BLOG––Encouraged by Faith

God’s work in the world today is a perpetual and glorious spectacle, but perception is highly susceptible to expectation. Do I “stand amazed in the presence of Jesus,” or overwhelmed by some natural phenomenon of earth and sky? O my God, will you strengthen my faith? I grew up...

Are you a catastrophic thinker? I am. Well, perhaps not in the clinical sense, but I certainly have the ability to ruminate endlessly about worst-case scenarios. For example, on the recent trip to Hawaii with my husband, I cleaned the house with extra care before we left “just in...

As we turn on the news or scroll down our devices, it has become increasingly difficult to filter out the shrill tones and vitriolic language used in public discourse today. As followers of Christ, we are rightly upset by crimes against humanity. Beyond one’s stance on U. S. immigration...

Last week I met a woman who knows a friend of mine. Once we made this discovery, we spent a long while comparing notes about our mutual friend’s goodness. Charles moved away from Indianapolis a few years ago, but recounting his virtues together made him so vivid that it felt as if...

  Sometimes our need for God is ever before us. We feel unable to take another step or draw another breath unless God somehow supernaturally delivers us. These times of brokenness can be quite profound from a spiritual standpoint, especially when reviewed later. At other times, we feel...

Into my heart, into my heart,Come into my heart, Lord Jesus;Come in today, come in to stay,Come into my heart, Lord Jesus. When we sang this song, long ago and far away, I felt God’s presence with unusual emotion. My eyes would water. I’d get choked up and have to stop singing for a...

  “The church is not a social club.” Through the years, this maxim has made its way into church teaching as if it originated with scripture. It’s a well-intended phrase, meant to remind Christians that our gatherings aren’t about us or even about solving the...

  As the daffodils dip their heads slightly and the lilacs bloom in heavy clusters, I am beginning to think of those among us who are eager to sleep in, pack away the books and not worry about an upcoming exam. Here’s to those involved in formal education: our students. Our word...

Prior to my mom’s death a few weeks ago, she had suffered for 10 years from the debilitating effects of Pick’s disease, a relatively rare form of dementia.  At the outset of the disorder, mom began jumbling “yes” and “no.”  A year or two later, she...

  Maranatha. The word rolls off our tongues easily––Lord come quickly––but its implications might give us pause.  Do I really want the Lord to come quickly?  Perhaps even tonight? When all is right with my life, I confess I do not always crave the final...