Indholdsfortegnelse for January/February 2022 i Mornings with Jesus

FOR ALL OF MY LIFE, I’ve celebrated New Year’s Day with my family. Every year, we squish together in one of our living rooms and stay up until the early hours of the morning. Although we inevitably become sleepy while waiting for the first day of the new year to come, we are always immediately invigorated as soon as 11:59 becomes 12:00 the next day. Last January, as we were all excitedly hugging, kissing, and joyously wishing each other a happy New Year, I couldn’t help but thank Jesus for giving me people whom I love and who love me too. Jesus Himself experienced the many joys of companionship, having Himself been surrounded by close friends with whom He spent most of His time. He traveled with them, sang with…

I DIDN’T LINGER AFTER BIBLE study to chat with my friends as I usually did. I had too much to do. As I zoomed out of my parking spot, I caught sight of my friend Linda frantically waving at me. Not now, Jesus! She had a dead battery and needed a jump to get going. This shouldn’t take long. Linda got her jumper cables, and we hooked them up. I revved my engine, hoping that would hurry the charge. Linda turned the key. Nothing. We charged some more. When she tried again, all we heard were some discouraging clicks. “Can you give me a ride home, Pat?” Linda asked. How could I say no? “Oh, and we’ll need to stop and pick up my dog from the vet.” My heart…

MY GUIDEPOSTS EDITOR INVITED ME to write about my divorce, both to help others and to explain my name change. I agreed because I knew readers might be curious, and I’m always motivated by a desire to comfort and encourage others—but the divorce is still new. Plus, how would I share about it in three hundred words or less? After taking time to think about what I wanted to say, I can say this with joyous certainty: Jesus’s grace is indeed sufficient. When I was weak, He was strong. He alone is powerful. Jesus’s grace was sufficient when I insisted on marrying, even though God said no. Sufficient to keep me in a marriage that was difficult from the onset. Sufficient to enable me to grow in dry and rocky…

I OPENED THE DOOR TO the children’s church classroom last Sunday, excited to teach little Marissa, who followed right behind me. I hadn’t always felt eager about this way of serving Jesus. My husband, Kevin, and I pastor a small rural congregation, and Sunday mornings used to exhaust me. I taught a ladies’ Sunday school class, led songs and prayer time during the worship service, and then taught children’s church. Often there was only one child. Sometimes two. I came home feeling as if I’d put in a full day of work. I sometimes wondered, Is it worth all this effort? One Sunday morning as I entered the kids’ classroom, Jesus spoke to my heart. In a voice rich with love, He whispered, “Jeanette, this is the most important thing…

I READ THE BIBLE THROUGH twenty-first-century lenses, so it’s not unusual when some of the terms or wording strikes me as curious. Luke 9:18 is one of those verses for me: “Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him.” So which was it? Was Jesus alone or was He with people? Both. He was off at a safe enough distance that the disciples couldn’t distract Him or likely even hear what He was saying in prayer. He wasn’t praying so they could hear. In this instance, He prayed privately to His Father. Alone yet with others. It’s a compelling concept. A widow may be technically alone but have friends and extended family still in “the circle,” and even with them around, so much of the widow’s journey…

MY HUSBAND, SCOTT, AND I have a family tradition of giving our sons big surprises when they turn sixteen. We choose experiences that encourage their creativity and fill them with joy. When our son Jack turned sixteen, we surprised him with tickets for him and Scott to see Hamilton, the acclaimed Broadway show. Jack had memorized the musical’s soundtrack months before, and his excitement was palpable. For our son Will’s birthday, we promised to buy him a piano once we moved to Idaho. (A used piano on Craigslist. We have our limits!) Hearing Will play for hours on end has been a gift for all of us. Our son Addison has two years before he turns sixteen, but I’m already pondering the perfect gift. I love surprising the people I…

I’M THE QUEEN OF PROCRASTINATION. Often, when facing a new project, I have to muster up the courage to start. With a recent writing assignment, I did all sorts of other tasks before I got started. I swept the garage, threw out old stuff from the fridge—I even cleaned the fish tank. I busied myself with a few more distractions until I decided it was too late in the day to start because my creative juices flow best in the morning. Once I did start writing, the words flowed, time flew, and I felt a peaceful satisfaction when done. So why do I procrastinate? Truthfully, I fear what others will think of me. But allowing that fear to control my actions, or inaction, only leads to more anxiety. It’s a…

BEFORE GETTING DRESSED, I PUT on the bracelet my husband, Jeff, had given me for my birthday. I rarely wear jewelry, but I always wore this bracelet when I needed to feel the words engraved on it: Unexpected Strength. My friend Wendy, who’d suffered a stroke and couldn’t drive, rode with me to our annual mammogram appointments. I was worried about Wendy’s risk of falling, and she often did fall. Besides that, I’d noticed an unusual spot on my breast. My mother had endured breast cancer, and every time I got a mammogram, I feared a similar diagnosis. Amplifying my anxiety was the horrendous Houston traffic. I begged Jesus to give me the strength I so desperately needed. We finally arrived, and I removed Wendy’s walker from the back of…

