Simple Faith: Perseverance Through Trials

I never thought I’d be grateful for all the waves that crashed over me. They seemed so harsh at the time – relentless, cruel … but now I see how they shaped me – smooth stone girl, polished peace; simple, pure, true… Even in her wrath, I think the ocean worked for God … sanding […]

Inner Workout: For when your prayers aren’t answered

When we don’t get what we think we want, it’s time to dig deep and find the Source of awe and patience inside. The Truth is hard and beautiful, worth infinitely more than your time. He’s crafting something better than you can even imagine right now. When will your heart be open enough to receive it? Unanswered […]

Deeper life: Responding to adversity with faith

When the dust of this wild life settles and you can finally see clearly – when you look in a mirror, will you like what you see? Will you shine brighter than you did before the storm? One thing is for sure: in this world, we will face obstacles. In spite of our best intentions, […]

Encouragement for when you need more patience

I’m just a surfer waiting for the next wave of grace. I’m just a surfer praying for the strength to catch it. As humans with goals, there’s only so much we can do.  We’re affected by circumstances beyond our control like other people’s choices, world events and even our giftedness. Though it’s important for us […]

Spiritual Journey: When you’re lost in the wilderness

I’ve seen the way life’s jungles open up into meadows more beautiful than we imagined. If we want to see God’s glory, we need to persevere. I say: Hack through the brambles, crawl through the muck. Sleep in a damp cave if you have to. Whatever you do, don’t give up. One day, you’ll burst […]

Expect great things from the Lord

This week for the first and last time, all three of my sons were in the same Christmas program at school. My eldest had overcome many fears to take on a lead role, and I had volunteered to work with the kids on their lines so was personally invested in many of them-I was looking […]

Are you growing closer to God through your struggles?

Have you discovered http://www.explore.org? You can actually watch a live cam of wild grizzly bears catching salmon in a river in Alaska’s wilderness. It’s a breathtaking glimpse into the majesty of creation. As I soaked in the wonder of it from my couch in Iowa, what really started to catch my eye were the salmon. […]