Chosen. Royal. Holy. Peculiar. What do these four words have in common? Each term describes us as believers. We are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, and a holy nation. And we are a peculiar people. As I read 1 Peter 2:9 in various translations, […]
Tag: devotional
Diet Secrets
She leaned in close, whispering, “Give me your diet secrets.” Stunned for a moment, I smile before answering. In my quiet time, I’d read the words of Jesus, “my food is to do the will of Him who sent me.” I wonder how well that […]
Are We There Yet?
My fitness watch is rude. Somedays, it interrupts as I take a break between sets to ask, “Finished your workout?” Today when it happened, it was like a child on a road trip asking, “Are we there yet?” The notification comes with three choices; END […]
Real Change is Practically Invisible As it’s Happening
“Real change is practically invisible as it’s happening.” When I read this quote from Marie Forleo, it rang true for me. As the war rages on, our time spent in Russia and Ukraine comes to mind. Seventeen years ago, in Odesa, Ukraine, I climbed the […]
Where Does Your Food Come From?
Where does your food come from? Farm to table. The catch of the day. Uber Eats. In some parts of the world, it’s easy to download an app, press a few buttons, and order whatever we want. At the same time, there are those of […]
Four Days and Three Nights
We made reservations and paid in advance for our stay. We eagerly counted down the days until the appointed check-in time. Upon our arrival, we receive a warm welcome. Four days and three nights, carved out for our 40th anniversary get-away. Standing on the seashore […]
Context Is Crucial
What do you do to delight yourself? It’s almost 8 pm, and I am stuffing my face with my favorite snack, popcorn. Most nights, I offer to share with my husband. But not tonight. Tonight I take pleasure in every crunch. True delight takes its […]
Are You Going Deep?
“You’re bending forward too far, and that makes you think you’re going deep. But, you’re not.” Kaylon’s words at the gym often hit me as life lessons. But today was different. Today, I distinctly feel the need to pay careful attention to this critique. Because […]
I’ve Never Sweat Like Jesus
Sweat is dripping down my arms, gratitude floods my heart, and prayer is on my lips. I am carrying 35-pound weights in each hand as I make my way back up the stairs. I did it! This is Holy Week. Each day in the gym, […]
Make Time for Joy
One of my earliest memories is of sitting on a freshly shoveled mountain of snow eating a Nestle’s chocolate bar. My father and two older brothers did the work while I played in the snow, followed by the reward of chocolate afterward. What’s your earliest […]