I LOOKED AT THE HUGE box outside my front door and knew I’d made the same dumb mistake again. When shopping online, I often forget to check the measurements of items. In this case, the piece of wall art I’d ordered turned out to be forty-four inches wide—not a good fit for the smaller space I had in mind. Until I figure out its permanent home, it sits on top of the hutch attached to my writing desk. The wood frame surrounds a single Greek word: tetelestai. Underneath is a basic translation: “It is finished.” During New Testament times, people used the word in everyday life. Merchant and tax receipts were marked with it to indicate “paid in full.” What makes tetelestai most significant is the fact that Jesus spoke…

“STOP, STOP! PLEASE, HELP! STOP!” I heard her before I saw her. An older woman who could barely stand was holding onto a lamppost and trying to hail a cab at a busy downtown intersection. Office workers on their lunch break swirled around her, and traffic was moving fast. As soon as the traffic light halted the cars, I quickly crossed the street and asked the woman, who looked a bit shaken, if she needed a taxi. She said yes and I flagged one down. The woman held on to my arm as I helped her into the car and closed the door. She murmured her thanks and off she went. For some reason, I thought about the blind beggar in Luke 18. You know, the one who kept yelling…

I’VE LAMENTED OPENLY THE RISE and fall of my former business making products for kids who have special needs like my son Isaac, who has Down syndrome. Despite my very best efforts, the business went down in flames, but it helped many people and eventually played a role in leading me to write for Guideposts. Having had many mountaintop and valley experiences, I’ve learned to filter almost everything through the eyes of faith rather than using a worldly yardstick. I had a professional career that conveyed worldly status but left me feeling empty and lost. I’ve had awful low points. When my business failed—as terrible an experience as that was—it proved to be a tremendous time of spiritual growth and intimacy with Jesus. On any given day, things happen in…

CANADIAN BRIAN DOERKSEN WROTE THE familiar worship song, “Come, Now Is the Time to Worship.” In a lunchtime interview at his home, he told me that he composed it during a time of deep anguish in his soul. One day when he felt especially discouraged, he sensed the Holy Spirit nudging him to praise and worship the Lord despite the difficulties. He obeyed, and this song—which has blessed millions worldwide—was born. Hearing about Brian’s choice to worship in adversity forever altered my perspective. It’s easy to worship Jesus for His goodness, presence, and power when life’s going well. Not so much when life takes a sudden detour or someone hurts me. That’s when I’m tempted to whine or doubt. But that’s exactly when I most need to recall that song…

GROWING UP AS A BROWN GIRL in a mostly white neighborhood, I had daily opportunities to feel “not good.” I knew I was smart, had hardworking parents, and even had some athletic abilities (thanks to my sporty dad and our Sunday afternoon training sessions in the nearby concrete park). But as my preteen years approached, doubts encroached. I wanted so badly to get accepted into a particular private Jesuit prep school. One visit captured my heart—the gleaming hallways, high academic standards, and the clear diversity of the student body. I remember praying for the first time to a man named Jesus, who I was learning about in catechism class. I heard that He thought I was good! Back in my homeroom, the teacher said I was a B student and…

THEIR FACES FELL WHEN THEY saw the crowd. They’d hoped that Jesus could heal their paralyzed friend. But with so many people crammed in and around the house, they couldn’t even see Jesus through the doorway—much less ask Him for help. In desperation, the four men made a hole in the roof and lowered their friend down. Jesus stopped teaching to tend to the man’s needs. First, He told him his sins were forgiven, then He instructed him to get up and go home. The man walked out healed, physically and spiritually. Whenever I read this story in Mark 2, I admire the determination that prompted these four men to use unconventional means to connect their friend with Jesus. As His ambassador today, I am also called to connect people…

DRASTIC TIMES CALL FOR DRASTIC measures. That became abundantly clear when life as I knew it came to a screeching halt during a worldwide health emergency. Out of necessity people became pretty creative to keep in contact with one another. I had video-conference calls to celebrate birthdays with friends and to meet with church leaders. I loved stories of neighbors who gathered to sing outdoors or applaud medical professionals and first responders for their important work and sacrifices. I even noted how brick-and-mortar churches became virtual sanctuaries as worship services and Bible studies were held online. I was grateful to see my own pastor and other ministers deliver powerful sermons via the internet to encourage and uplift us. Despite the dire circumstances, God’s work continued and Jesus was praised. Although…

