Aug
25
2025
I have a sign on my office door that I made that reads, “First Word Joy.” I consider how differently my day begins when I select to focus on delight in God, life, and people. How surprising the contrast...
Aug
18
2025
My dad was an incredible father precisely because he created a home where we could point out ways he was not a great father, and he would ask forgiveness and change. He did not project his guilt back on...
Aug
04
2025
My daughter Natalya prayed every night for months that her sister would have red hair like Ariel from The Little Mermaid. At first, we thought she would outgrow it, but she was relentless. She would place her hand solemnly...
Jul
30
2025
I am sitting in my office feeling a mixture of hope and a small sense of dread. My dad’s picture is to my right. I consider how he would like me to live right now.
I toggle so quickly between...
Jul
28
2025
Our scripture memory verse this past week was 1 Peter 4:12-13. It begins, “Dear Friends.” The words in Greek translates as “those who are beloved, deeply loved.”
Who are these dear friends in your life? One of my dear friends...
Jul
21
2025
What is God asking of me? The question could be rephrased, “What is LOVE asking of me?”
The list of what love is and is not is a good place to start.
The first quality of love from St. Paul’s beautiful...
Jul
16
2025
There is nothing like watching someone experience salvation joy. Last week, a young coach stopped by our office. His face glowed, he smiled ear to ear, and there was an inner light.
I invited him to sit with us at...
Jul
14
2025
I love listening to stories of scripture. I spend time with the familiar story of the Good Samaritan. Jesus tells this story in response to a question about how we should be living our life. He says we should...
Jul
09
2025
We are memorizing Psalm 34 as a staff. Some are working on verses 1-4, and some are trying for all 22 verses.
The beginning starts, “I will bless the Lord at all times.” I consider how to bless God, especially...
Jun
30
2025
My dad was not mechanical. He could not look at a problem in the house and fix it. My dad was relational, and he understood life at an emotional and spiritual level. He could look at a problem in...
