On Our Knees in Awe


by Kate Cannon


Is there anything known that truly causes us to be in awe?  According to the Cambridge Dictionary, the definition of awe is "a feeling of great respect, usually mixed with fear or surprise.”  This understanding may seem foreign, even difficult for some of us to understand as we live in a world that is so broken.  Awe may seem out of reach and quite contrary to our daily experiences in life.  And yet, my son can always seem to find the awe in the everyday.  He has a gift to point out that which is awe-inspiring to him, and will share it with anyone who will see.  His perspective, full of wonder and awe, brings joy to me and so many who know and love him.

I was recently doing my grocery shopping at a store that I frequently visit.  I have learned to become more careful to use coupons since I am not currently a self-made millionaire, and I am trying to raise my family in a most financially responsible manner.  Coupons, at one point in my life were a complete waste of paper and time, as I thoughtlessly tossed that free money into the trash and laughed at anyone who would make the effort to fool with them.  Oh the days of being single and childless, on which I reflect with other memories of frivolity and some of the mistakes that came from without having the grounding and helpful sense of commitment and love I have now found in having my dear family.  

Currently, I find coupons for "$4.00 off of my next shopping order" to be a useful, helpful, and necessary part of my weekly shopping checkout experience, and so I take great care and time to select items for my shopping cart based upon the coupons in the tattered envelope I insist upon carrying around every aisle on every visit.  Some people ask if I am really that serious about them, saying, “Really, can’t you just not worry about it?” if I have forgotten the envelope at home.  Or there are others who ask, “Why do you waste your time messing with all of that?” And then there are the employees who must face me every week, most all of whom at this particular store are helpful and will patiently wait for me to unload my very full cart, with the help of my two precious children doing their best to lift cases of water and kitty litter on to the conveyor belt carefully so as not do decimate the lovely strawberries they also just carefully selected.  We always try to purposely shop during hours which are not high in traffic (yes, I actually do shop at 7 am on a Saturday morning when I would rather be at home in my pajamas watching cartoons with my kiddos), and if there happens to be a line, we attempt to get into the longest one, just because I know we will take about 20 minutes to check out when it is our turn.  Clearly, I am trying to be respectful of those who are shopping, as well as the employees, as I would never get into that sweet-sounding line that sings at me from across the front of the store “This lane, 15 items or less.”  Actually, I have happy thoughts about that line.  I long to be in that line sometimes, where I see someone with a half gallon of milk and some caramel brownie ice cream, as they casually find a $10 bill, checkout with their items and change, and are already in the car in 15 seconds or less.  Now that is awe-inspiring.  

On one particularly quiet morning at this store, I was checking out with all of my stuff in the lane I am always in, expect this order had all of my Thanksgiving items on it plus all of my regular groceries for the week: turkey, cranberries, bread, celery, mushrooms, green beans, potatoes, onions, milk, butter, eggs, paper towels, toilet paper, and the list goes on and on.  It was a fully bulging cart, and I was thankful that I had enough money to buy these things for my family, and I was thanking the Lord for His goodness, and looking forward to dinner, and happy I had my coupons.  And then I saw her.  The cashier who will not, under any circumstances, run my coupons properly.  We go way back, and I am sure she is a lovely person, but I have had some unfortunate experiences with her.  I began frantically looking for another cashier, but - that’s right - I remembered, it’s 8:03 am on a Saturday morning, and there were only two employees working, total, in the whole store, so another lane was not an option. Dang it. 

I also began to feel that nagging, annoying, irritating sense of my old self beginning to bubble under the surface because I had a cart full of important items, and A LOT of coupons. It is the part of my personality that can be sharp-tonged, quick-witted, impatient, and also very condescending, unkind, and controlling.  I really hate that part of me, because it is pride at its worst: self-righteousness cloaked in brazen aggression and overbearing power that is hurtful, damaging, and also yet very effective in the world. That personality gets things done, and it also leave chaos, fear, and anger in its wake.  I know that part of my old self, my pre-Christ self, and I have really worked with the Holy Spirit and had many discussions with Him about replacing that with the Fruit of the Spirit, understood plainly as “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”  Lord, please help me, I silently began to pray.  At that same moment, my dear son started crying, loudly, and holding his ear.  Wow, really?  Is he seriously getting an ear infection right here, right now?  No way… we are supposed to leave for our first trip ever to Disney World in less than two hours and I need to get my mom from the airport…what am I going to do?!  Our items had been carefully unloaded, and finally I had enough room at the back of my order to put those coupons down, as I do every week on every order and every cashier runs them, and I save some money and get my groceries and go home feeling like I have done my part to help my husband and our bank account while providing for my children food and health.  I was thinking through all of that while paying with my credit card in the machine, and sure enough, she closed out my order and totaled it without those coupons. She casually handed the receipt, approximately the length of the Declaration of Independence, and my unused coupons back to me and said, “You did not hand your coupons to me in time, so I didn’t run them.”  There are many things my old self wanted to say, and do, at that very moment.  I looked at her, and then I looked at my children, one of whom was in a great deal of pain, the other who was being quiet and helpful and patient, and I said out loud, quietly, but audibly as I looked at that cart, my wallet, my children, and those coupons, “What are You trying to teach me?”  

