“To live with desire is to choose vulnerability over self-protection; to admit our desire and seek help beyond ourselves is even more vulnerable. It is an act of trust. In other words, those who know their desire and refuse to kill it, or refuse to act as though they don’t need help, they are the...Read More

“You may have traveled long and far, across states and time zones to make it to this moment. You may have only traveled a short distance. Maybe you have been looking forward to this week all year, or maybe a friend invited you, and you’re still not quite sure how you got here. But I...Read More

Continuing to grow in Jesus, especially after knowing Him years upon years, is a beautiful and beggarly feat. It’s a long-ward journey, often marked by highs and lows, by which we follow Jesus into the depths upon depths of an ongoing intimate relationship, conforming more into His likeness, and walking out a life of Spirit-driven...Read More

I remember first coming to Christ and not believing that grace was real. It sounded wonderful coming from the mouth of my pastor. The concept was stuff of great stories, but in real life, I wasn’t so comfortable receiving it. To one who had convinced herself that approval must be earned, it was awkward. I...Read More

I will use her.  I will lead her into the wilderness and comfort her. There I will restore her vineyards; turning the valley of trouble into a gate of hope. Hosea 2:14-15 There is something I find uniquely exhilarating and pure, wild and rugged about being in nature.  Breathing in fresh mountain air. Watching the...Read More

Here’s a little piece of advice: Never go to the movies with me.  For starters, I’m quite the talker. I fully engage in the experience—out loud.  I will eat your Twizzlers. I’ll get really engrossed in the film and drink from your Diet Coke. Then (because I’ve now slurped down your drink, as well as...Read More

This year I had the joy of meeting and serving alongside Liz Curtis Higgs at several women’s conferences. As the author of Bad Girls of the Bible, I knew instantly that she was a woman that I wanted to call my friend.  Not only is she a gifted speaker and Bible teacher, but also a woman of...Read More

It was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 1 Peter 1:18-19 Last week I ugly cried on stage in front of hundreds of...Read More

 Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil. Proverbs 4:27 Last night, I met up with an old friend for dinner. It’s restaurant week in our city (when fine dining restaurants are half-price for charity).  For a food-lover like me who is on a budget, it’s my...Read More

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 It was the night before Christmas (and all through the house…just kidding, I couldn’t help myself) when...Read More