for our sins’ implies
There are two critical facts about the cross. First, its central importance (to Christ, to his apostles and to his worldwide church ever since), and second, its deliberate character (for, though due to human wickedness, it was also due to
What to do when it feels like life is falling apart
I write to you having had “one of those days.” A day when the kids were wild, discontent, tired of “Zoom School,” and showed no interest in expending energy outdoors. A day that mocked my efforts to multitask as I