Lessons for a 13-Year-Old
We are taught a lot of things at age 13 in churches and at our youth groups. I remember nights around the campfire at church camp that were profound and talked about Jesus in a way I hadn’t thought about him before. I remember hearing that who I was was in Christ and not in…
Read MoreThe Houses We Build
I moved again, into a place that this time is mine. I own it. The whole thing. Both bedrooms, the kitchen, the balcony, all of it. The fridge and washer and dryer and everything else in the laundry closet and the cabinets. That is a lot of stuff to fall under my possession so suddenly.…
Read MoreWhy Do We Love Those Who Don't Love Us Back? Part II
A little over two years ago I wrote a post entitled Why Do We Love Those Who Don’t Love Us Back? It is consistently my most-read post. When I visit my handy dandy WordPress dashboard, that tells me I haven’t written a blog post in months and 14 people viewed it last Tuesday, I see…
Read MoreIn 2013, I Will Run
Running is not exactly a New Year’s resolution for me. I’ve been running regularly for about 11 years. I’m not fast. I’ve never run a full marathon. I don’t do sprint training or wear pretty Lululemon running clothes. But I know running’s rhythm. My body knows it. It’s familiar: slip on running shoes, turn on…
Read MoreThe Church that Raised Me
Maybe it’s the onset of the holiday season and Thanksgiving rapidly approaching that has brought on this much-needed wave of gratitude. Not sure what it is. Don’t care. I’m keeping it for as long as my selfish, needy flesh will let me. So while it is in me, allow me to express gratitude to the institution…
Read MoreThe Ones Who Help Me Figure Me Out
I know these people. But I’m having a hard time finding words to describe them. They came to visit me this weekend. Five of us all together. I had never realized how small my apartment was nor how few bathrooms I had (one). But around these other four, personal space is not usually a luxury.…
Read MoreA Poem for the Twenty Something
On Friday night, I packed into the sanctuary of my church in Nashville with about 700 other women to listen to author/blogger Ann Voskamp speak. Well, that was what I thought she would be doing. Before she came on stage my friend sitting in front of me turned around and said this was going to be…
Read MoreHow to Make Friends
I recently returned from a weekend at the seaside. I am a beach gal, though my fair skin hates me for it. And this weekend at the beach not only reminded me of my love for lying on a mound of sand and doing absolutely nothing for hours; it also reminded me of my love…
Read MoreIt's OK to Give Up
I hold onto some things very tightly. Like white-knuckles-gritted-teeth-if-I-let-go-I-die kind of tightly. It’s actually amazing I have the energy to do anything else. Anything but hold onto these things. I don’t believe I am alone in this. I think the majority of us are probably walking down the street, teeth gritted, knuckles white, nails digging…
Read MoreMy Favorite Word
I like to keep a Bible study going at all times. Not because I am so very holy but because I have scripture ADD and am 100% incapable of not jumping all around the Bible when I don’t have a study keeping me on task. I finished a study recently (called Gospel Transformation, in case…
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