I believe that the Gospel is not about fearfully praying your way out of hell, but about having the ability, at any moment to turn and return to God. Because Jesus made the way.
Tag Archives: devotional
Perfect in Weakness (2 Cor. 12:9)
I am inadequate. Praise God! This beautiful truth came as such a relief to me as I was out in the garden, thinking (read: worrying) about the upcoming school year. As excited as I am to begin work as a library tech in a brand new school, I have been freaking out about beginning theContinue reading “Perfect in Weakness (2 Cor. 12:9)”
The Value Game (and other lies I’ve told myself)
I’ve established a mental hierarchy based on relationship status. In some part of my mind, I believe that, the deeper I go in a relationship, the more valuable I become. Like value is being incrementally poured into me when I find out someone likes me, wants to date me or be my boyfriend. Conversely, if I’m not dating anyone, it is because I am less valuable—less valuable than others who are dating people. Less valuable than I myself would be, if only I were in a relationship…
Are you going to eat that?
For me, practicing self-control with food is a lot harder when the food is right in front of me. Sure I may have the ingredients for cookies scattered throughout my pantry, but avoiding the food processor is a lot easier than turning up my nose to a Danish sample at the grocery store. It’s aContinue reading “Are you going to eat that?”
Submission Guidelines (Jordan Journal)
As some of you know, my mom and I co-edit a bimonthly literary journal… Jordan Journal is pleased to release submission guidelines for our upcoming issue, “Linger.” Please send your poetry and photography submissions (including a brief bio) to jordanjournalcollective@gmail.com by June 17. Theme Guidelines: “Wait continually for your God.” ~Hosea Our fast-paced world isContinue reading “Submission Guidelines (Jordan Journal)”
Step Outside
I’m so blessed to live in a cottage of a home, where I hear birds chirping loudly outside– in the middle of the day. I love being able to walk outside and pluck herbs and fruits, and exult with the flowers. Among the roses, I hear Jesus say, “I love you.” And when I lookContinue reading “Step Outside”
God isn’t a Literacy Coach
“God isn’t a literacy coach.”That’s the message I heard from my mom one afternoon during college while we were talking on the phone. I was pacing around outside the public library, and talking about how I sometimes (make that often) had trouble reading the Bible. Opening it was a scary thing for me, because ofContinue reading “God isn’t a Literacy Coach”
Jesus Slept
Jesus slept. It sounds a bit like “Jesus wept,” though there’s no “Jesus slept” Bible verse. But Jesus, human that He was, must have slept. I hadn’t really thought about it. The one reference to Jesus sleeping that I could think of was during the storm. As far as I can tell, that’s the onlyContinue reading “Jesus Slept”
There is No Contest
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5 What does it mean to “overcome” here? For me, it brings up images of a struggle between light and darkness, which rubs against my understanding. I mean, I get that there’s definitely spiritual warfare in the world, but there’s alsoContinue reading “There is No Contest”
