Is Christ the center?
A snowy weekend, spent in serving others: yesterday, a meal for a friend whose husband is in the hospital; time spent listening and loving on that friend. Today, taking a friend's kids for the day, [...]
Discover your strengths, then run with them
The glow of New Year's resolutions still shimmers, though after a week it may be fading. Often, our self-improvement plans focus on overcoming weaknesses. But what if, instead, we put all of our energy into developing [...]
A revolution against resolutions
New Year’s Eve morning feels a bit like New Year’s Day, since we attended a “New Year’s Eve EVE” party last night. My family slumbers on at 9:30 a.m. as I sip coffee and reflect. [...]
The perfect gift (and the story behind it)
Sometimes the best gift you can give someone is prayer, even if you don't know them. Today, many of us are last-minute shopping and wrapping, desperate to figure out what would be the perfect gift. [...]
Advent Soul Care
I'm guest blogging at Gifted For Leadership (a leadership blog for women) today, on caring for your soul during Advent. Advent anticipates the quiet miracle of the incarnation. How can we say yes to waiting and [...]
Dysfunctional churches
It's been said that one of the best arguments in favor of Christianity is Christians, and one of the strongest evidences against Christianity is also Christians. Case in point: The Gulnare Freewill Baptist Church, in rural [...]
Win a copy of Deeper into the Word
My newest book, Deeper into the Word: Reflections on 100 Old Testament Words, is now in stores. It's been described as "a devotional that helps calm the spirit, enlighten the mind,and provide food for the [...]
Fasting before feasting
A week from today, Americans will gather around tables and eat. A lot. We will feast. Despite the name of the day, many will do so mindlessly. They will feast without being thankful, stress out [...]
Healing Solitude
In the last seven days, I've stood up in front of people and given a talk seven times. Today, after giving two messages back to back at a retreat, I came home thinking I'd need [...]