Latest Posts

The Weaver

  I met Cecilia Sakatira over twenty years ago. We were both living as foreigners and Christians in a Muslim culture, she from Zimbabwe, I from the United States. We were both strong women with a desire to rescue the rejected and bring hope to those in despair. I worked with shamed families whose babies had been born with facial deformities and she worked with street children abandoned and addicted to glue. We met at… Read More

Shame and Blame

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”  “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.… Read More

You Went Ahead of Me

You did it again! You went ahead of me. I thought I was a messenger, Sent to tell them about You.   But You had already come; Prepared hearts— Expectant, Hopeful.   He looked at me And said, I feel like I’ve met you before. Like I’ve known you a very long time.   As we read Your Words together, Spoke of mutual pain And the comfort You give, He remembered.   I felt this… Read More

Flee!

After they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to look for the child to kill him.” Then he got up, took the child and his mother during the night, and went to Egypt. He stayed there until Herod died. Matthew 2:13-15 Today my… Read More

When You Don’t Know What to Do, Lament

Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you. 2 Chronicles 20:12 Jesus sends us out to help people we feel helpless to help. I had this text exchange with a dear friend from Afghanistan a few days ago. How is your family in Kabul? We are praying for you… Read More

Scripture Basher

Then Job answered and said, “I have heard many such things; miserable comforters are you all.” Job 16:1-2 In your desire to comfort the broken-hearted, beware of becoming a Scripture basher. I sat rigid on the couch as my friend scolded me. “You’ve got to have faith. After all, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. God rewards the faithful. Without faith, we can’t please God.” Rushing to… Read More

A Multitude of Invalids: Helping the Wounded, Part One

Hi friends,  I just had the honor of completing a training experience with the Trauma Healing Institute under the gentle and joyful teaching of Diana Spann, Steve Moses, and Susan Ryan. My goal was to gain training and certification to lead trauma healing groups. What I encountered was the healing of my own heart wounds, help processing trauma and burnout in my life, and the incredible gift of a new community of comrades who now will… Read More

Hiding Place

You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance (Psalm 32:7). As a girl, my favorite place was a hiding place. To be honest, it probably still is. A good hiding place makes life’s storms easier to bear. I grew up under the shadow of a great mountain. Rocky crags and moss-covered cliffs rose like watchful protectors above our small community. I ran to them for… Read More

My Father’s Hands

For Bruce. Thank you. See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands (Isaiah 49:16). I was dreaming, but I could feel my breath. Slow and shallow, full of fear. I stood before a weather-beaten house. Its rough-hewn wooden door was colorless from years of storm and sun. There was no knob. No place for a knob, either. Open the door. Jesus stood beside me, like a friend who goes with you to… Read More

The Sin and Shame of Suffering

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. John 9:1-3 His espresso eyes welled with sincerity as he sat gingerly on my bed. What sin have you committed, sister? I have come… Read More