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In: Off the Path
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I was a mother. For 171 days, I loved on a child with special needs in hopes of adopting. Finally, I thought, a family. An answered prayer. Without the rose, then perhaps I was meant for the pearl. I joyfully busied myself with home cooked meals, play dates, swim lessons, bath times, and bedtime stories. Play therapy, timeouts, and countless temper tantrums later, love wasn’t enough, and there would be no adoption. The disappointment brings me to this blog entry and a question all believers at one time or another have asked. What happens when our plans fail? The short answer is: our resolve isRead More →

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In: Easter Sunday
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“Noooo! I don’t want to!” At four years old, she’s already fiercely independent. At four years old, my foster daughter has already known more loss, disappointment, and pain than my four decades of adulthood. So when her eyes glare at me with laser-sharp focus from under a furrowed brow, and a tantrum of tears meant to test my resolve (and my love), I think of Jesus. There are no words. Out of all the books I’ve read and Easter Sunday sermons I’ve heard, overflowing with comforting wisdom, prophetic prose, and life lessons, there are still no words adequate, big enough, deep enough to contain andRead More →

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In: Uncategorized
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“Father, I need you.” Those four simple words have saved me more times than I can count. When ends didn’t meet, and bills were overdue, help arrived. When I needed a way out of a bad situation, a window suddenly opened. When I thought I’d reached the end, there was a staircase beyond what appeared to be the point of no return. That simple prayer, time and again, ushered in help at my greatest point of need. Desperation makes praying knees go deeper. Those four powerful words do battle with pride, plans, and ego-driven power. ASKING FOR HELP Those four words replace pride with humility.Read More →

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In: Thanksgiving
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As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving with our loved ones, memories of the holidays with my family come to mind. We didn’t have much, but my grandmother and great grandmother who hail from the Deep South would put both their feet in a soulful, southern holiday meal. A host of aunts, uncles, and cousins would cram into my grandmother’s modest home for a family feast. With so many adults and teens, there was not enough room at the dining table for my younger cousins and me. We sat at a small table for the children. I can remember wanting to sit next to my motherRead More →

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In: Uncategorized
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It’s time to come out of the dark. When a gifted singer’s soulful voice fills the sanctuary, we see a light. It inspires us to dance, shout, and lift our hands. When a gifted neurosurgeon’s skillful hands remove a brain tumor, there’s a light illuminating the path to better health for his patient. When a chef creates a culinary masterpiece, there’s a delightful light of pure joy on each plate for her customers. FAITH IS LIGHT So imagine if fear silenced the singer, limited thinking convinced the neurosurgeon there’s no money for medical school, and insecurity kept the chef out of the kitchen. They wouldRead More →

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In: The Harmony of Life
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Every season has a distinct sound if you stop for a moment and pay close attention. The summer buzzes with bees, water sprinklers spit and tick, the shrieks and screams of kids playing on the block add to the symphony. Then fall eases in like cool jazz with a subtle breeze that rustles leaves, making Samba shakers out of tree branches. There’s a rhythm, a harmony. That’s how life should be. When life is in order and we’ve courageously removed all that isn’t serving our growth and purpose, there’s flow; we’re in synch. Chaos and confusion give way to peace. Add a little fun andRead More →

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In: Cover Yourself
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Contact and cover is a tactic often used by officers or soldiers in potentially dangerous situations. The basic goal is to watch another person’s back, shielding them from harm to prevent misfortune. In life, we see this time and again: the grandmother who prayed for us, the father who kept watch as we slept at night, the friend who never abandoned their post. Some of us are experts at covering others, but not necessarily ourselves. Our prayer list may be long, filled with the names of church friends, sister friends, their marriages and children, the sick and shut-in, workplace drama, family drama, and even babyRead More →

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In: Finish the Race
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The Summer Olympics is inspiring. Consider the world’s fastest man as he comes off the block like his namesake: Bolt. The optical illusion of a race track makes it appear as though he’s behind until the lanes become straight and even. Like a gazelle, Usain Bolt floats effortlessly by his opponents; his feet are the first to cross the finish line. As he sprints to the end, a fist pound on his chest has become his trademark declaration to the all who are witnessing his greatness that he is not a quitter. He is a champion. In the blaze of Bolt’s glory, few of usRead More →

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In: But Not For Grace
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It was supposed to be a quick two-hour drive from home back to college after a long weekend with family. As she made her way down the two-lane highway, she took in the familiar landscape. Small towns and farmland whizzed by in her side view mirror as the radio played. It was beautiful. And then, it wasn’t. Clunk, clunk, clunk! She could feel her car slowing down no matter how hard she pressed on the gas pedal. Was it the steering wheel? Had the transmission gone out? Clunk, clunk, clunk Suddenly, the car stopped. One of the rear tires looked like melted rubber crunched underneathRead More →