This kind of peace belongs to people with grit, people who trust in the middle of darkest darkness—their own or the world’s. Pollyanna wishing can’t survive here, optimism blows away in the wind.
Praying Forgiveness
Forgiveness broadens our territory, a wonderful thing and sometimes frightening as well. It can be like turning the corner on a new road, unfamiliar, our breath may shallow or halt altogether if we can’t discern whether we’ve turned the wrong way on a one way or not. Having recently moved I regularly find myself realizing that there are many places where I simply cannot see beyond my current location, I’ve.. Read More
Praying HOPE: Through The Children’s Eyes (Edition 4)
Hope can seem elusive. It’s shadows are long ones draped across the landscapes of our lives but often instead of perceiving an invitation to adventure chasing toward the light, we hesitate at the darkness of the shadows, as though it is a darkness to be avoided. Children and adventures seem to go hand in hand, they are good at leading the way. I often need their help. Before I ever had.. Read More
How to Pray Continually
Hello Friends! Writing to you today from a different state and address and with a renewed heart. I have thought often of you all and am eager to share the encouragements and gifts that have come my way this past month. Also, delighted to be sharing the same article (by a different title), The Liminal Space of Prayer, over at His Israel this morning. So, let’s jump right in with.. Read More
Beloved not Perfect: The Way to be Rooted and Grounded Even in the Strange Day We Live
We live in a strange day. Freedom seekers and protectors are portrayed and persecuted as human rights violators. A nation violates freedom while a president watches it’s baseball game. I know it’s not new, it’s all been beneath the sun before, but it’s here now, in our day. Our strange day, our call to preparedness and being a city on a hill, a light not hidden. It could seem hopeless… Read More
Courageous not Qualified: For Such a Time as This
A repeated theme the last few weeks in our home has been a realization that often the most amazing things come through one person being a link to others. And often that one person is not remarkably qualified, rather, simply willing. Very recently, in India, a young believer walked into a village hostile to what they knew of Christianity. He was beat out. This young man, however, has experienced the love of God… Read More
For When It’s Easier to Look Away than At the Face of Suffering
I went “prepared” to help meet our persecuted family’s needs, yet, instead they held my hands and captivated my eyes. They told me how they pray for America to experience “the blessing of persecution”. My mind has spun with confusion and questions that felt like being alone in an empty room. These times must come. Undeniably, my spirit has been hungry with anticipation that I too could grasp their secret.. Read More
Want to be Brave? Get Ready for Joy Beyond What You Can Reach.
The idea of designing The Martyrs’Cross had been in my husband’s heart for some time before we got married. However, it was just a couple months before we wed that it fully ripened and became a reality. It was a symbol to us of our purpose in coming together. We met at a Voice of the Martyrs’ conference both sure we would never marry and definitely not have any children. Well, almost.. Read More
There’s a Time to Push: Through the Children’s Eyes (edition 3)
I often hear our Heavenly Father’s voice when I instruct my children. Sometimes I don’t *get it* right away but since it’s become a common theme I try to listen carefully to what I am saying. I consider, what do I need to do with the words as well? Recently, I spoke with them about there being times we need to choose the difficult way; the times that we have to push in.. Read More
Through The Children’s Eyes, (edition 2)
Reading the story of Naaman in 2 Kings 5 was heavy with discussion and wide-eyes. Before I go further, let me be clear in the picture I paint for you: the 8 year old is coloring and listening half of the time (I think), the six year old is building with Legos and making a LOT of rocket blasting sounds, but still sometimes seems to be listening enough to tell us the last few things we said. (I’m just glad he’s still around the table with us.) And the 3 year old, well, that depends on the day. But I keep him as close by as I can because the 10, 12 & 14 year olds were that little once, and today, as I read the story…