• Here’s an idea: This weekend, rather than trying to force yourself, your people, and your circumstances to look perfect, why don’t you and I savor the moments and people and bodies we’ve been given, exactly as they are? It’s all just one big gift anyway. Happy Friday, friends. And may your weekend be a long exhale of Grace. 💙
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    Here’s an idea: This weekend, rather than trying to force yourself, your people, and your circumstances to look perfect, why don’t you and I savor the moments and people and bodies we’ve been given, exactly as they are? It’s all just one big gift anyway. Happy Friday, friends. And may your weekend be a long exhale of Grace. 💙
  • “I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoards in secret places, that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name,” Isaiah said (Isaiah 45:3). So that you may know it is I. The question of the place and purpose of struggle and suffering is not an easy one. It brings into question the motives and love of God. And yet, after years of more pain than I ever imagined I’d endure, I can tell you I’m starting to see suffering as a gift delivered in cover of darkness: Suffering softens my tendency toward self-sufficiency Suffering bends my knees to a place of humility Suffering opens me up to deeper compassion Suffering ignites an inexplicable craving for God’s Glory Suffering stirs a greater longing for eternity As leaders and believers, we claim a desire for these things day after day, in all sincerity. But then we proceed to work ourselves to exhaustion in an effort to make it happen. However, I’ve yet to find anything that accomplishes that sacred work quite like the reality of God in a season of suffering. There is something holy about God’s presence and purpose in our pain. If you’re in a sea of suffering, you likely want to throw something at me right about now. I understand. I still weep tears while delivering beggar prayers. I still demand answers to my questions and relief to my doubts. And I still plead with the Healer to restore my body and life once again. But I cannot ignore the work God has wrought through my suffering. It’s an unexpected mercy, an uncommon gift. Allow yourself the questions, give space for your heart to anguish. Mourn the losses and rage against the pain. But don't be afraid to lean into it, either. And don't be surprised when God delivers glorious, powerful, unparalleled work in you through it. Healing is a worthy gift. But suffering just might be, too.” {A post I wrote for @propelwomen a while back. It’s just like our God to take an encouragement from yesteryear, and use it again to strengthen for today. 🙌🏻}
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    “I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoards in secret places, that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name,” Isaiah said (Isaiah 45:3). So that you may know it is I. The question of the place and purpose of struggle and suffering is not an easy one. It brings into question the motives and love of God. And yet, after years of more pain than I ever imagined I’d endure, I can tell you I’m starting to see suffering as a gift delivered in cover of darkness: Suffering softens my tendency toward self-sufficiency Suffering bends my knees to a place of humility Suffering opens me up to deeper compassion Suffering ignites an inexplicable craving for God’s Glory Suffering stirs a greater longing for eternity As leaders and believers, we claim a desire for these things day after day, in all sincerity. But then we proceed to work ourselves to exhaustion in an effort to make it happen. However, I’ve yet to find anything that accomplishes that sacred work quite like the reality of God in a season of suffering. There is something holy about God’s presence and purpose in our pain. If you’re in a sea of suffering, you likely want to throw something at me right about now. I understand. I still weep tears while delivering beggar prayers. I still demand answers to my questions and relief to my doubts. And I still plead with the Healer to restore my body and life once again. But I cannot ignore the work God has wrought through my suffering. It’s an unexpected mercy, an uncommon gift. Allow yourself the questions, give space for your heart to anguish. Mourn the losses and rage against the pain. But don't be afraid to lean into it, either. And don't be surprised when God delivers glorious, powerful, unparalleled work in you through it. Healing is a worthy gift. But suffering just might be, too.” {A post I wrote for @propelwomen a while back. It’s just like our God to take an encouragement from yesteryear, and use it again to strengthen for today. 🙌🏻}
  • They say confession is good for the soul. 🙋🏻‍♀️ {cred: @tiffanyjobaker}
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    They say confession is good for the soul. 🙋🏻‍♀️ {cred: @tiffanyjobaker}
  • It’s almost hiking season. 🙌🏻 The backcountry is still too snow covered to hike without snow shoes and poles. But I started prepping with 4.5 hilly miles on a paved path with my favorite hiking buddy. 🐾 An all around sweet Sunday. Worship online and worship in the mountains. Full heart. 🏔 #rockymountains #summitcounty #breckenridgecolorado #hiking #labsofinstagram #rescuedogsofinstagram #labrescue #worship
