Who Needs Normal? 3/24/2021 - As I am sit here writing this, we are officially a YEAR into COVID-19. I vividly remember the night before the world changed. I was hanging out with some friends on top of a parking garage on IUPUI’s campus, eating ice cream and looking forward to spring break. Not even 24 hours later, we were informed that our spring break would be two weeks long instead of one, which eventually morphed into the whole semester being online. Welcome to Zoom University. For the first time in my 23 years of life, the world changed from what we thought of “normal” to conversations about whether or not “normal” would ever happen again... Read more
Humble Pie 3/17/2021 - Last night my daughter said something so profound that I think warrants being cast out into the world, mostly so I can refer back and marvel at this parenting win for the rest of my life. “I love following rules so I don’t get into trouble or die,” Zada, age 8. Y’all, my hands instinctively shot straight up and I sang “Hallelujah, thank you Jesus!” Meanwhile, my husband's eyes rolled so far back he risked toppling right over. Read more
You Are A Miracle to Me 3/10/2021 - While studying the life of Joshua in our Connection Group recently, a common and natural response to how Joshua’s faith in his time relates to our faith now arose in the discussion: “I think I could be more faithful in difficult times like Joshua if I experienced God revealing himself to me similar to the supernatural ways that Joshua experienced.” I mean, really-freeing all the Jewish slaves from Egypt with miraculous plagues; destroying the Egyptian army and allowing the Jewish slaves to escape by parting the Red Sea; God as a pillar of cloud and pillar of fire to lead the Jews in the desert; power of God displayed at Mt. Sinai; manna from heaven; parting the Jordan River; walls of Jericho crashing down at the sound of trumpets and shouting; stopping the sun from setting to aid the Jews in battle-just to name a few. Read more
Choose Joy 3/3/2021 - September 23, 2009 started out like any other day. My husband left for work, I got one son off to school, and was preparing to take my youngest son to school, where I would be volunteering for the day. Then I received a phone call that would turn my world upside down. My mom had passed away very unexpectedly. Less than 2 weeks later I would receive very similar news. My aunt (who was like another mom to us) was in a fatal car crash. As you can imagine, we were devastated. I’m sure there are plenty of you who can do more than imagine, because you have also received similar, life-altering phone calls. Read more
Less of Me, More of Him 2/24/2021 - In my life I have taken it as a great compliment when someone calls me “Independent”, “Self Reliant,” “Hard Working,” “Capable” and other such labels. It makes me feel that I can do things by myself, and therefore I won’t be dependent on or a burden to anyone else. It also gives me a sense of approval. And I hate to admit how much I crave that. My sense of SELF APPROVAL seems to be so tied into what I’m capable of! Where do those feelings come from? Who knows? Childhood? Learned behavior? Rejection? Honestly, I’m not sure it matters where it comes from. It is false thinking. Self-reliance isn’t what Jesus taught and “look at me and my performance” is DEFINITELY not! Read more