On a Thursday last fall, I typed up a fairly short and simple email about feelings and identity. I sent it out to subscribers and didn’t think much about it—in fact, if you’d asked me, I wouldn’t have considered it one of the better emails I’ve written. But something in it resonated deeply with readers. … Read moreWhat To Do When Your Feelings Don’t Match Your Identity
I felt the heaviness envelope me. 4:30 in the morning has its own kind of quiet, it’s own kind of weight. It carries its own brand of dreams and its own awakenings. As I fed and cuddled my three-month-old in the dimness of the darkened bedroom, I sensed a grief settle down on my shoulders … Read moreEmbracing Identity in Christ In A World Divided on Race
Maybe it’s just that the goals you set so enthusiastically in preparation for January 1st have kind of exploded in your face. Or maybe it’s that you never even got around to setting goals at all—it was a luxury you couldn’t afford as time-crunched as your schedule already is. Or maybe you didn’t write down … Read moreWhen the New Year Feels Old
Autumn seems to be a favorite season for so many of us. I wonder sometimes about the reason—more than the respite from summer’s heat or a return to normal schedules, perhaps it’s that autumn reminds us change is always assured. For me this year, autumn meant a change in routine, a change in focus, and … Read moreWhat I’m Learning—Autumn Edition 2019
You know how little kids’ voices shake and jerk out in single syllables when they’re having a meltdown? That was me in the car the other week, calling my husband about about my first meeting with an editor at a writer’s conference. You know how you have no idea how much something means to you … Read moreHow to Hold onto Your Identity in the Midst of Failure
Summer wasn’t what I expected this year. It held some surprises, some study, and a crazy-big bunch of slowness. Despite a diminished speed of motion, I’m realizing there was still a lot to glean from this season of Sabbath. No.1 I need creative outlets AND rest Being creative, whether this looks like writing, taking pictures, … Read moreWhat I’m Learning—Summer Edition 2019
Photo credit: Lisa Stellmach Delighted to be guest posting today over at Pamela Henkelman’s blog! Pamela asked us to share a story of “refining fire”, a time in life where God burned away something old and brought forth something new. I had this old one stashed away; the memories are still fresh, and the lesson … Read moreWhat I Learned About God From My Newborn
I pushed the keyboard away, frustrated. The words were jerking and jolting forward, then dropping dead on the page. I got up and roamed the house, grabbing an empty dish here, shelving a stray toy there. It wasn’t my body that felt weary, but my mind, and my soul. Ever since we’d come back from … Read moreA Slow Summer Sabbath
Disclosure: some of the links in this post may be affiliate links – in other words, I may earn a small commission if you decide to purchase through my link, at zero additional cost to you. I only link to items I have personally used and loved, so consider an affiliate link my five-star recommendation. … Read moreWhat I’m Learning – Spring 2019 Edition