We often think of Christians as a bunch of rule followers, people with a long list of “do’s” and “don’ts,” keeping score (ahem, maybe a wee bit judgmental?). But (in my opinion) Christians are supposed to be countercultural rebels, defiant in love. Jesus gave us a living example of God’s love, and it’s reckless and defiant. […]
Category Archives: Faith
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share via emailThe Beautiful Oops (a dead battery, a walk in the woods, a divorce, and how a simple board book connects them all)
Lela is my little writer. She is constantly coming to us with a new “book.” She recently finished a book called “The Beautiful Oops” and I was so captivated by the idea, I asked her where she came up with it, and she said it was her version of a real book they read in […]
God’s Sneaky Mirror
I feel certain I’m not alone in this, but I really don’t like the way I’ve been affected by the political environment this year (and I promise, this is NOT a political post!). Because of social media, I think it’s harder to get emotional distance from it. I used to brace myself for the daily […]
Crazy Little Joy-Spreader (that I call, Mama)
This time last year, my Mom was visiting us in Massachusetts and she ended up in the hospital with a heart condition (atrial fibrillation). Thankfully, everything turned out all right, but it was a little scary. Ironically, it is not the fear that stayed with me from that experience – it was the joy that […]
The Beauty in the Blah, Blah, Blah
Maybe I’m revealing a parenting flaw here, but occasionally, the kids bring me a book, and it is a big wordy book that I have neither the time nor energy to read. So I’ll “skip” a little, and leave out a few details, to move things along. The kids can read well enough that I […]
The Blessing Of Uncertainty
My Dad, Dale Riddle, recently brought up a powerful experience that I felt compelled to share. Occasionally, God provides moments of clarity (which can also be moments that are perplexing and unsettling) that are immediately pivotal. We can no longer travel down the same road and are set on a different course (much like the […]
“A Tutor For Your Feelings” – Out of the Mouths of Babes
In my typical, can’t-help-myself pattern, I have been churning on the give-and-take of faith. We all want peace and contentment, but this seems to be a gift that comes on the other side of fear and adversity. It would be nice if God would just “dump” peace and joy (and all the fruit of the […]
Dare To Believe
It’s hard to describe the emotions that come over me when I think of these two. It’s easy to look at them now and forget what they have been through, but, on occasion, I’m stopped in my tracks, overcome with awe and gratitude. I had one of these moments recently, when we traveled to North […]
Whatever It Takes
My Dad and brother are currently in Cuba on a mission trip, and that has me reminiscing about my own trip there with Dad, exactly 21 years ago (we were there from January 20th-30th in 1995). There were so many memorable moments that have stayed with me and I’m eternally grateful for the experience. As […]
Anger, Embarrassment, and God’s Irritating Grace
I saw something on Facebook this morning and, as I was getting ready to make a snarky comment, I felt God urging me to erase what I was writing and pray for the person who posted it instead. I don’t know how many times I have to say it, but God can be so irritating. […]
