The other day, my neighbor gave me a stack of magazines. She thought I’d enjoy the articles too. Little did she know, she handed me a magazine I’ve considered subscribing to all year. I’ve held off because of limited time, and I’ve not wanted to pay for something I wouldn’t use. But, deep down, I…
Read MoreToday’s my 22-year cancerversary, which means it’s the anniversary of when I was first told, “You Have Cancer.” I was a junior in high school. I’d had a colonoscopy a few days prior, and we were waiting on test results. I knew my GI had found a mass, but I didn’t know more than that.…
Read More“It was worth it – if I went through cancer so I could sit here today and encourage you in your faith – then I’d do it again.” I couldn’t believe it. The very words I swore I’d never utter were flowing out of my mouth. Sitting across from a hurting friend whose pain I…
Read MoreI’ll never forget the day I was walking down the spice aisle in my local grocery store and noticed a jar of mustard seeds sitting on the shelf. I looked around to see if anyone else noticed, and I just stood there in amazement. “Woah,” I thought. “If one of these grains of mustard seeds…
Read MoreMy circumstances were telling me to give up on hope. There I was, a 17 year old who should have been in algebra class and hanging with my friends after school. Instead, I was sitting in a chemo chair surrounded by gray-haired patients and being told I would likely lose my hair. It was so unfair.…
Read MoreIt was a beautiful sight. Hidden underneath the brush of dried brown leaves and mulch, a little green tip was appearing. The little leaf sparked joy and awoke a new hope. “Finally,” I whispered under my breath. “The peonies are coming in.” Just months earlier, under fading red and orange leaves, I’d carefully planted a…
Read MoreWhen I was six years old, I got my ears pierced for the first time. I remember the moment well—while sitting in the tall chair, feet dangling below, I felt both excitement as I picked out new studs and anxiety because of the ear gun. My momentary fear was worth it because after a painless…
Read MoreAlmost two years ago, Mike and I made a commitment we didn’t think we’d ever make again. In our early 20s, we helped start a church. As the church grew, it was incredible, yet the highs and lows of ministry also wore us down. We were young and ambitious, and truth be told, we lacked…
Read MoreAbout six weeks ago, our daughter Mae heard the words she never expected to hear. “We’re getting a puppy!” I know this because after the shock and excitement wore off she said, “I didn’t think this would ever happen.” She was quite surprised. You see, she’d lived with a dog her whole life—Joey (a dog…
Read MoreI’ve felt destined for ministry for most of my life, but in my early years, I struggled to define exactly what that means. When I was younger, being “called to ministry” meant becoming a pastor. As a female growing up in very conservative churches that didn’t recognize or utilize female’s pastoral gifts, I assumed this…
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