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God so loves
“What is God’s primary desire for you, Amy Leigh?” he asked. As my inner fourth grader worked to fill in the blank without the help of a word bank, I stumbled through something about being loved in biblical community, to which he responded, “Sure, God desires that for you, of course.” Just as I started to mentally scribble an A+ over his pop quiz, my Spiritual Director added, “But, what God primarily desires for you is to give himself to you…to give his own love…in himself…to you.” I’ve continued pondering these words, especially mindful of a key aspect in which God’s primary desire directly opposes mine: For he so loved,…
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The Beckoning
It stirs unease. On bloodied knees again I plead the pieties that once appeased my gnawing need for guarantees. In clinging to these grainy things like safe routines, I flee true peace.
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Abide
Like the day drawing to night— fearing death, finding life— give me the grace to move toward you when my instinct is to run, to evade the shyness that comes when perceived by pure Light. Teach me to abide. Like the branch in its vine— resting loose, resting tight— give me the grace to trust you. when my instinct is to doubt, to comply with deceptions that come as my faith is made sight. Teach me to abide. Draw me to the well, even when it seems dry. When I’m in the office with deadlines and demands or at the kitchen sink with soapy hands; when I’m in the mechanic’s…
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An Invitation to the Middles of Life
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Breathing Love’s Sting
It takes conviction to step out into a bitterly cold morning. With that first deep inhalation, icy oxygen pierces your lungs. To breathe at all invites a stinging pain, yet breath must be taken if life will continue. So it is when stepping beyond the warmly regulated interiors of prominent western evangelicalism—beyond the recycled air of moralism which is held at a stagnant temperature of churchism so that everyone comfortably conducts their volunteerism. Admittedly, the space once provided basic protection as we began our relationship with the Lord. Gradually, though, as our intimacy with him grew, we noticed the interior’s walls closing in and limiting movement. The curtains were often…
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Getting Still in the Storm
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Morning Thoughts
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Thoughts on Ministering during Strange Times
Do you feel helpless to…well…help? Especially after something like that dreadful winter storm that ravaged the state of Texas. Or as people continue in the psycho-emotional quarantine of Covid-19. Or with the global economy still reeling. I thought now might be a good time to chat about this with one of my spiritual Godfathers, Dwayne, who has been serving underserved communities for over 25 years. His insights are invaluable. *** Why did you start serving the homeless and impoverished? I guess I couldn’t silence the words of Jesus in Matthew 25: that he was hungry, thirsty, estranged, naked, sick, imprisoned. And, I couldn’t get over how gracious God was in…
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Let’s chat about the price of following Christ…
Maybe I was sick the day we counted in Sunday School. Yeah, that’s it. Maybe I inadvertently skipped Small Group the night we talked about tallying. Humph. Truth is, when 8-year-old-me professed faith, and even when adult me more decisively “rededicated my life to Christ,” no one said, “For real. Count the costs.” A heads-up would’ve been nice. Something like… “Hey, splashing around in the shallows will end; it has to. At some point, you’ll get plunged deeper…beyond places your toes can touch…and you’ll spend the rest of life there as both God and the Adversary try to drown you—in very different ways and for very different reasons. So, consider…
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Psalm 56
A Miktam of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath:1 Be gracious to me, God, for a man is trampling me;he fights and oppresses me all day long.2 My adversaries trample me all day,for many arrogantly fight against me. 3 When I am afraid,I will trust in you.4 In God, whose word I praise,in God I trust; I will not be afraid.What can mere mortals do to me? 5 They twist my words all day long;all their thoughts against me are evil.6 They stir up strife, they lurk,they watch my stepswhile they wait to take my life.7 Will they escape in spite of such sin?God, bring down the nations in wrath. 8 You yourself have recorded my wanderings.Put my tears…