MY HUSBAND, KEVIN, AND I chose Valentine’s Day for our wedding day forty-five years ago. (I was a child bride!) The idea of having our anniversary on that date sounded romantic. And it has been. Recently, a worry threatened to curtail our usual anniversary fun. Our daughter, Marie, is not a fan of Valentine’s Day because of her recent unwanted divorce. She was working in a superstore during and after the divorce, and scanning bouquets of roses and fancy cards before Valentine’s Day added to her misery. So, when she moved to our hometown last year, I wondered if Kev and I would need to tone down the excitement we usually exhibit around February 14. Should we refrain from telling her about the gifts we had bought for each other…

ON A RECENT VACATION, SEVERAL nurse sharks swam toward us on our first dive. One came directly at me! The closer she came, the more uncomfortable I was. When she rubbed against me like a kitten, I realized she was used to divers and was being playful. This dive was one of my best ever. I saw countless amazing creatures: colorful coral, turtles, a school of stingrays, and more. If I had been too uncomfortable to dive, then I would have missed the awe of seeing the miraculous underwater world. I think Jesus wants me to step out of my comfort zone because then I’m forced to trust Him. When I do, I witness Him doing “wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.” The disciples definitely left…

WHEN OUR CHILDREN WERE LITTLE and my husband and I were zipping up jackets and tying shoes on our way out of the house, our progress often stalled as one or more child shoved our hands away, saying, “I do it myself!” They didn’t want to accept help. Their independence made me smile because I realized I wasn’t that different. Our culture idolizes rugged individualism. The athlete or entrepreneur who puts in solitary effort and achieves a great goal is lauded. A person with disabilities who fights through obstacles without relying on others is praised. I buy into this theme of “I do it myself!” Just this week, I received some bad news and felt bowed down by sadness. Yet I didn’t want to tell my friends I was hurting;…

BECAUSE OF CERTAIN HEALTH CHALLENGES, my doctor recommended that I try intermittent fasting—a routine of eating during a short window of time each day, which gives the body a longer break from the work of digesting and processing meals. So my husband and I have been trying to have our meals early in the day and not eat in the evening. Of course, that means that right around bedtime I get cravings for all snacks ever invented. I usually manage to ignore that urge and am always grateful the next morning because I feel so much better. Experiencing a tiny bit of hunger has been a good experience, reminding me of the sort of deep longing Jesus describes here in today’s verse. My heart can get so saturated by the…

WHEN I THINK OF PEACEMAKERS, I think of ambassadors and diplomats. I’m neither. In fact, on a recent trip to babysit our three grandchildren, I struggled to negotiate whose turn it was to pick a story or which child got to play with a special toy. But Jesus spoke of peace in a different way: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27, NIV). He calls me to notice the troubled and fearful hearts around me and bring people the true source of peace: Himself. The world will continue to be full of conflict until His return, and if I focus on that, I…

Copyright © 2022 by Guideposts. All rights reserved. This publication, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher. Every attempt has been made to credit the sources of copyrighted material used in this book. If any such acknowledgment has bene inadvertently omitted or miscredited, recipe of such information would be appreciated. Scripture quotations marked (CEV) are taken from Holy Bible: Contemporary English Version. Copyright © 1995 American Bible Society. Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are taken from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (GNT)…

OUR DOG, FLASH, HAD A new experience this winter: snow. This Jack Russell-Chihuahua mix seemed tentative about the snow at first. (Or maybe it was just the fact that we dressed him in a gray sweater with a pom-pom on the hood before letting him outside!) It took him all of ten seconds to plunge into the wintry wonder of our snow-covered backyard. He got up to his belly in snow and left tracks circling the entire yard. You could almost sense his pleasure at being the first to leave his mark. He was an adventurer, going where no dog had gone before. New Year’s Day feels to me like a pristine snow-covered yard too. Fresh. Clean. Full of possibilities. It is the grand reboot, a new start. I get…

RECENTLY, I NOTICED THAT MY son, Pierce, was on his computer, flipping between two programs to do his schoolwork. The inefficiency made me both batty and curious, so I asked what he was doing. He explained he was fast-forwarding through a twenty-minute video in one program and searching for the answers to related comprehension questions in another. He was cutting corners by skipping back and forth, and as a result, he was harrumphing with frustration at his method. I explained not only that what he was doing was more time-consuming than watching the video in its entirety but also that he wasn’t really learning anything. His answers were vague, and he was missing the whole point! As I spoke to Pierce and pointed a proverbial finger at him—my three other…

