"Bloom where you are planted." That's a topic we discussed at worship tonight, and to be honest, it's one I've wrestled with a lot since February. If nothing else this year, I've learned that it's incredibly hard to trust God's big picture when you are fighting moment-to-moment for your life. But! I've tried really hard …
Sly Old Fox
When I was a kid, there was a children's church song that I loved to sing. It went like this: "The Devil is a sly old fox; if I could catch him, I'd put him in a box. Lock the lid and throw away the key for all those tricks he's played on me. Second …
Side Effects of Life
You know those really dramatic fight scenes in movies and television shows, where the underdog is down and the crowd favorite is about to celebrate his victory in the ring...but then, out of nothing but sheer willpower, the underdog gets up again and looks his opponent dead in the eye? That's the type of scene …
Angry Prayers (And Their Aftermath)
Last week, I got really angry. The Devil was working hard on my mind and spirit. I knew it, and yet I still let him get away with it. Over the last few weeks, two people I love dearly have faced scary, significant health moments. Another loved one lost her child. Our air conditioner broke. …
“How Can I Help?”: When You Care About a Stomach-Sick Someone
This year, I've had a lot of help from some wonderful people. I've also had a second, significant chunk of wonderful people who have said variations of: "I want to help, but I just don't know what to do!" In my neck of the woods, the most common way for people to help is by …
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Bamboo-Fear
Did you know that the fastest growing species of bamboo can grow up to 35 inches per day? Yep...nearly three meters in one single day. Due to its rapid and invasive growth, it can get wildly out of control very quickly if it isn't reigned in and grown with caution. Bamboo and fear are a …
“Hell Had a Huddle”: Enough Faith to Walk
I watched a video clip the other day. A preacher was speaking to his congregation about trials in this life, and he said: "I sense in the Spirit that there are people here, and some who are listening or who will watch this later, that you are on the edge of the thing you are …
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Why I’ve Begun to Care About Self-Care (And Why You Should, Too!)
In the last year and a half, I've spent a lot of time thinking about self-care: what it is, what it isn't, and why we need it. Even before getting sick and subsequently having to overhaul my life, I'd begun my journey into self-care. In May 2017, I was a little overweight, a lot under-exercised, …
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You Do You, Boo.
I've never been afraid to be my own person. I guess God made me that way on purpose, because I sure have needed a "be yourself" mentality this year. See, there's a lot of judgment that goes into having a chronic illness: "It sure has taken you a long time to just get over it, …
Look, Ma…No Hands!
Did you ever ride a bicycle without using your hands when you were a kid? I did, all the time. Thought I was the coolest kid on the planet, too. There's something a little fun, a little exciting, a little fearless about the experience. You have to be confident in your balance and your ability …
IBS Takes Guts 