How do I manage messy relationships? Such is a question I’m often asked as a pastor and especially when I’m in conversations with young adults. Life can be so complicated as all our humanness bumps up against each other producing resentments, disappointment even grief. Do I manage messy relationships well? I know the folks closest …
Recent Blog Posts
It’s Time to Start Over
It’s Time to Start Over . . . a sermon planned for the Palisades Community Church on January 13, 2019 but unable to be given due to snow. Begin by reading Mark 1:9-11 Anyone here on the second Sunday of January already in need of a new start? You thought you’d stop eating so many …
Do You Feel Stuck in Life?
During the darkest days of our infertility journey, my prayers went like this: “How long O Lord? How long will you keep us childless?” There’s not a lot of joy in this. Asking for the same thing over and over. Being stuck. I’ve heard from a lot of couples dealing with infertility the feeling of …
When You Find Yourself Stuck: What Then?
When you find yourself stuck: what then? Questions like these are ones that I’ve tried to teach through the past several years. I even did a email devotional series on this topic recently (which if you haven’t checked out, learn more here). And certainly they are the kind of questions that people seek my input …
You had a baby. Now, how in the world can you still be creative?
Before we brought our baby home almost two years ago, I thought I had my life pace figured out. I was in the process of re-defining parenthood as mother without children in her home, but a mother nonetheless. I founded Our Courageous Kids to help me (and others) empower children around the world. My writing …
You had a baby. Now, how in the world can you still be creative?Read More
How Will You Be Kind on Father’s Day?
Not all men are fathers. Men can long for children and not have them or lost a child in their family. Families can have their fathers taken from them too soon. Father’s Day is tough day for many. Let’s not forget! The anticipation of what will be said (or not said) in church, especially on …
When Life is Really Hard and You Can’t Talk About It
Life is really hard and we have to learn to talk about it. In so many Christian communities I know, there’s such a “How are you?” “I am fine” sweetness in the air. We look pretty. We talk pretty. And we go home from being together as hurt as we walked in the doors. For, …
When Life is Really Hard and You Can’t Talk About ItRead More
Need a Inclusive Prayer for Mother’s Day?
This weekend, Mother’s Day, while joy-filled for many is full of anxiety for others. If you’re in the anxiety producing camp, know I am with you. It’s so hard to have complicated feelings about the mothers in your life. It’s so hard to have longings for children (or relationships) unfulfilled. Or to be grieving when …
How do you get through infertility? A Guest Post
Our National Infertility Week series continues today. (Did you miss the post from Chris Thomas earlier? If so, stop now and read it here). I’m so glad to introduce you to Maren McLean Persaud, my new favorite Canadian who tells a story of hope, longing and loss. Here are her beautiful words- _______________ This past fall, we …
Why Don’t You Just Adopt? Guest Post from Chris Thomas
Today, I’m glad to introduce you to my new friend, Chris Thomas. Chris and his family have waded deep in the waters of infertility, adoption and all that comes with both of those circumstances. I’m so glad that Chris offered to share his wisdom with all of us today. ——————– It was my last year …
Why Don’t You Just Adopt? Guest Post from Chris ThomasRead More
Where Do You Belong?
Where do you belong? To whom to you belong? I’ve been thinking about this a lot this week realizing that . . . Most of our definitions of what it means to belong comes with constraints like rules and regulations. If you want to belong to a gym, you’ve got to pay a monthly fee …
What Are You Afraid to Say?
What are you afraid to say? I’ve been thinking a lot about the silence spaces that fill so many of our day-to-day conversations and relationships. We converse with a loved one about something overflowing with authenticity. But then for a multitude of reasons, we don’t speak of it again for years. An in between space. …