I LOVE FLOWERS. DURING THE dark winter months, my husband, Dave, sometimes brings home bouquets. Nothing fancy, just a mixed batch to brighten my day. My husband knows those blooms give me hope for the future. So does Jesus. One day, my mood was anything but cheery. A dream for which I’d been saving money for years had fallen through, and I couldn’t stop crying. Unsettled thoughts left me shaken, wishing for a sign—for some way to know Jesus was watching and listening. As afternoon turned to evening, I busied myself with preparing dinner while awaiting Dave’s return home from his work at a nearby store. He entered the kitchen, two dozen long-stemmed roses overflowing in his arms. I paused before accepting them. How could we justify buying expensive flowers,…

BACK IN COLLEGE, WHEN I first accepted Jesus, I was eager to learn all I could about this Man who forgave me and cleansed me of my sin. I was already an avid reader, so I dug into the Bible and read as much as I could, not understanding everything but enjoying the journey. I discovered different translations that gave me more insight and understanding; some used plainer words while others made stories out of every principle. After a while, I saw the value not only of reading the Word but also memorizing certain passages. I would get up at dawn, and while everyone was still asleep, I would stand in our little front hallway and repeat Scriptures aloud. I would personalize the verses by inserting I, me, or my.…

CRUISING ALONG THE HIGHWAY, I saw a giant banner across the back of a semitruck announcing, “Test in Progress.” Switching lanes to bypass this, I was struck by this concept of preparing other drivers for possible mistakes by disclosing that the driver wasn’t perfect. I wondered, If I wore a T-shirt emblazoned with “Test in Progress,” encouraging people to be understanding if I made mistakes—not just on the road but in life—would people be more patient and accepting of my flaws and imperfections? How significant, those three simple words: test in progress. They describe the entire human race. Everyone’s undergoing some kind of test in progress. We just don’t broadcast it with a banner on our backside. When I reflect on various tests in progress among my own family and…

I TEND TO BE A fairly organized person. Until I am not. The other day I walked into my closet and it looked like a cyclone had hit it. Clothes that needed to go to Goodwill were piled in one corner. Old files and papers were stacked on top of plastic bins of summer clothes. Wrapping paper and tape were leaning against the back wall, along with random workout equipment and a giant foam roller. In the other corner stood an ironing board. The closet felt cluttered and claustrophobic. When things get too cluttered in my life, I feel like I can’t breathe. I had to block out a chunk of time the next day to get everything sorted. The process was restorative. My weekdays are a lot like my…

“DAYS PASS, YEARS VANISH, AND we walk sightless among miracles.” Hearing those words from a Jewish friend’s Sabbath prayer were a wake-up call. For weeks, I’d lived life as if in a trance, with each day starting and ending the same. It was time to actively live, to open my eyes and ears—and soul—to the miracles taking place around me. How many blessings had I let slip by unnoticed? Making myself fully aware of God’s blessings and miracles wouldn’t be easy. I’m a creature of habit. I started with breakfast, switching out my usual meal for a slice of toast slathered with raspberry jam. My mouth watered. Bypassing the kitchen table, I stepped outside on the porch, where the rocker called to me. Soon, I heard the steady buzz of…

EARLY IN MY SPIRITUAL JOURNEY, when something bad happened, I’d ask why God hadn’t prevented it or why He had allowed it. I hear the same refrain from others when there are global catastrophes or smaller personal tragedies. But God isn’t a cosmic puppeteer, moving people around in some galactic drama. The truth is we all have free will. Free will means that as I make good choices and bad choices, I’m subject to the natural consequences of those choices. The earth in which we live is no longer the paradise God designed. After the Fall, which was the direct result of Adam and Eve’s free will, our world became a broken place where bad stuff could happen. With Jesus’s power within me, I can minimize the chance of harming…

EVEN WITH ALL ITS FAULTS, social media sometimes serves up a devotional moment. Today I read a wise text image that said, “I asked Jesus why He was taking me through troubled waters. He answered, ‘Because your enemies can’t swim.’” The children of Israel may have wondered why, after their nail-biting escape from the Egyptians, they ran smack-dab against a formidable sea. The enemy army was hot on their trail. Their only hope was through the waters, but they’d drown before they could say, “Let’s rethink this.” The Red Sea story in the book of Exodus is popular. The waters parted. The Israelites crossed on dry land. Men, women, children, infants, and the elderly of Israel crossed safely to the other side. When the enemy followed, the waters closed over…

I WORK FROM HOME EVERY day, so I’m dependent on the internet to keep me connected to colleagues and to deliver my assignments to the people who expect them. Needless to say, frustration and anxiety take over my spirit whenever I’m close to a deadline and I see the message “Connection Failed” pop up on my computer screen. This dreaded message showed up recently, right at the moment I was preparing to send a document to dozens of people that I’d spent a lot of time working on. Then, just like that, the connection to my work server failed. The clock was ticking. I frantically asked my husband to reboot our home router to see if that would help. It didn’t. My mind began to churn in search of solutions.…

