My husband and I took our kids on a hike not too long ago, and before we hit the trail, we warned both of our sons to stay on the path at all times. The woods were filled with poison ivy, and one of my sons is quite the explorer. (Actually, he’s a “runner”—you know,…
When Scripture Gets Stale
If you’re following a Bible reading plan, you might be feeling a little weary these days. You’ve plowed through a lot of Old Testament history and law, and there’s a good chance you’re in some very strange Leviticus material. Many reading plans keep you in Psalms year round, but if poetry isn’t your strong suit,…
Faithful and Small
There’s a lot of temptation in ministry to be big. Big building, big budget, big numbers. As an author, I travel to speak at a lot of big churches, and I’m always amazed at their reach, their ministry organization, their long lists of volunteers and staff. One of the best parts of my job is…
Anything Can Be an Idol
I have worshiped a bag of chips. I have also worshiped a bowl of yogurt with the right number of macros. I have worshiped an hour of uninterrupted sleep. I have worshiped a number on the scale. I have worshiped a number in my bank account. I have worshiped a pregnancy test, a tidy to-do…
Preparing for the Storm
As I write, the entire state of Missouri is bracing itself for a giant winter weather system that will bring a significant amount of freezing rain and ice with it. Where we’re located just south of Cape Girardeau, we find ourselves in this position often. My young son is praying for snow because we so…
How I’m Reading the Bible in 2025
A quick scroll on any social media platform shows me one thing about the people I follow: everyone is mapping out their goals for 2025. Some are planning diets; others are beginning new exercise regimens. (Most are doing both.) Some are making financial goals or career plans. I’ve been encouraged to see many people making…
Hearing His Voice
I found myself in tears again, sitting at the table with my head in my hands. I feel like I’ve downed a cocktail mixed of desperation and anxiety. It floods my veins with fear of the future. I hunger and thirst for wisdom with my never-ending prayer: “Lord, I don’t know how to parent this…
Make Me a Tree
The tulip trees in my backyard need to be trimmed. There’s a branch growing against our detached carport, and it’s pushing the shingles off the roof. I have measured my life in the blooms on those trees—nineteen years in this house and nineteen turns of the calendar. Nineteen springs, summers, falls, and winters charting the…
Kansas Via Ethiopia and Stories I Didn’t Write
Sometimes God cancels your good plans to accomplish His best plan. I had that thought while decorating our Christmas tree this weekend. From a box of tissue wrapped ornaments, I pulled a delicate wooden ornament painted red and green and yellow. “Melkam Gena” it said, which is Amharic for Merry Christmas. I held the ornament for…
Of Sharps Containers and Resurrections
I gathered up my sharps containers yesterday so I could dispose of them to make room for new ones. No matter how often I tell the specialty pharmacy that I don’t need a new sharps container, they send a new one with each shipment of medication. Every month, I unpack the Styrofoam container, pull out…