Everyone Needs a Hype Squad
Everyone needs a personal hype squad, people who are in their corner cheering them on in good times and bad. As believers, we're called to encourage those in our circles who are rocking life and those who are struggling along.
But Dust
We live in a world that is constantly trying to push back the “dustiness” of our humanity, from creams for fine lines to hair dyes meant to cover those pesky grays. None of these things are evils, in and of themselves, but sometimes I wonder if we use them as a concealment to try to ignore the truth before our eyes, that we are in fact, dust.
No Time to Waste
What does it look like to make the best use of our time? We’ve only got 24 hours in the day, and most of us spend at least 6-8 of them sleeping. Work and caring for our families takes up a good chunk of the remainder, so there’s really not a lot left over when it's all said and done.
Winning
We all like to win, but as we aim for the winner’s circle, we sometimes fall short. A lot of times we feel in both big and small ways like we’re not enough, like we don’t have enough, and like we weren’t given enough. The good news is, we don’t have to be enough. Jesus already is our enough. And Jesus has already claimed the victory.
Ascending Together
In my moments of great loss, I have often turned, alone and in hiding, to the Psalms of Ascent. They’re short. They cut straight through to my soul. They give me permission to cry out, forlorn, toward God—to show my hopelessness and my trust, my hunger for rescue, my angry energy at injustice, and also, finally, the exhausted peace of having been heard and finally being safe.
Choosing Rest over Resolutions
I used to feel guilty about my lack of resolve on January 1, but the older I get, the more I'm learning that it's OK if the rhythm of my life doesn't quite match up with the rest of the world's.
Abound in Thanksgiving
Did you know that the Bible is full of the simple command to give thanks? Over and over again, from Old Testament to New, in good times and bad, the command rings out: “Give thanks to the Lord. He is good. His love endures forever.”
Rejoice Always. Even When it's Hard.
Choosing to rejoice anyway is one of the most powerful things that we can do to fight back against the enemy (who would like nothing more than to see us a defeated). It's a declaration of faith in God's goodness and faithfulness, despite all appearances to the contrary, and it's always good for us to declare his praise. Especially when our weary souls need to be reminded of his goodness.
A Lesson on Praying for Our Children
I was in my 40s when my grandmother, Jewel, died in her mid-90s. One of my strongest childhood memories was sleeping in the extra twin bed in her room and hearing her pray aloud for each family member by name before she went to sleep.
Beholding the Beautiful in the Brokenness
Sometimes the very thing our souls most need is to stop in the middle of the brokenness and dwell on a thing of beauty. To be reminded that for all that is wrong and broken in the world, there is also beauty and light and life.
The Simple Rhythm that Gives Me Peace
It's easy to taste and see the goodness of God out there on my back porch every morning. After a spring that was far busier than I expected or planned for, believe me when I say that I'm appreciating the gift of slowing down for a while.
All Things New
As we leave 2020 behind, know that this promise, written long before the coronavirus entered our world, still stands. It is just as trustworthy and true now as it was then.