“'I am the Lord’s servant,' Mary answered. 'May your word to me be fulfilled.' ... and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: '... Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!'” (Luke 1:38.41-44). I once heard a call…
Sandcastles in the Desert Season of Life Deadly viruses and economic struggles have stranded us in a wasteland which seems endless. We hike up one dune of hope for a better tomorrow only to find another sea of bleak, dry circumstances stretching ahead. This season of unrest and suffering has…
The funds continue to pour out over my career with no income coming back in yet. The postcards I mailed to bring in more opportunities have harvested nothing more than a few returned as undeliverable. I stand at the edge of what might be success, but cannot see the fruit of…
Crisis or unexpected changes wreak seismic upheaval in our minds, hearts, and souls. All we had planned suddenly crumbles through our fingers and turns to ash. Any illusions of control we once had have vanished. Instead of grinning at a bright path ahead, we shiver in the dark. These are…
As children, we fidgeted through the advent season. Those ribbon-locked packages peeked from under our Christmas trees as if teasing us. Some of us, not to be named, might have failed this test of patience and suffered the consequences. Christmas tests our patience in more serious ways as we mature. The…
Go, Courageously! by LaTan Roland Murphy While writing Courageous Women of The Bible, I realized more than ever before my own need for daily courage. Courage doesn’t drop into your lap one day announcing: I’m here, all is well! Instead, courage comes as we choose to live courageously—standing strong, pressing into…
Despite growing access to supportive resources, humankind seems more discouraged than ever. We connect via screens to thousands and still feel isolated. Innovations provide new ways to ease our lifestyles each year, but the harried pace only intensifies. In the disconnected, busy chaos of our existence, meaning and hope wither. Though…
Delight can prove most challenging when we feel stalled. Others seem to be shining in spotlights and joy, while we seem doomed to linger in the shadows. Despite our hopes of fulfillment, we're stuck in the wings watching others beam with happiness. We seem to churn our days in the…
I love to encourage others through written and spoken words. What could beat a day of crafting inspirational messages or sculpting fantastic worlds for a novel? By all accounts, I have my dream job. The sun should rise to find me hammering away at my keyboard, immersed in my work's delight.…
What happens if I fail to fulfill my purpose in life? Dormant potential which exerts no impact on the world falls short of a fulfilling life, but does not seem to risk much. In his book, Overcoming Your Shadow Mission, John Ortberg suggests a more disturbing result occurs when we miss…