CLUTCHING THE STEERING WHEEL, I negotiated a complex, multi-lane braid of on-ramps and off-ramps at breakneck speed. Trusting the GPS’s navigational authority, I counted lanes and kept left or right, obeying its commands. Because I was swept up in the swift, unyielding current of seventy-mile-per-hour traffic, one abrupt, mistimed lane change in that rushing river of cars and trucks could have been fatal. I was driving to visit my daughter who lived out of state. Suddenly three words on the GPS struck terror in me: “Lost Satellite Connection.” I continued blindly, until the connection was restored. Periodically, it reconnected momentarily, only to be lost again. Finally, the connection was restored long enough to guide me through an intense series of critical lane changes. When I was almost to my daughter’s…

WHILE REVIEWING PHOTOGRAPHS FROM A recent hike, I was surprised how one snapshot drew my eye more than the others: the image of a canopy of trees sheltering a trail, its earthy surface dappled with mellowed sunlight. The path wound into a gentle curve and out of sight. When I saw that scene, with its carpet of autumn leaves piled along the walk’s edge, pleasure swept over me. Images of country lanes and dirt pathways that disappear past a bend—what makes me love them so? Why do they evoke such a sense of excitement and hope? Paul likened his existence to a race. But for me, my faith walk—my life—more closely resembles a long hike through the wilderness. There is beauty to encounter and danger to face. Yet I move…

OUR YOUNGEST DAUGHTER, KIM, AND her husband, David, married in 2013. Since then, they’ve moved eight times for school and work. Gene and I have lent a hand each time. The four of us jokingly say we’ve mastered this moving thing. Maybe we should start our own business, right? I think about how many dishes we’ve packed and unpacked. How many times we’ve assembled and disassembled their bed. How many kitchens and closets we’ve organized. I think about how many changes this couple has weathered and wonder how many more will come before David graduates and establishes his medical practice. Change is not easy. Even a change for the better exacts a mental and emotional toll because it brings unknowns. It removes the familiar and comfortable and thrusts me into…

“YOUR KNEE’S FINE,” THE DOCTOR said. “It’s the muscles around it that need to get stronger.” Months after a major surgery, the pain I experienced seemed slow to recede. So I consulted the doctor to make sure nothing was wrong from a surgical standpoint. His reassurance was instructive on many levels. When something is injured, the trauma to the surrounding area may be worse than the initial problem. A tornado sweeps through a town. Buildings can be repaired, but the emotional wounds of the people may be more difficult to assess and may take longer to heal. A young couple divorces, and it’s heartbreaking. But even deeper pain may emerge as they attempt to co-parent, or deeper pain may show up in the lives of the children. A woman is…

I HAVE A NEW SONG that I can’t stop listening to. The habit of latching on to a song and listening to it over and over again harks back to my junior high days. I would find a song that I loved and tape it on my tape recorder. (Yep, I am that old.) Then I would play that song on repeat—for days. It drove my brother and sisters crazy. Fast-forward a few decades, and I just replay my favorite songs online. Now I drive my husband, Scott, and my boys crazy. The thing is, when I listen to a single song on repeat, the truth of it starts to work its way into my soul. The latest song I can’t get enough of is a worship song. It has…

WE HAVE A RUG FOR shoes near our front door. Whenever my hubby and I leave the house, we grab the appropriate footwear. In the summer I have gardening clogs and sandals on that rug. In the winter, my warm boots wait for me. Today as I slid my feet into slip-ons to take out the recycling, I thought about how important it can be to choose the right shoes. Each day, as I set out into the world, I have a choice to wear the ill-fitting clodhoppers of worry, anger, or selfishness. Or I can wear the spiritual armor that Jesus provides, with shoes that support an attitude of peace. We can use our entrances and exits from our home as a place of remembering. Everywhere we go, we…

GENE AND I WATCHED AN animated movie with our grandkids while visiting them. The movie, The Incredibles, featured the Parr family—mother, father, and three children. This was no ordinary family. They were undercover superheroes, and each member possessed a unique superpower. They truly were incredible! Dad possessed superhuman strength and durability. Mom stretched like elastic. The fourteen-year-old daughter could become invisible, the ten-year-old son was super speedy, and the baby could change his shape. When evil influences threatened civilization, this family combined forces and fought for the good of mankind. Script writers and illustrators used their imaginations to create this family with superpowers. But know this: As members of God’s family, we’re filled with supernatural power that’s real and enables us to experience victory as we fight spiritual battles. Jesus…

