"All of life is business with God…" John Calvin
Beginning next week, I'll be leading a Bible study for the women at our church. We'll be studying the book of Colossians and marinating in the supremacy and sufficiency of our Lord Jesus Christ. A few months ago, I wrote a post on Colossians 1:3–5 for the enCourage blog, which I'm sharing here to give … Continue reading All in the Family
“I’m sorry, sweet girl, I’m so, so sorry.” As I gently removed the last dead puppy from her bed, her whimpers began. Only the day before her belly had been full of life, but her babies came too soon. One at a time, her puppies were born sleeping. Yorkshire Terriers are normally born looking like … Continue reading All Creation Groans
Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them;for the ways of the Lord are right, and the upright walk in them. . . — Hosea 14:9 When I began to study Hosea, I knew that I would discover treasures of God’s love and mercy in this portion of his holy, … Continue reading The Bewildering Magnificence of the Gospel
Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth. . . — James 1:18a Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 1 Peter 2:2 I am the mother of five children born of my body. Three of my children were … Continue reading Pangs of Childbirth
O Lord, you have searched me and known me!You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar.You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.You hem me in, behind … Continue reading The Prodigal Wife
Our church has returned to in-person worship. Though we are taking measures to help with social distancing, and several elements of our Sunday mornings have changed, it is a blessing beyond words to worship together, singing hymns of truth and the beauty of our Lord to one another and to him, standing next to one … Continue reading How We Prayed
Originally posted March 19, 2020, at Women of Purpose. There’s no good place to break Romans 8:31–39, really. My last post only covered the questions that Paul was asking as he built to his magnificent conclusion. If this entire passage is, as James Boice declares, “the Everest of the letter, and thus the highest peak … Continue reading Romans 8:35-39, More Than Conquerors
“Oh that my words were written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book! Oh that with an iron pen and lead they were engraved in the rock forever! For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet … Continue reading Remembrance and Hope
Dear Lisa, Well, it’s been a year since I learned that you’d gone. I thought today would be worse than it is. But now that I think about it, the sadness doesn’t hurt the same way it used to. It’s there, but it no longer chokes off my breath. The weight remains, but it no … Continue reading Well, It’s Been a Year. . .
Grateful 