I think this is the shift, though, friends. When we find ourselves in less-than-desirable situations, we seek His wisdom and discernment; we seek Him. I didn’t really realize that was what I had done, though. I only realized it later, when I had exited that store, in which I spend thousands of dollars a year, feeling frustrated, angry, and slighted, and recognized that I had not completely lost my cool in front of my children nor made a fool of myself by berating that employee or taking it all out on one or both of my children. I unloaded that mass of groceries, picked my mother up from the airport less than an hour later, made it to the doctor’s office with my son (who had a terrible ear infection that day), and we did get to go to Disney, too.  I realized it all when we were on the drive to Orlando, that we are in the constant presence of the Almighty, the One who is in control of all things at all times, and that if we look for Him in the everyday, we can be in a state of awe where we “bow down in worship and kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care” as Psalm 95:6,7 remind me.  

This verse is especially interesting to me, as I am not typically in awe of anything. I am never bowing down or kneeling for any reason.  In a dream, my brother who passed away from very sad and unfortunate circumstances at 25 years old, came and said to me, “Kack, everyone there needs to be on their knees in awe,” and then disappeared.  I did not understand anything that would be so awe-inducing that I would ever get on my knees.  I could not imagine what he meant by being in awe, especially how I was feeling that Saturday morning. But I looked up that verse, after waking from that odd dream, to see if it was anywhere in God’s Word, because, I rationalized to myself, that could have been one of those weird dreams that doesn’t mean anything … And, I found it, in Psalm 95 and in John’s vision of seeing Christ in Revelation 1:17a. In His living, breathing Word, we are called to be in awe of His power, majesty, and care for us, even to the point that we can no longer stand. We are literally “on our knees in awe.”  Then, I remembered how I felt when my daughter was born, and they laid her in my arms for the fist time.  I was in awe.  Falling-to-my-knees-in-adoration, with-the-utmost-respect, and in-holy-fear-awe… at her life and from Him whom she came.  Then I had another flash, of Christ, who could have come in all of that power and majesty, and with all of the heavenly host to reconcile everything here that feels so broken.  But He didn’t.  He came weak, and helpless, and lived as we do, temped and tried under the most trying of circumstances, for us. Those words about awe mean everything to me now, and I am so grateful for them. He loves us even when our worst side is threatening to show up, if we will simply seek Him first above all things as Matthew chapter 6 discusses, then He will provide everything we could ever need, and we will be in awe of Him and Him alone.



                         

The Void

By: Beth Massey





It’s Christmastime, the season of giving, our opportunity to reflect on God’s greatest gift to mankind – Jesus. We sing carols, we decorate our homes, send cards to friends and bake cookies. We spend hours shopping for (and hundreds of dollars buying) just the right gifts to show our loved ones how much we care. And as it’s the season of giving, our hearts ache a little more than usual for the those in need, for those whom a season of celebration and abundance is a burden. We gladly answer the ring of the Salvation Army bell with the clink of spare change. We joyfully drop puzzles, dolls, and games in the Toys For Tots box at the grocery. Perhaps we adopt a local family to clothe and feed on Christmas Eve, or we pluck an angel from the Angel Tree. We invite neighbors to church with more fervor and eagerly volunteer our time opening doors, pouring coffee, and caring for children during Christmas Eve services.

