Being exposed does not come easily to the average human. Even less so to a post-pregnant mother of five whose body has been stretched time and again beyond its seeming maximum limit. Before I bore children, my stomach was flat, my navel a mere slit across tightened abs. I fit comfortably in the smallest-sized jeans … [Read more…]
Later Jesus and His disciples were at home having supper with a collection of disreputable guests. Unlikely as it seems, more than a few of them had become followers. Such read the sentences of The Message’s paraphrase of Mark 2:15. Here sits Jesus, surrounded by disreputable characters, seemingly having a good time with the local riffraff. Over … [Read more…]
“She’s the Martha; I’m the Mary.” I couldn’t help but overhear my sister-in-law’s voice as I was cleaning my mother-in-law’s kitchen toward the end of our gathering. While the rest of the family was still seated around tables, chatting and playing games together, I scrubbed dishes and picked up discarded plates. Several years ago, that … [Read more…]
Slowly, they crept in under cover of night. One by one, making their way to the room. Barring the door tightly behind them. Feet, not long ago washed by Master’s hand, now soiled with the dust of their desertion. Weary and sweat-drenched from soul-deep fear. Exhausted, yet unable to sleep. None looked the other in … [Read more…]
For God has not given you a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. — 2 Timothy 1:7, NLT I have bumped into this Scripture reference from 2 Timothy more than five times within the last twenty-four hours. From Facebook posts to Instagram stories, to emails, to websites when searching for … [Read more…]
When I was in high school, I fractured my ankle. Nothing as glamorous as a sport’s injury caused by a buzzer-beating jump shot or anything. I simply turned too sharply while running, and my ankle decided to stay in a forward-facing position instead of banking left with the rest of me. An x-ray, some ice … [Read more…]