Words of Hope: Preparing Children for Faith  

In this advent season, I love to read the first chapters of the Book of Luke. I am struck by John coming to prepare people for the coming of the Messiah. One of the ways he prepares people for...

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Words of Hope: How to Pray  

I have been praying for the discipline to trust the Giver of Good Gifts. I believe God loves to surprise and delight us beyond what we ask for. I have been praying for this wonder and delight, this faith to...

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Words of Hope: The Ugly Truth About Complaining  

I find the research on complaining so powerful. Complaining or listening to complaining for thirty minutes impairs and diminishes the intellectual part of the brain. We actually lose intellect when we complain or listen to it.   This dovetails in my...

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Words of Hope: Sharing Joy 

The scripture passages I read this morning had a verse that has been reverberating in my mind. “When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that...

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Words of Hope:  The Complexity of Grief 

A friend sent me a video of their school singing the worship song, “Goodness of God” by CeCe Winans. This is the song our family sang at Dad’s celebration of life. It is a bittersweet song full of joy...

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Words of Hope: The Things that Make for Peace 

One of the recent devotional messages asked me to picture Jesus as He weeps over Jerusalem. He laments, “If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace!” This phrase has been ringing in...

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Words of Hope: What Voices Do We Listen To? 

One of my daughters enjoys true crime podcasts. She told me of a real estate agent who sensed something was wrong with a couple that wanted to see her listing. The agent told friends and family about how uneasy...

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Words of Hope: Going Through

Sometimes, when I start to pray my mind wanders over the myriad of tasks I have for the day. Sometimes everywhere I turn, my mind is a space of anger and resentment. Other times I can feel afraid. I...

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Words of Hope: The Most Important Daily Decision  

I recently researched the benefits of gratitude. I am still surprised how overwhelmingly transformative gratitude is to our health and wellbeing, to our relationships, and to every aspect of our life.   Even though I know this, sometimes I wake up...

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Words of Hope: Circle of Listening 

I am always surprised by transformation. There are so many stories throughout history of people on a tragic trajectory until grace intervenes and changes the outcome. God works in this surprising way on people others have counted out or...

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