GENEROSITY. It’s a hallmark of the season, isn’t it? But shouldn’t it be a hallmark of a Christ-centered life all year? Not just generosity with our time, our talents, and our finances, but especially with our spirit? Just what does generosity of spirit look like in our daily lives? It’s kindness, pure and simple. It’s love without strings attached. It’s meaning what you say and only saying what you genuinely mean. It’s treating others with fairness, despite the circumstances you face, and leaving all notions of self-administered justice at the curb. And, trust me friends, it sounds a lot easier to practice than it actually is.

A failure to be generous of spirit with others reveals a desperate struggle against emptiness within our own hearts. We cannot give from a place of emptiness. In a void, we will inevitably hoard goodness out of fear. We will “like” a friend’s post on Facebook out of a sense of obligation and a wish to appear kind, when in reality we are gritting our teeth because… HER. KIDS. ALWAYS. LOOK. SO. DARN. PERFECT. AND. ADORABLE. AND. ARE. IN. MATCHING. MONOGRAMMED. OUTFITS. FOR. EVERY. SINGLE. FAMILY. EVENT. GOD. GIVE. ME. STRENGTH. MY. CHILDREN. ARE. MONKEYS. We will run some offender up a flagpole because, gosh darn it, what we think about that person matters! What we have to say about that person matters, despite the fact that: (1) don’t know that person; (2) we aren’t privy to all the mitigating factors surrounding their offense; and (3) we weren’t asked in the first place. We meet others’ personal and professional successes with a lack of enthusiasm, or worse, skepticism, or even worse, with flat-out displeasure because “they clearly don’t deserve it as much as I do.” We don’t pick up the phone to call because THEY never call US anymore. We celebrate when the ESPN ticker announces that our rival football team lost a game and dropped in the polls – that’ll teach ‘em, right? We don’t tip the server because she was rude.

Whew. Anyone feel convicted now? Because I do. It has taken me years, and as many wounds inflicted as suffered, to learn how to live with a spirit of generosity. What I’ve learned is this – you have to face the void, where it came from, why it still exists, and how you can fill it. When I faced the void, I saw deep loneliness and insecurity. I tried to fill it with relationships and with achievements. The more I pleased and the more I proved, the emptier I felt. I was pouring myself out for gain, to the point where I no longer new who I was, or even why I was. I struggled with anger and resentment. And then I met Jesus. And I was introduced to grace. And, for the first time, I really believed that I was loved, that I was already everything I needed to be without striving. He filled the void. His love freed me in so many ways, not the least of which is no longer feeling like I need to hoard goodness, kindness, love or mercy. I am assured of being made whole in Jesus, and I lose nothing by being generous of spirit with others. I am free to love without loss. We all are.

“One gives freely, yet grows all the richer;
another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
 Whoever brings blessing will be enriched,
and one who waters will himself be watered.”

Proverbs 11:24-25 ESV




Refining Love

Tidy. Most people like to live and show a tidy life as a trophy case on display. Behind a spotless glass the trophies are untouchable, unmoved and on display for all to admire. The proud accomplishments throughout life that have become memorials of achievement. However, the trophy case cannot share the stories that are more impressive than the piece of metal. And, most often, while interested eyes look through the glass case, they may not know the coach who carried the team to victory. They most certainly may  not know of all of the failed attempts. All of the pain. All of the tears. All of the efforts, injuries, shortcomings and practices in the storms, before the victory.

You see, the stories are actually worth more than the tangible object held over heads in celebration. The stories, are the life change. The stories are where one has the opportunity to share that the victory won was because of Christ alone. The stories are His glory. The trophy, the memorial, is to remember the story. But, we have to be brave enough to share them. Because, most often I find that the story is never just about the teller, it's about the person who is listening who needed to hear it, too.

I call myself a hot mess a lot. I am a hot mess filled with His message. Many people misinterpret me when I say it. It's not derogatory in anyway. It's me embracing the messiness of a beautiful life and the redemption of Christ in me. It's a public profession of His glory despite my natural tendency to get in His way.  Calling myself a hot mess is a way of expressing, that I chose the messiness that comes with deciding not to allow certain life experiences to define me, but rather, refine me. It's a messy painful process. But, what hurts even worse, is to decide not to be refined.


 Behind the trophy case that you may have assigned me, or that I display, this girl has had so much going on beyond what the eyes can see. I have shared many of my victory stories as God has stirred in me to do. But, God has started to help me understand that sometimes it is important to share the victory story before the trophy, before the championship, before the the battle has been completely won.  That His grace is not just in the outcome. His grace IS in the midst of it all.