FIVE YEARS AFTER MY LAST novel came out, I published another one and copies arrived on my doorstep. That’s usually a time of huge joy, gratitude, and celebration. But when I opened the box, I defaulted into stress and fear. Then I got mad at myself for those emotions, ashamed that I couldn’t feel the excitement I wanted to feel. As I prayed, Jesus reminded me that the past year had brought many forms of grief. The death of a family member, the Alzheimer’s diagnosis of another, and my husband’s cancer diagnosis. And empty nesting had hit harder than before when my hubby and I were alone at Christmas. How did I handle it? I had shut out my feelings and worked like crazy—writing, editing, and organizing book-launch events. No…

RECENTLY, A NEW FRIEND SHARED my personal and private information with a third party. When I found this out, all the warmth and sense of connection I had been building with her evaporated. I felt betrayed. I couldn’t trust her. I tossed aside my plans to spend time with her. Then Jesus prompted me to come to Him. As I prayed about the situation, I realized she hadn’t meant any harm. She is an open, transparent woman, who is as chatty as I am. Then Jesus reminded me of the many times my words have been indiscreet or hurtful to others. If Jesus has forgiven me for those transgressions, shouldn’t I show mercy and forgive my new friend for doing the same? Thankfully, my friends have shown me mercy for…

THIS ISN’T MY FAVORITE BEATITUDE, but it’s an important one. As a Christian I like to focus on all that I gain by following Jesus: eternal life, a restored relationship with God, a life of meaning and purpose, a heart of worship, His friendship and guidance, peace that surpasses understanding. But Jesus has always been honest that following Him on the path of right choices will sometimes cause suffering. Even small choices can require sacrifices. Giving the right of way to the car merging into your lane. Returning the money when a cashier gives too much change. Biting your tongue and changing the subject when someone starts to share juicy gossip. Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote The Cost of Discipleship, in which he challenged Christians to let their faith make a difference…

FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS, I’ve chosen a word for each year. My word last year was grow. I desired growth in all areas of life, but I especially wanted to know Jesus more. I chose this word hesitantly, because often growth comes from pain. But as Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33, NIV). I chose the word grow anyway and decided I would try to consider all circumstances (whether good or bad) as opportunities to know and experience Jesus more deeply. Some unexpected painful events occurred. My husband had a setback with his hip implant, one of my sons lost his job, and I had my own bouts with purposelessness. Yet because I intentionally wanted to…

NEVER MIND BAD HAIR DAYS, I have issues with my eyebrows: flying off in different directions, acting bushy and bold when I need them to lay flat, and even—horrors—turning gray. How dare they! Having a lifelong aversion to pain, I’m not one to pluck renegade hairs from my face. I thought about coloring my eyebrows when I do my hair, but then I’d risk dripping color in my eyes. No thanks. So I decide to shape them. A little snip here, a little eyebrow pencil there. Now I look like I’m shocked on my left side and angry on my right. This is fine if you look at only one side of my face or my profile. Otherwise, it appears I can’t make up my mind. Finally, desperate to end…

LAST NIGHT, MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER, who lives in Nashville, organized a family game night over the internet. My older daughter in New York and her boyfriend joined in, and my husband and I participated from our couch in Minnesota. At one point, my younger son, also in New York, popped in to say hello. We played Trivial Pursuit, wheedled for clues, argued the validity of answers, and laughed until we were exhausted. When we signed off, my heart felt warmer than it had in days. Even with geographic distance between us, I felt the glow of fellowship. There are days when the world feels stark and cold. I sometimes struggle with loneliness even when plenty of people are around. My failings and guilt can make me feel cut off from…

I HAD TO LAUGH WHEN my daughter, Holly, texted a conversation she’d just had with her four-year-old daughter Lilah: We were listening to VeggieTales in the car and Lilah was singing along, and then she stopped and said, “I think I just heard God speak to me! In my heart!” And I said, “Yeah, what did He say?” And she said, “I appreciate that.” When Lilah was three, I’d watched through the window as she played alone on the patio. Suddenly, she dropped her toy and stood still as a statue. When I noticed her lips moving, Holly smiled and assured me that Lilah must be praying. Holly had recently seen Lilah standing in the yard looking up at the sky, telling God how she loves Him “so, so, so…

I ENJOY WATCHING NBC’S Today show as part of my morning routine. One day, I heard news anchor Craig Melvin share a story about riding the elevator at work with a colleague. After noticing the woman’s round tummy, Melvin cheerfully asked her, “So when are you due?” Much to his dismay, she looked at him and replied, “I’m not pregnant.” Mortified by his gaffe, Melvin quickly exited the elevator at the next stop—and it wasn’t even his floor! I chuckled at the story, but I could certainly relate. My mother often told me as a child, “Think before you speak.” But I still fall short of always heeding that wise advice. How many times have I said something and immediately wished I could snatch back the words as soon as…

