I AM

Life has been rough, not going to lie. With homework and tests and deadlines to complete every week, it's sometimes tough to see the light at the end of the tunnel. But in this storm of discouragement and doubt, I've had a small glimmer of hope. This morning I happened to read from Mark 6:45-52…

Genealogies: To Live a Long, Full Life

Exodus 20:12; NLT12 - "Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the LORD your God is giving you." This may be a tough one for many people these days, as I'm sure it could have been back then too. What if a parent was abusive? A…

Genealogies: You’re a Dead Man!

This morning we are back to our man, Abraham and unfortunately, it looks like he's up to no good! Genesis 20:1-71 - Abraham moved south to the Negev and lived for a while between Kadesh and Shur, and then he moved on to Gerar. While living there as a foreigner, 2 - Abraham introduced his…

Accept the Child, Accept Me

My youngest brother loves anything that has to do with firetrucks or rescue helicopters or police cars. He loves rescuing his stuffed animals from "fiery" bedroom and rushing an injured person from a car crash to a hospital. In fact, just yesterday he had donned a large dark blue coat (despite the summer heat), slipped…

Homesick

I recently felt a homesickness I've never felt before. It wasn't like the times when I was away for a week at camp or at a weekend retreat. No, I was away from home for a total time of about five months. I missed my dog, I missed my youngest brother, I missed everyone! And…

Morning Pep Talk: The Prodigal Daughter

Today, I merely want to share a couple verses that I read this morning in Jeremiah 31. It's a beautiful picture, not of a prodigal "son", but of a prodigal daughter. "Set up signposts, make landmarks; set your heart toward the highway, the way in which you went. Turn back, O virgin of Israel, turn…