Our struggles may be packaged differently but our God  is not. Today I have the courage to touch on a subject that many Christians, I find, are unwilling to talk about unless they've arrived at the other side. Marriage struggles.

To me, I've been behind the looking glass of so many marriages, looking in and wondering - wow- look at all of those trophies. Now, I know better than to assume, but if I don't check myself, it is easy to allow my thoughts to drift and wonder, is my marriage the only one that is so broken?

Years of not prioritizing each other and not putting God first in our marriage, left us in a place of brokenness, resentment, hurt and anger.  However, recently, by the grace of God alone, He has provided healing and hope. He has set the road ahead not as a champion's parade but as a path out of the woods, with unexpected twists and turns, from this day until eternity. A path, to walk, hand in hand, together, out of the cover of darkness and into the light. A path, that isn't perfect, but that says, come on and walk with us. We've been there. We are here. Let's walk towards healing together. Let's embrace our perfectly imperfect marriage just as God embraces our perfectly imperfect selves.

From the stand of faith, let's say, we're not afraid to tell the world what God is doing in us and we know that our struggle is for His glory.  I don't want others to see a trophy case when they look at us. I want them to see a canvas, messy and beautiful, covered with the blood of Christ and His redemption shinning through. When others look at our marriage, I want them to say, "Praise God. Look at what Christ is doing!"

When our children look to us, they will no longer see us as fighting with each other but, fighting for each other.

The legacy we will leave together is love and the painful refining process of walking in love. Day after day after day. I know the next ten years will be richer than the last. I know that He isn't finished with us yet. And, I know this story is so worth sharing instead of just keeping it to ourselves. What the enemy was trying to kill, to steal, to destroy, he has not and will not.  Christ, who is seated on the throne, didn't need to stand. He needed us too.  And, we have. Together. We will stand firm and say it hasn't always been pretty, it hasn't been easy but, it is worth it and by God, together we will continue to fight for each other.


Christ made a way. He moved mountains. He caused walls to fall. He broke chains. He set us free and called us one. Then, he painted the skies and showed me what our new life together would look like, like the dawning of a new day.


 He then showed me the cross and gently reminded us that He, God, is a master at using the wreckage of a storm and transforming it for His glory. To shout to the world, not look at what the storm did, but instead, LOOK AT WHAT  I  CAN DO!  Death to life. Beauty from ashes. Better than rebuilt, remade. He showed me the broken remains of a dock on Litchfield Beach from Hurricane Matthew that  someone used the broken pieces to make a cross, to remind me, that all things can be remade. And, he doesn't just rebuild. He transforms. He renews. He remakes a changed marriage, a new union as one together, in Christ alone.










Instead of a trophy to hold, I have my lover's hand and a story of redemption that Christ alone has allowed which is the process of refining love.











by: Jessica Lowery


 As moms it can be so easy to get caught up in the "comparison trap"! Constantly comparing ourselves to other moms; whether it be how they parent, what they do or don't do, what they have that I don't, their smaller pant size or flawless skin, their spotless house or scratch made dinners, their easy pregnancies, their extravagant birthday parties, their wealth, their family vacations and we all know the list continues; and scrolling your Facebook newsfeed doesn't make this "trap" any easier! But what about their struggles, their hardships, their abusive relationships, their family problems, their addictions (whether it be greed or alcohol) would you want that too? Because the reality is, everyone has sufferings, we just know how to hide them from the public eye.
     As a newly wed, nearly eight years ago, I remember texting my husband everyday asking him what he wanted for dinner that evening; I wanted to be that wife that had an amazing dinner waiting on him each night he got home from work. I remember the day when he said "I don't care, just make something. Whatever you make I will eat it"! At first I couldn't believe what I heard; it just seemed so easy to make him happy without going above and beyond. I no longer had to compare myself to what other wives were doing or what I thought my role was.  The contentment that he had spoke volumes.