I SOMETIMES COMPARE MYSELF WITH friends in an unfavorable light. I wish I had the talent to knit like Marie does. Why don’t I enjoy cleaning as much as Betty? If I’m not careful, I may covet someone else’s talents. And then I consider heroes who inspire me, but I’m not jealous of them: humanitarian Mother Teresa, author and speaker Helen Keller, and civil rights leader Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King Jr., a minister who used his gifts of leadership and speech to lift up the downtrodden. Dr. King received his bachelor’s degree in sociology at age nineteen and his doctorate at age twenty-six. He could’ve chosen a prestigious career. Instead, he followed God’s call to engage the powerful weapons of prayer, words of reconciliation, and peaceful demonstrations. King brought…

EVERY JANUARY, I ATTEND A retreat that helps ready me for the year’s ministry demands. I’ve developed friendships there, and one of those friends enjoys watercolor painting. She began posting pictures of her art on Facebook. The beauty of her paintings inspired me to try, but I didn’t know where to begin. So, one year, I packed a paint palette and a pad of watercolor paper for the retreat. When we had free time in our schedule, I asked my artist friend to teach me some beginner techniques. Show-and-tell works best for me when I want to learn a new skill. Listening to someone tell me what to do is okay, but combining that with watching a demonstration makes a world of difference for me. Jesus knew that show-and-tell is…

SOMEHOW THE CONVERSATION WITH GRACE, our thirteen-year-old granddaughter, turned to friendships. “I only have seven friends,” she said with a heavy sigh. “Oh, honey, that’s quite a few,” I told her. As I counted on my fingers, I realized my close, trusted friends—the ones I share my hidden soul with—totaled five. One hand’s worth. “I have five,” I told Grace. “And if you come to the end of your life and can say you have only one loyal friend, you are rich.” I’d stolen that line from my stepdad, who said it to me when I was thirteen. When Grace plopped into the passenger seat the next day after school, she chirped, “I made a mistake yesterday. I actually have eight close friends.” “Wow, that’s marvelous,” I said. “I thought…

AT THE VACATION RENTAL HOME next door, guests scurried frantically back and forth to their car. I watched them hurriedly load up luggage and ski equipment—clearly past their checkout time—and couldn’t help but laugh at the familiar scene. Many times, I, too, have scrambled to vacate a hotel room before checkout time. Conversely, some “guests” sneak into premises, unseen, unwanted, without regard for the checkout time. It was a sad day when the trusty old market in our little tourist town was discovered to have critters lurking in the attic. The store was shut down temporarily for a radical overhaul and deep cleaning to deal with the problem. During that time, people freely exchanged opinions around town. Some locals voiced empathy for the storeowner, some expressed disgust, and others wisely…

I’VE BEEN A BELIEVER FOR more than four decades, but until recently I’d never read through the entire Bible. Though I had desired to do it. Some friends told me about their intention to read through the Bible in a year using an application called The Bible Recap. It included a daily, chronological reading plan with a short podcast recapping each day. They invited me to join them, and I said yes. I’m grateful I committed! I learned so much. One recurring message was how God longs to be near us. Deuteronomy 4:7 says, “For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the LORD our God is to us, whenever we call upon him?” (ESV). Then came Jesus. He dwelled among us. People…

I LOVE CRAFTS AND RECENTLY stenciled a plaque for my office. This white board with black lettering speaks to my soul. The wording is simple and the message clear: “All Your Sins Are Forgiven—Even That One.” The sign doesn’t match my historic home’s decor. Yet it’s necessary. This reminder keeps me grounded in Jesus’s limitless love. Just as important—maybe more—I need to trust that I am forgiven. For everything, even my sins that seem unforgivable. When Jesus came into the world, He walked with tax collectors, prostitutes, the demon possessed, and lepers. He selected a man named Saul as His disciple, a Roman who’d spent his life persecuting believers. Jesus found the good in each of these people and taught them to see it in themselves. In His supreme wisdom,…

I OFTEN SEE A NEIGHBOR taking his little terrier for a run. The man rolls down the road, balanced on a hoverboard. The dog races behind him. When the dog tires, his owner scoops him up and carries him. The animal nestles against the man’s chest. He rests there, content and secure, able to ride for miles. Watching these two reminds me of Jesus’s promise to carry His children. Sometimes the path He leads us on feels long and tiresome. We grow weary, and our soul pants for water and rest. I’ve experienced times like that. For years, I sweated over my ministry calendar. I wanted to be fully available to fulfill God’s purposes for me while being fully available for the needs and celebrations of my immediate and extended…

AFTER I SPOKE AT A neighboring church when they were between pastors, I got an email from their worship leader. He wrote, “We’d like to have you preach for us on a regular basis until we find a pastor. How often can you come back?” Although I felt honored that they liked my message, I was also a bit confused. The Lord had expanded my writing ministry to include speaking—mostly for women’s groups—but I’d never aspired to preach. Yet the more I prayed about it, the stronger the dream grew in my heart. Yikes, I thought. This is huge. Are You behind this, Lord, or is my ego talking? In my five decades as a Christian, I often believed Jesus was speaking to me. Many times, it turned out that…

