Six weeks ago, we left Belize with two suitcases, two backpacks, and two grieving hearts. A parent’s death changes everything. It changes how we view life, how we value relationships, and how we relate to God. For 18 years we’ve served as missionaries. Five years […]
Tag: spiritual life
Make Room in Your Heart
By now we’ve made room in our homes for gifts, family, and friends. An old Christmas carol says, “Let every heart prepare Him room.” I’m grateful for Mary’s example. Her story teaches the importance of making room in your heart. Mary opened space in her […]
Three Women, One Umbrella
She was compassionate yet strong, a protector, like Christ. I drove around the corner after chatting with my BFF, and there they were. Three women, one umbrella. I don’t know them, so I’m not sure of their relationship to one another. Were they long-time friends, […]
What’s Your Favorite Comfort Food?
What’s your favorite comfort food? According to the Collins Dictionary, “If you call something comfort food, you mean it is enjoyable to eat and makes you feel happier, although it may not be very good for your health.” I’ve eaten my share of comfort food […]
The View At The Top
By night’s end, my fitness watch logged 8242 steps and 36 flights of stairs. The powerlifting team received an incredible gift: an overnight stay at Caves Branch Jungle Lodge. This lodge is the ultimate definition of rustic luxury. Climbing up to the treehouse was arduous, […]
Train Your Mind
He ordered donuts for himself and frozen coffee for me. I turned the cup around to take a picture for my Instagram stories. But the more I stared at the quote, the more personal it seemed. This photo never made it to my stories. The […]
Nothing Like the Real Thing
For the past 11 years, I’ve lived without daily bread. Being gluten-free in a developing country means making it yourself, or going without. So, I’ve gone without. Pancakes, waffles, or corn tortillas served as temporary replacements. In the beginning, I told myself that I didn’t […]
Oops, I Did It Again!
My deadlift shoes and those I wore to the gym that morning are on the floor before me. Looking down at my feet, embarrassment overwhelmed me. Oops, I did it again. My socks don’t match. And it’s not even close. I grab a deadlift shoe […]
The Sin of Not Praying
I don’t even know her. She’s a friend of a friend. Each time she messaged me, it was to provide an update on her physical, emotional, or financial situation. Her “pray for me right now” arrived in my inbox at strange hours. I’ve heard that […]
When Will the Bleeding Stop?
A plate came barreling down on my forehead one dreadful night in July two years ago. Blood soaked my glasses, covered my hands, and dripped on the floor. My crime was opening a cabinet door. Crying out to the Lord in the emergency room, I wailed, […]