     Then we had kids, three kids (that are one, three, and five years old to be exact), and I would put so much effort into making sure the house was spotless before he would walk in the door from work. This was exhausting and unattainable to say the least. I would find myself overwhelmed, bitter, angry, anxious, yelling at my kids to not touch anything that was finally in its place and then he would come home and not be the least bit impressed with the mood I was in or why our kids were crying for attention. As far as the house being picked up, at that point it didn't even matter! Again, he helped shift my focus by saying "I don't care what the house looks like. We have three kids five and under, this is the season of life that we are in. When we are old and by ourselves we can clean all day long together". Through Jakes words and seeking God himself I learned that the things that I thought mattered so much, that I tried so hard to be perfect in, didn't matter at all to those that loved me. Isn't that what the "comparison trap" does?! It fools us to believe that certain things matter in life, when the truth is that they really don't!! Jake is always reminding me, when I need it most, where to spend my time and focus and that is on things that really matter!

  

     If Jesus were to knock at your door tomorrow he would not be impressed by how clean it is, whether or not the beds are made or dishes in the sink and dishwasher are put away, the high end trinkets perfectly dusted on your shelves, the awards and achievements hanging on your wall, or the amount of money in your bank account ; BUT, he would be concerned with just how many people you have helped, how many sacrifices you have made, how your time was being spent, how many people you have shared His love with and the love you pour out on to others. The "comparison trap" sucks you in to having to live a perfect life, on the outside, but robs you of experiencing joy, peace and happiness on the inside. Keeping up with the "Jone's" can be exhausting, because once you finally get the perfect house, car, clothes, or whatever you think will make you happy you will never be satisfied and constantly searching for more to fill your empty cup. BUT what if that cup was already full without all of the STUFF; and the blessings along the way continued to overflow your cup day in and day out, and you were never left discontent BUT always satisfied with what you had?! This IS the life God desires for us to live! How are you living? Where is your focus? He knows that by getting caught up in the "comparison trap" we are allowing our self to be constantly under attack, leaving us without the fruits of the spirit. He tells us in Matthew 6:21 "wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be".

You might be thinking that all sounds great, but how do I get to the point of feeling that way? The answer is Jesus! However, sometimes insecurities with your self-image and jealousy get in the way of living free of this "comparison trap," even if you do believe. This is where we must first:
1.) Believe what God says about us
2.) Focus on what matters and
3.) Follow Jesus.

      God says that we are "FLAWLESS", meaning there is nothing we can do to earn His love because he already paid the price in FULL for ALL of our sins. The ones we made in the past, the ones we will make today, and every sin in our future. Once we grasp that concept and believe it, we will no longer have to search for perfection because we are already perfect in His eyes and that is all that matters! The same goes for everything else in our life. We will no longer have to search for the next best thing to make us temporarily happy or strive to keep everything perfect, like the lives that appear that way around us; because, we will begin to see our life and stuff as already perfect, just as He does.
     You have a choice to live a life of gratitude, focusing your attention on the daily blessings in your life or continually comparing your life to those around you. In doing so, you will miss out on the many blessings right in front of you, because you're too worried about what other people think. It's time to break your chains and experience Gods plan for your life! Get ready, you will be in awe of how truly "freeing" it feels to break that bondage!
     As we approach Christmas it's easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle. I encourage you to take a step back this Christmas. God doesn't care about the burnt Christmas cookies, ornaments being thrown off the tree, half up Christmas decorations, the search for that perfect gift, or Christmas cards that never make it out. Rather than always focusing on what you want I encourage you to shift that focus to what you already have! More than anything he wants you to LOVE the life that he has given you, just as it is, and spread that love to those around you. We are all in this together, let's build each other up and break free of the "comparison trap".

Blessings to all,
Jessica Lowery
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Always Autumn

by: Kate Cannon

School and autumn … this is a combination I have always always loved and looked forward to each year.  I love how it begins as the warm summer fades into chilled nights and the more structured, scheduled days are full of productive and meaningful studies of subjects that enrich and sustain intellectual and emotional development.  I love that school allows children an opportunity to not only work and study on their own, but it also simultaneously gives them ways to interact and engage with others in a setting that teaches kindness and bravery all at once in a place that at its core, is one of the more pure places in our human experience.  I love the way in which the world changes during the beginning of school in autumn, right before our eyes… in color, in song, in scent.  Leaves are seemingly shy as they turn shades of crimson, gold, and amber while geese blast out a catalyst for flight to warmer regions. The once-beautifully bursting pink and purple hydrangea blooms send a new message that tells us all to rest as the flowers fade into dusty, quiet shadows.  All the while, children are near, preparing for their own unique and special metamorphosis as the school itself becomes the cocoon in which they will stay for the cold winter ahead until they emerge new and changed next spring.  