WE HOSTED AN ISLAND-THEMED BACKYARD sleepover for my daughter’s eleventh birthday. The girls played zany relay games and assembled island-themed kabobs to grill on the barbecue. Although the party was a success, I felt hurt that one of the mothers wouldn’t allow her daughter to spend the night. I was deeply offended that she didn’t trust me and my husband to protect her daughter in our backyard. In time, I got over it. When my children grew up and I struggled with fears and worries about their safety in the world, Jesus reminded me of how hurt and upset I’d felt when that mom didn’t trust my ability to keep her daughter safe in my backyard. He reminded me that the whole world is His backyard. And I realized how…

I’VE BEEN BEEKEEPING FOR SEVERAL years, and each year I’m more astounded at the strength, ingenuity, unity—and especially the resilience of bees. During the warm months, bees face many threats to their survival: heavy rain, pesticides, wasps, bears, birds, and other critters that rob their hives of honey. Yet most survive. In Colorado, the winter months are especially difficult. Last winter, we experienced several weeks of temperatures below zero. To keep warm, bees huddle around the queen and shiver to generate enough heat to keep the cluster at 95 degrees. After each cold spell, once temperatures reached above 50 degrees, I would go look at my hives. If I saw bees flying around, then I knew they had survived. Bees remind me of Jesus’s promise to be with me when…

MY SENIOR CAT, JULIE, IS usually sweet natured. But her system occasionally succumbs to a recurring illness that requires antibiotics. My husband, David, holds her as I fill a syringe with medicine. Then the adventure begins. Seven pounds of aging feline transforms into a writhing, clawing mass of viciousness. We brace ourselves, keeping our eyes and hands protected. At last, we squirt the liquid into her mouth and she swallows. Sighing, we set her down. Our job is done, and the terror is over for another day. As Julie’s health improves daily, so does her attitude. When the cycle is over, she seems grateful. Sometimes I need to swallow “bitter medicine” in my life to grow stronger faith. Bills, illness, or whatever unpleasant circumstances—I don’t always accept them peacefully. I…

I’VE JUST RETURNED FROM TEACHING at a writing retreat. As I reviewed my interactions, I was delighted by the way Jesus moved in the hearts of the attendees, bringing healing, encouragement, inspiration, and direction. But I also replayed many of the conversations and realized there were times I talked about myself too much. I had been quick to jump in and offer my opinions. I’d failed to listen as deeply and compassionately as I could have. When Jesus walked this earth, He encountered many people. The Gospels record His unhurried and selfless responses. He wept with compassion. He celebrated at weddings. He asked searching questions. And He listened, listened, and listened to the hurts, needs, and doubts of those He met. As I seek to follow His example, I will…

DECADES AGO, I WAS SERVING at a mission base in Hong Kong. Each day, we would walk to a local streetcar to ride to the meeting place. As people surged toward the door of the tram, I found myself being elbowed aside. I often came close to missing the tram as others hurried aboard. A friend who had lived there a long time coached me to be more assertive. The city was fast-paced, and this was a time when meekness wasn’t appropriate. Most of the time, it is much easier to assert my own desires than appreciate the beauty of meekness. I may not elbow my way onto a tram, but I insert myself into conversations, focus on my own needs, and assert the priority of my struggles over the…

I BLINKED, RUBBED MY EYES, and readjusted my glasses. “I’m having trouble seeing the page. I think I need a stronger prescription,” I told my husband. “Here, let me see.” He took my glasses and held them up, then chuckled. After quickly spraying eyeglass cleaner and then wiping my glasses with a lint-free cloth, he handed them back. Sure enough, now my reading glasses worked just fine. Because the Word tells me so, I know that Jesus is at work all around me. He reveals the true nature of God in profound mercy, gentleness, and power. But sometimes I don’t see Him. As I muddle through my day, my vision is clouded by smudges of doubt, fingerprints of self-centeredness, and scratches of distraction. Or, in the same way that I…

A NOVELIST FRIEND SENT HER latest book to a review journal. The reviewer refused to look at it because the author identified as a Christian. Most of us rarely face such blatant rejection for being a follower of Christ. Yet we face subtler forms. Family members may be derisive of our faith. Coworkers may mock those of us who follow Jesus. The media often portrays Christians with unkind stereotypes. It hurts when I’m insulted or misrepresented. Yet any opposition I face is a weak shadow of what Jesus faced for my sake. He endured injustice, scorn, betrayal, and physical suffering. Hebrews 12:2 gives me a clue about how to endure: “. . . fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him…