To Have Faith
To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things we cannot see. (Hebrews 11:1 Good News Bible) I was raised in a Christian home but went to public school. I was always exposed to people who didn’t go to church. Some of the people I knew (and know today) had (and have) some very strong opinions of Christianity. Some of those assertions are correct, but a lot of them miss the mark of truth. One of my earliest memories is of my grandmother singing “Into My Heart” while she babysat me. I was probably 3 years old...
read moreFriends, Rare and Beautiful Treasures
“By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.” (Proverbs 24:3-4) Because I’ve been in and out of school every decade of my life, Fall signals a new year to me more so than January 1st. Even Bible studies and small groups and new church series start as the summer programs end. And these new beginnings always seem to result in new friendships, those “rare and beautiful treasures”! I’ll be honest, I haven’t read the verses before and after the...
read moreJust Keep Showing Up
‘Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing? But now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord. ‘Be strong, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty. ‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’ Haggai 2:3-5 One of the things I enjoy is reading articles written by successful people...
read moreDwell in the Land
“Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” (Jeremiah 29:5-7 NIV) On a weekend trip to Lake Wenatchee, my family made ourselves a home in campsite #23 at the state park. We...
read moreI Like Being with My Own Kind
Do not insult the deaf or cause the blind to stumble. You must fear your God; I am the Lord. (Leviticus 19:14 NLT) Recently I went the annual picnic of Hearing Loss Association of America, Washington State Association. I have been away from hard-of-hearing people for so long, I missed being with them. They are my own kind. With them, I feel more at ease. If I don’t hear something correctly, it’s OK. No one will look down on me. After all, everyone in the group is hard of hearing. We understand each other. I am happy to say that Creekside does...
read moreIt’s Not the End of the World—but I Feel Fine
“Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:3b-4 NIV) A lot of people are afraid of the end of the world, but I feared it differently. People thought that human beings could somehow bring about the end, through nuclear war and its ensuing winter, or by unleashing a...
read moreWhy I Write
Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—those he redeemed from the hand of the foe… (Psalm 107:2 NIV) Several people have asked me recently, “How’s the writing going?” It’s a totally reasonable question, but I feel unnecessarily embarrassed answering it, because I haven’t had as much success as I would like. It’s now been almost three years since I quit my job to write full time, and I expected I’d at least have a book contract by now. (Many authors would laugh kindly at that expectation.) In publishing, there’s only so much I can...
read moreWith Responsibility Comes Privilege
(This post was first published in 2013.) When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. (Luke 9:1-2 NIV) Nicole and I were ecstatic when the opportunity arose for us to get a dog this Christmas. We had wanted one for a long time, especially after one of our cats died last year. Holly, our new Scottish terrier, is an intelligent, energetic, most welcome addition to our household. But along with...
read moreWhen I Asked God
(As I finish the hectic last two weeks of my program, here’s a reflection from 2015 that was part of my thinking when I decided to become a nurse!) “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7, NIV) So…what are you going to do now? The question above is one that so many of us get asked – and probably one we most...
read moreBy the Unlearning of Your Mind
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2 NIV) When I first took up ballroom dancing, I danced five to six hours a week over two evenings of lessons and open dance. It’s a great workout and a fun social activity, but the learning curve at the beginning was quite steep. I was fortunate to find a group very open to dancing with and teaching beginners, and I therefore attempted to learn as much as I could, so that dancing would become more fun. Once I reached the point...
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