a surrendered life

L ike it or hate it, masks and other protective measures are here to stay, at least for the foreseeable future. I’ve felt a “stuck in the middle'' attitude towards them with deeply opinionated friends on both sides. Through this I’ve found that there’s thoughtful information and well-meaning believers on both sides of the Covid response. When we take an “us versus them” mentality on such superficial issues, we are divided and inadvertently mask the Gospel-- dear reader, this shouldn’t happen! When we focus on all of the litany of rules and regulations, we're ignoring a burgeoning truth pulsing under the Covid crisis. The gospel doesn't have to be masked! There's no sign saying "No Gospel allowed" (yet!). When Paul was in prison he wrote a letter speaking of rejoicing because even though he was in chains, the gospel was not chained, the word of God was not chained. Now, the entire world fraught with a disease-- or fraught with the response to this disease-...

If you’re like me, you grew up expecting to spend ninety percent of your time working outside your home. Home has always been a simple retreat of sorts. Or it was. But now, as the world takes a furlough, perhaps you find yourself needing to make home work. Ten years ago this was me, after having my first child and becoming a stay-at-home mom. I’ve learned several principles over the years that I hope will help you adjust to a new normal. First, let’s clarify that making home work is not working from home--though that can be part of it-- it’s much broader. It involves seeing home as your work, from laundry to cooking there’s some level of organization. Then within that larger structure you have kids to teach, pets to care for, or outside work to accomplish. Where to start? Set an alarm. Plan the night before what time you’re going to wake up and set an alarm. This seems silly-- you don’t have to go anywhere, right?-- but it’s crucial to be intentional about your day. Eve...

Throughout the scriptures we see this principle emerging--r emember.  Remember what he's done. Why? Because it's so easy to let the wind and waves, the storms of life, press in and cause us to forget. Too often I'm so busy in the dailiness of life that I forget His provision. Remembering that His grace is sufficient infuses hope into every new trial. Remembering offers a perspective that transcends time and space. Remembering strengthens our faith, proves His word in our lives, and makes us a walking testimony of Him. Christ is the word made flesh-- we are His gospel made flesh; living, walking, breathing reminders to the world that there is redemption. ...remember that at that time you were separate from Christ...  Ephesians 2:12 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth... Ecc 12:1 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light Hebrews... 10:32 Remember the word that I said to you... John 15:20 I'm pausing to reflect on my spiritual...

"So long self, well it's been fun but I have found Somebody else. So long self, there's just no room for two, so you are gonna have to have to move..."* These lyrics are so true. I can't form an alliance between my selfish nature and Christ's nature formed in me-- no, but this is the beauty of the gospel, how He changes me from inside out. Self battles for control of my mind, my heart, my will... perhaps this why the greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, and strength. I'm born into the world loving Self instead. Being born again in Christ means that now there's another nature in me that loves Him and wants to please Him. "But though You're love is in me, it doesn't always win me, when competing with my sin."* How I wish this wasn't true! I wish at the moment of conversion I lived for Him-- every thought, every action. But if that happened, then I wouldn't need Him, I wouldn't dep...

Ok God, I've got it from here. So often, after deep times of refreshing in His word, this is my sentiment. That was great, I'm good for today, or -- to my shame -- I'm good for the week. How wrong I am! Not even a few hours later and I'm back in some dark valley opposed on all sides with no weapon. How true the hymn states I need thee every hour...  every minute, every second. Really, is there ever a time when I don't need Him? Lord forbid I should think so. There's never a point when I can say I've got this, never a moment that I don't need the sustaining grace of Christ. Prone to wander, Lord I feel it.  I recognize how truly dependent and weak I am. In moments of incredible victory it's tempting to think I've accomplished it on my own, in some mysterious act of self will. But no, it's God who works in me. I need Him for life, not just pick-me-ups. My spirit needs Him like my body needs air. No breath, no life. However, daily respon...

Often we think freedom is being unshackled to do whatever we want. This is the greatest bondage though. Only in Christ can we be free from doing whatever self desires. To will against oneself is utterly impossible unless the Spirit of God is birthed in us. And when this happens, the war begins. The Spirit against the flesh, the flesh against the spirit-- before the Spirit entered it was simply self reigning. Now there's an adversary to my selfish desires who can conquer me as I can not. Oh praise the Lord for Him, who makes freedom possible, though not comfortable or easy, lest we think we no longer need Him. This breaking of self feels at times as though ripped apart within, tortured between desire and will. Yet the best freedom is within reach-- the abundant life that Christ offers. Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Me. Oh if I only lived this way always! To live against selfish desires is to truly love-- only think of it, how much you could serve, how much you co...

Nothing lasts forever, right? Well, nothing earthbound anyway. Of course God is forever. And so is the human soul. But circumstances, life experiences-- good and bad-- are all momentary. We read that   "the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever" (1 John 2:17). But sometimes we feel like we're in a forever moment. No matter how much life moves around us, a specific circumstance may feel like it will never change. These forever moments can be good or bad. I remember getting married the feelings of joy and contentment that immediately followed that I felt wouldn't change. Or when I graduated college, or after having my first child. These moments of joy I wanted to last forever. But hardships come and with them bad forever moments. Like arguments, difficult pregnancies, unemployment, and lost friendships. The longer I live the more I find my forever moments are difficult. I love the line in Laura Story's song ...