"A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, 'Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?'” (Mark 4:37-38). I begin each day with a…
Today, as yesterday, I needed grace. Lots. Of. It. Not just a trickle of patience and favor, but drenching downpours. My human nature has a default setting of irritability, impatience, and self-centered entitlement. I'm often in need of more nourishment and rest, which cranks up my crankiness factor. In my rough-edged…
We now focus our balanced living series upon the issue central to our hearts: relationships. In today's culture of incessant overwhelm, we're under pressure to work harder and prove our significance. We hear countless tips on how to strive for accomplishments while many of us remain at a loss for how to…
As crises and horrors abound in today's news reports, tensions have escalated to record highs. The world trends are barreling past stress toward hysteria, and we must choose whether to join the craziness or become part of the solution. We can stand against the tide by adopting grace as our modus…
The ballerina pirouettes until stilled in her partner's embrace. With his support, she leaps toward heaven and floats to the stage. As the curtain swings to a close, she rushes in front of her partner to blow kisses at her fans. The audience acclaims her as graceful, flinging roses at her…
"Put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, accepting one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive. Above all, put on love—the perfect bond of unity" (Colossians 3:12-14). Genocide ravages our eastern neighbors. Oppression…
I don't venture up onto my roof often. In fact, I only brave that weak-kneed climb if no one else volunteers to help with an annual task. My core tightens as I wobble those initial steps. After I reach the center and grip onto an anchoring structure, my lungs relax for a full…
I prayed about whether to attend the conference. A dream rolled a motorcycle to my porch. The director rapped on the front door. "We've got work to do." Along the winding road to the summit, I anticipated a supportive role during the conference. I woke with a chuckle about the motorcycle…
With one hand on the shopping cart handle and the other linked to the smallest of three toddlers, a young mother scanned the busy parking lot from the curb."Hold your brother's hand when you cross the street," she said.The four year-old wrinkled his nose at the younger boy to his left.…