Will You Sabbath With Me?

Will You Sabbath With Me?

“How are you?”  “Pretty good. Just tired.” If we only had a nickel for every time we responded this way or heard this from our loved ones. A few years back, Ryan (my husband) and I had gotten to a point where we were complaining of being tired constantly. We were both working full time jobs, leading a small group, trying to stay connected to our people, starting grad school, etc. These good things that God had given us had become a chore. Exhausted, we looked at each other and knew something HAD to change. 

Imaging God In Our Work: A Panel Recap

Imaging God In Our Work: A Panel Recap

In the first chapter of the opening book of the Bible, God repeatedly states that we as humans are made in His image, “Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have
dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the live-
stock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.  So
God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he
created them.” (Genesis 1:26-27, ESV)

Focus on Caring

Focus on Caring

Sit back. Take a moment. And really think. What would imaging God in our community look like? Ephesians 2:10 says, "We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." As God's beautiful workmanship, each one of us has a calling to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Being the church is not only about loving others - although, loving others is the vital beginning. But being the church also envelopes the attitude and actions of caretakers. Miriam-Webster defines caretaker as one that gives physical or emotional care and support. In order to be the hands and feet of Jesus in endowing care and support to others, we must focus beyond ourselves and even beyond our own families. We must be intentional in truly seeing the needs of others, not just around the world, but also in our own community.

My Brokenness and His Image

My Brokenness and His Image

As she navigated the crowded food court to an out of the way corner table, she caught my eye and my heart  – tattered coat, uncombed hair, downcast eyes and stressed face.  I could see in her movements familiar feelings and fears  – lonely but isolated, in a crowd but hidden, out of the way, afraid of being too much but also in need.

Five Aspects of Woman: A Biblical Theology of Femininity

Five Aspects of Woman: A Biblical Theology of Femininity

Have you ever read a book that has shaped your life profoundly? I have been challenged this year to reread some of the books that were most impactful on my life. Five Aspects of Woman by Barbara Mouser brought the timelessness of Scripture to my evolving circumstances. When I first read this book ten years ago, I was a Junior in college engaged to be married. Today, I am a married mom of three young children headed into the school aged years. The femininity framework this study provides bolsters my confidence to pursue God in every season because society is asking…the church is asking…I am asking, What is the role of women?  Why should I care?

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Life on Mission with Twylla

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Life on Mission with Twylla

What does a “life on mission” really look like?  We hear this phrase or one like it regularly in Christian circles. But, what does it really look like? It is different for each follower of Christ, depending on your gifts and talents, but there should be some underlying similarities that we find in scripture. I also believe a “life on mission” changes as we age, grow, and follow Christ. We all know the Great Commission, but do we live it out or just recite it with our mouths? “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age’” (Matthew 28:18-20). 

Personal Growth

Personal Growth

Sometimes the phrase “personal growth” gets a bad reputation in Christian spheres. It sounds too self-reliant or worldly to be something God would want us to do. But spiritual growth cannot be separated from growing emotionally and mentally, nor can we separate it from taking care of our bodies. God made us whole people: mind, body and spirit. We cannot neglect our own growth as we care and minister to the needs of our families and communities. 2 Corinthians 5:18 tells us that we are all ministers charged with bringing the reconciliation of Christ to the world. But we cannot carry this load to the detriment of ourselves. 

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