It’s been a few months since I’ve posted a blog — in case anyone is keeping track. The primary reason this well has been dry is that I have been in the final editing stages of my new book — Begin Again, Believe Again: Embracing the Courage to Love With Abandon — which will be […]
Filed in Change,Desire,Disappointment,Dreams,Loneliness,Love Story,Newness,Redemption,Relationship with Jesus,Surrender 4 Comments so far
Wednesday night I walked into a place that I never intended to be. I was immediately asked to hand over my driver’s license, leave all my personal belongings behind, and remove any jewelry. I was given a clip-on badge — no name, but simply a number became my identity. I followed other women through a […]
Filed in Addiction,Change,Freedom,Love Story,Relationship with Jesus,Surrender One Response so far
That is a picture of a bonsai tree. I have never thought much about bonsai trees until I met Neil. I met Neil a few months ago and he asked me a great question: “What are the three things you want to do next?” I fumbled around with an answer and then asked Neil what he […]
Filed in Change,Dreams,God's Mercy,Redemption,Relationship with Jesus,Surrender One Response so far
I was sitting in a nail salon on Friday morning pampering myself with a manicure when a group of teenage girls pushed through the door. “We’d like a manicure!” they said in unison. “It will be fifteen minutes,” the girl behind the counter replied. “Pick out your colors.” The girls proceeded to pick their nail polishes as […]
Filed in Disappointment,Healing,Loneliness,Relationship with Jesus,Surrender 3 Comments so far
On my flight to Orlando I sat next to a woman who was travelling to Florida to run a marathon. It only took me a few minutes to identify that she was a serious runner. She had the well-toned legs of a runner, and she carried her most prized possession with her on the […]
Filed in Addiction,Loneliness,Powerlessness,Redemption,Relationship with Jesus Comments Off on THE POWERLESSNESS-DRIVEN LIFE
This past month I found myself in a not-so-surprising set of circumstances. My life seems to run in a cycle of working myself into exhaustion only to collapse. I completely identify with Henri Nouwen’s confession in his book, In The Name of Jesus, “. . . I came to see that I had lived most […]
Filed in Addiction,Change,God's Mercy,Powerlessness,Relationship with Jesus One Response so far
“I just graduated from seminary, and I can’t find a job, can’t afford my apartment, all of my friends are moving, and I haven’t had a date in over a year! Why would God make me for things that I can’t have?” This question from an honest friend is one version of the same question that I’ve heard […]
Filed in Desire,Disappointment,Dreams,Redemption Comments Off on DREAMS AND DONKEYS
4:00 a.m. on Wednesday morning found me pulling the Christmas tree up from the basement. I hung the ornaments and plugged in the lights, and by 5:00 a.m. I was putting out the nativity scene. No, this is not some warm, family tradition. It was a combination of time confusion from jet lag (I couldn’t […]
Filed in Giving to Others,Loneliness,Sorrow,Surrender Comments Off on A CHRISTMAS WISH
Yesterday I had coffee with someone I have not seen for over 13 years. In fact, he was ten-years-old when I last saw him. His parents were dear friends. We ministered in church together, we ate many meals together, and we often swapped babysitting. This now 23-year-old reminded me that I used to give him […]
Filed in God's Mercy,Healing,Redemption,Relationship with Jesus Comments Off on REDEEMING JUDGMENT
Tomorrow I head to Dallas to speak at the MOP’s (Mothers of Pre-schoolers) Convention. I can’t wait to be a part of this amazing event and to speak to young mothers about addiction. I recently wrote an article for the MOP’s magazine, Fulfill. (http://www.fullfill.org/fullfill/) entitled “Thirst”. I wrote about my own addiction to alcohol […]
Filed in Addiction,Change,Freedom,God's Mercy,Healing,Surrender One Response so far