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In: Made Real
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The army of women who took to social media with the hashtag #MeToo. The recovering addict, who when asked how he was doing replied, “I’m medium to fair.” The girlfriend who called in the middle of the night to say she’d left her husband and found someone new. The coach who admits the team is ill-prepared and its playbook is outdated. Refreshingly honest— all of them. Their confessions like oxygen in the smog of noise and niceties. Lately, I have a newfound appreciation for these brief encounters with honesty. They are brave and something to behold at a time when being airbrushed and animated isRead More →

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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: The Right People
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There once was a young man who wanted to introduce his new love to his mother. To soften the introduction, he broached the subject with his mother first. Because lineage and social class were important to her, she quickly asked, “Who are her people?” The mother’s motives aside, like any concerned parent, she wanted to know more about the young woman who had won her son’s heart. What cloth was she cut from? What did she want? What kind of company did this young woman keep? They were all legitimate questions just not the right ones. Indeed the people in our lives are a reflectionRead 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: Who's Behind You?
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Live long enough and you’ll lose a friend or two—maybe even three or four along your journey. Just like the fickleness of children at recess, people grow in different directions; they have a right to change. Sometimes friendship just comes down to a reason and a season. But, then there are the reasons that lead to an unfortunate outcome – the breaking of a bond with someone you once considered a best friend. More so than disappointment, there’s that undeniable sting that comes with the feeling of betrayal. After a fallen friendship, I’ve taken great comfort in Psalm 55, and these honest verses that acknowledgeRead More →

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In: Single Serving Valentine's Day Edition
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I love that final scene in Sixteen Candles when Molly Ringwald’s character Samantha has just emerged from inside the church to retrieve her sister’s wedding veil, only to discover that she’s missed the newlywed’s sendoff. Her heart sinks, her head drops in disappointment.  Her family has already forgotten about her–again. It’s at that moment, on the church steps that she resigns herself to being a castaway. But there, in the distance with cars slowly driving away, a teenager’s answered prayer is serendipitously revealed. It’s Jake, leaned against his red Porsche. He’s been waiting for her the entire time. We don’t know if Jake is coming,Read More →

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In: Single Serving Valentine's Day Edition
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It’s 1986 and it’s a thirteenth birthday party. The space my junior high classmate’s mother rented for her big celebration has plenty of room for dancing. The cake, the balloons, the table decorations and the most popular boys in our class are strategically placed throughout the venue. On this particular night, I’ve abandoned my ponytail and I’ve taken the risk of sweating my hair back by wearing it down. I had planned my outfit days before in anticipation of my friend’s party. I’m on the sideline of the dance floor like a lot of other girls as the music plays. Then that unforgettable opening guitarRead More →

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In: Poured Out
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Think of a time when you were moving or leaving good friends or a beloved family behind. Maybe you were headed off to college or moving to a new state to start a new job. You probably waved as you drove away or boarded your plane. But, did you remember to leave a little love? That’s exactly what Jesus did as he shared those last precious moments with his disciples. A new command I give you; Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.Read More →