Fall also brings a host of other special events: parties with shiny apples and vibrant orange pumpkins, contested elections that change a nation, Veterans Day in which we thank all those who have served, and certainly Thanksgiving Day in all of its bounty and history - stories which make us all who we are. It is necessary for people to reflect upon their heritage and blessings, as the more grateful we are, the more grateful we become. In addition to all of these special days, autumn also brings a haunting moment in September: the call I received regarding the untimely death of my younger brother. This is a date in the autumn season which I have been utterly unable to see any hint of a blessing, amidst so many days full of joy, despite God’s word that we should give thanks in all circumstances.”  Impossible. Completely and totally impossible.  His death is not a blessing, and isn’t it ridiculous to even say such a thing? A heavy portion of anger, along with a heaping amount of sadness, coupled with a nagging feeling of continual guilt and including great amounts of disbelief, and the sense of shame involved do not begin to describe my walk through that difficult day of my life. My husband (of only three months at that point) and I heard that news in the middle of the night, and just hours later we were on a flight to the hospital where my brother lay, swollen, bandaged, and being kept alive by modern medical science and a team of highly skilled medical professionals. Shortly after our arrival, and following a brief and uncomfortable greeting to all family members, he was pronounced dead. We spent the next three days in the trauma unit waiting for his young, healthy, perfect organs to be placed in others’ bodies. I could easily relate to Martha when she must have uttered to Christ in complete despair, Lord, If you had been here, my brother would not have died.” I was standing there with my own sister, attempting to understand what Mary and Martha endured so long ago. 



Autumn... cold, dark, lonely, sad and scary … this also part of my autumn.  Those months I spent in sadness, confusion, and fear asking more why” questions than I ever knew existed.  Not even the excitement and love I have for school could help, or being newly married, or having dear friends who went out of their way to call, text, and write to me in the aftermath, or having my own family with whom to walk through some of our darkest hours … nothing could ever possibly fix this. It is Death.

Red-hot anger in those days and weeks turned into a cold wind of bitterness and that chill gave way to rock-hard resentment in my heart for years. I shut God out and really blamed Him, thinking that if He were a loving, kind God as I know He is said to be, then He would never, ever allow such a tragedy to happen. He would simply not allow such a thing to occur, especially to me or to my family. He must not exist, I concluded.  And then, just like that, back to school my hardened heart went as I continued telling Him that He is not fair, that He is not there, and I simply continued to do what I know how to to: teach. School is comfortable for me because I love children so much, and gradually I gave bits of my heart back to the students and families with whom I worked, and I did not talk about my brother with anyone. I was simply told Christ how angry I was …  and this was a turning point, dear one — I began talking to Christ directly for the first time in my life.  I told him how angry I was for allowing this to happen and I said to Him directly that there was nothing left in which to hope, and I told Him that it was always autumn in my heart. 

And then, my dear friend, after many years of hiding from Him and blaming Him, God spoke back to me in a quiet voice during a dream. He made clear that He loves me and loves my brother, even though I am not able to understand all of His ways. He made clear that my brother, just like Lazarus, had been resurrected and is now with Christ in the heavenly realms.

Three times.  

He gently, quietly, clearly showed me in three different dreams that my brother is loved, healthy, alive and saved. I did not create those dreams, and yet they have prompted me to find out more about Christ and His Father. The worst tragedy of my life has become the very event which has allowed me to begin to process how God will "provide for those who grieve in Zion-- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.”  This verse, Isaiah 61:3, has comforted and challenged me since I began to see the power of Christ in our lives - yours and mine.


Every year, on my little brother’s birthday, God does something special just for me!  He makes some miraculous detail in the day happen that lets me know that I didn’t make it all up in my mind wishing that it were true. For example, several years in a row there has been a red cardinal who comes and perches just overhead, following me down a path of beautifully blooming trees on the 27th of May every year in different locations, but always on his birthday.  My brother was my best friend.  God wants us to know Him deeply and intimately, in ways that we only will if we have walked through the valley of the shadow of death with Him and then come out on the other side, still walking with Him. When autumn is over, when the winter seasons have come and gone our lives, I want to be able to say that I have a crown of beauty, the fragrant scent of oil, and a garment of praise. I am still working on it… but now I am working on it with Him. Friends, He is asking us to join with Him to conquer sadness, disappointment, pain, fear, and even Death itself, by the power of Christ on the cross.