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Three Things we Left Out
Last weekend John and I preached together on the topic of Encouragement from the book of Acts. AARRGGHH! When we do this he is exceedingly kind and because I’m a planner and he’s a...
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What do you do when you’re disappointed in God?
Ever feel disappointed in God? Or let down by people and situations that don’t go your way and that translates to “really God’s fault” cuz, you know, He’s God and everything, so the buck stops with...
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A Conversation about Flour and Oil
Monday I wrote about how God has used the story of Elijah and the widow of Zarepath to teach me. Did it sound like a piece of cake? Not so much. Here’s an honest conversation I had with the Lord...
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One More Antidote to Being Daunted and Undone
I’m not sure, but I think maybe the most crushing phrase Satan can whisper in our ears is “You’re the only one.” You’re the only one who’s ever made a mistake that bad. The only one who hasn’t had a...
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Cheering it Forward
I’ve been really surprised at how nice people are to me when I run. Maybe it’s just because I have such a tragic, painful, “I-want-to-die” expression on my face that they can’t help but feel sorry and...
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How to Get out of the Downward Death Spiral of Doom
Note: Last week I blogged for Engage at the Willow Creek Leadership Summit (you can see all posts here). Maybe my favorite speaker at the Summit was Henry Cloud. Throughout the year I have the...
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Why are You Doing the Hard Thing?
33 days from today is the Half-Marathon. 13.1 miles. It’s hard thing. But everyone reading this is doing a hard thing. Or a lot of hard things. This was the text I sent to Katy and Maggie the other...
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The Words you Hear
This past weekend my husband John and I preached together at our church. It’s always such an overwhelming and…sobering (?), scary (?) privilege to preach and ask for God’s voice to drown out anything...
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Breaking Up is Hard to Do
Dear Comparison, I’ve decided it’s time. I’m breaking up with you. No, it’s not me, it’s you. And no, we can’t still be friends. You seduced me by whispering sweet nothings in my ear about “better...
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After Easter
Good morning! So many of you are new to this blog that I decided to re-post an offering from last year about this time. I pray it is encouraging to you today! My cousin died last week. And a friend...
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Three Important Truths about Encouragement
Good Morning! Hope you had a refreshing weekend soaking up God’s goodness. This is what greeted me this morning as I started to write. Now don’t you wish you lived in Minnesota (or woke up earlier...
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A Little Reassurance for Everyday Intimidation
What’s “that thing” for you? The thing that intimidates you? The thing that is hard to face…that threatens to undo you? It might be embarrassing to admit. Maybe it’s speaking in front of crowds…...
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What to do With the Catchy Tune, “Not Good Enough”
The other day ended up being one when the refrain “not good enough” drowned out any other tune. Like a pop song on the radio you can’t get out of your head, the words persisted. They were magnified...
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What to Do When Discouragement and Doubt are Winning
My “One Word” for this year is Stronger. Two years ago it was Fearless. Positive words, full of possibility and hutzpah. I picture them hanging out on the street corner of my life like tough dudes...
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How to Respond When “Not Good Enough” is Ringing in Your Ears
I have to be honest with you. I was feeling quite Anne Shirley-ish the beginning of August – “in the depths of despair” as she liked to say dramatically. There was no up to my emotional roller coaster...
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One Place God Does Some of His Best Work
I’ve been thinking about caves. Weird, I know, right? But recently I had the privilege of climbing to (on rock steps – we’re not talking ropes and crampons here) and exploring, a series of huge caves...
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Mothers or Not Day
For most women the challenge of living through Mother’s Day joyfully each year is pretty much like getting out of Target without spending at least one hundred and seventy-nine dollars. It’s a unicorn....
View ArticleTaking the Long Way
It’s still zero dark thirty as I walk through my neighborhood to coffee, but I can tell it’s cloudy. No stars. No moon. It’s a blustery 48 degrees and I’m not dressed for the changing season. I...
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