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God’s World

They Teach Us How to Welcome

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This week in This is How We Welcome, we are looking to the people who first welcomed Jesus into their world. The role they played and how they received the baby that would offer hope to a broken world. We can learn from them and find encouragement from their examples. Are you willing to expand and stretch like Mary to become a womb, a safe environment for Christ’s life to grow? Are you able to be like the animals, and witness God’s deliverance in others? Or to be like Joseph, and the way he trusted God in a story that […]

The Masks We Wear {every day}

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They’re scary. Because they powerfully shape us. They influence the way we behave and relate. They hide our real self. And they trick others (even ourselves) into thinking we’re people we aren’t. You know the ones I’m talking about, right? Like the “Everything’s Okay Mask” that hides what we’re really feeling. That disguises our hurts. Because we don’t want to burden people. Or feel weak. Or be vulnerable. Or how about the “Mask of Beauty” that hides almost anything because of its powerful influence in a culture where beauty is upheld as an idol. And then there’s the “Mask of […]

The Christian voice in politics

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….is often the hardest voice for me to listen to. Some of you will read that title and not want to read what follows. We shy away from these conversations because they never seem to go well. Someone usually leaves offended or hurt or confused. So, I’ll say upfront, that this isn’t really a post about politics. But it’s the political conversation that has me praying and searching for truth. Seeking God for his heart in it all, rather than what just seems right. God’s truth is steadfast and eternal. But he is a living and active presence in this […]

Freedom From

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The color of freedom has always been red. For his blood was the beginning of breaking free. Of loosening the shackles of sin. Of life conquering death. And the way to freedom was indeed war. The battle between good and evil. The victory that came with a price. We wave our star spangled banner high, with pride. We parade around giving honor. And we celebrate the place and time we find ourselves. Our family, we do this. We participate in this tradition, this remembering. It’s important for a people to come together in celebration of victories. But there’s a freedom […]

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Bigger and Brighter

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Saturday night’s sky held a supermoon. This special moon happens once a year when a full moon occurs at the point when it’s closest to the Earth. From our perspective the moon appears bigger and brighter than usual. I stepped outside around midnight to catch a glimpse. Sure enough, the dark night glowed different. Through the parting shallow clouds a bright moon illuminated the black sky. These pictures I found online are similar to what I saw. I appreciate unusual occurrences such as this. They’re reminders that the celestial world our God created is active. In orbit. And in relationship […]

The Resurrected Life

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The sun rises on a new day. A day of rejoicing. I’m excited to leave the cross, even though I know it comes with us. Though it doesn’t define who we are, it shapes our every day. For the crucified Jesus doesn’t call us to a moment of dying, but a life of surrender. Dying to anything that doesn’t lead us into righteousness. Anything that doesn’t glorify God. When we take up our cross and follow Jesus – I mean when we really follow Jesus – we will experience death. Death of expectations. Of social habits. Big girl dreams. Cultural […]

God Speaks

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We live like he doesn’t anymore. Like callings to a new land were only for Abraham. And burning bushes were just for Moses. And pillars of clouds were only for the Israelites. Like leaving all your possessions behind was just for the rich man. And risking your life to save your people was only for Esther. But maybe we’re just not listening. What if our calendars, satisfied bellies, and comfortable homes keep us from leaving? From seeing the bush in flames. From following the cloud in front of us. From walking away from the things that hold us captive. From […]

I Think of Her

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On International Women’s Day I think of her. And her. And her. I remember her. And her. And them. And her. And each of them. These women who serve their husbands. Carry children in their womb, on their back. Dig in their gardens. Cook day after day. They have inspired me. These women who struggle. Get dirty. Don’t complain. Lose children. Get sick. They have encouraged me. These women who are strong. Who rise above. Who keep trying. They have taught me. These women who hosted me. Fed me. Walked with me. Welcomed me. Served me. Loved and cared for […]

The Everyday Little Big Things

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I’m pretty good at loving the people who are fun to love. Easy to love. The people I want to be like. Or the people a little bit like me. I’m good to those people. I’m available to them. I extend grace to them. But what about everybody else? What about the awkward people? The ones that haven’t seemed to learn the social graces of our time and place? And what about the people who continually need something? Or the people who exhaust you? The ones you don’t seem to understand? I’m lost in this concern this week. I can’t […]

Rebels of Love

God is love. He not only created in love. He not only loves all people. He not only intends for us to love and be loved. He is love. His very nature, and all his intentions, rooted in love. And then there’s us: rebels of love. We are a created people who rebel against what is good for us. We’ve been doing it since we were created. It’s deeply apart of who we are, passed down and inherited from all those who’ve come before us. Since Eden, we’ve been choosing what we think is good for us, rather than receiving […]

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