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    It’s almost hiking season. 🙌🏻 The backcountry is still too snow covered to hike without snow shoes and poles. But I started prepping with 4.5 hilly miles on a paved path with my favorite hiking buddy. 🐾 An all around sweet Sunday. Worship online and worship in the mountains. Full heart. 🏔 #rockymountains #summitcounty #breckenridgecolorado #hiking #labsofinstagram #rescuedogsofinstagram #labrescue #worship
  • Last week I had the opportunity to speak to about 500+ employees of @ramsey.solutions. This is the second time I’ve had the privilege, and it was just as sweet as the first. You know what I learned? We’re all struggling a bit right now. Okay, more than “a bit.” We all feel spread thin, afraid, overwhelmed, uncertain. We’re trying to find our footing, somewhere solid to stand that will carry through whatever lies ahead. But getting grounded when the ground is shaking isn’t easy. So I talked to these brothers and sisters about the two footings we all need if we’re going to walk into tomorrow with courage. And those two footings have to be much bigger than you and me and what we can muscle through. God’s Presence. God’s Purpose. It’s that simple. They’re the only two things big enough to hold us. Knowledge that there is a God who is working all things for good (Romans 8:28). And He won’t leave us, not for one moment, until that “good” is a reality and we’re home. Goodness, I’ll never get over it. ❤️ [This picture is with my dear friend @evadiva30, who works at Ramsey. She’s a true gift.]
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    Last week I had the opportunity to speak to about 500+ employees of @ramsey.solutions. This is the second time I’ve had the privilege, and it was just as sweet as the first. You know what I learned? We’re all struggling a bit right now. Okay, more than “a bit.” We all feel spread thin, afraid, overwhelmed, uncertain. We’re trying to find our footing, somewhere solid to stand that will carry through whatever lies ahead. But getting grounded when the ground is shaking isn’t easy. So I talked to these brothers and sisters about the two footings we all need if we’re going to walk into tomorrow with courage. And those two footings have to be much bigger than you and me and what we can muscle through. God’s Presence. God’s Purpose. It’s that simple. They’re the only two things big enough to hold us. Knowledge that there is a God who is working all things for good (Romans 8:28). And He won’t leave us, not for one moment, until that “good” is a reality and we’re home. Goodness, I’ll never get over it. ❤️ [This picture is with my dear friend @evadiva30, who works at Ramsey. She’s a true gift.]
  • To all the hammers. From a hammer. How interesting that this has been on my heart during a week when we remember the nails that brought us life. It’s pretty simple. You can tear down or build up. Destroy a life or save it. It’s up to you. 💙 {Thank you for sharing this several days ago, @scottsauls. It’s provided much needed pondering.}
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    To all the hammers. From a hammer. How interesting that this has been on my heart during a week when we remember the nails that brought us life. It’s pretty simple. You can tear down or build up. Destroy a life or save it. It’s up to you. 💙 {Thank you for sharing this several days ago, @scottsauls. It’s provided much needed pondering.}
  • So this happened yesterday. Before I tell you how I feel about it, a story. In 2015, during my third cancer diagnosis and while ridiculous amounts of chemotherapy and radiation were aimed at my face and head, a handful of people took it upon themselves to let me know that I was making a huge mistake. Some were strangers, piping up from their social media seats. And some were in-real-life acquaintances. One was so adamant and unrelenting about her position (and her need to correct me of mine) I finally had to have a couple friends intervene. The irony is I had spent five years living my reality and exploring every option. I agonized over the decision, knowing that surgery and radiation would leave me with a permanent disability and pain. And yet, in that hard hard place of weighing risk and praying for wisdom, a small group of people felt it was their duty to tell me I’d done it all wrong. Not helpful. There’s a certain arrogance that thinks it knows better than everyone else. And every single one of us can slip into that place when we talk more than we listen, and choose pride over humility. All that to say, this girl got her first vaccination yesterday. And while I wrestled with the risks and advantages, I determined it was the right decision for me. And I’m good with it. In fact, I’m ecstatic. That said, you have to decide for you, and I am good with that too. I trust you have the wisdom and insight into your own life to make that choice. With you either way. We’re all doing the best we can, yes? Let’s do it together. It’s not only possible to disagree and love at the same time, it’s pretty spectacular when we do. ❤️
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    So this happened yesterday. Before I tell you how I feel about it, a story. In 2015, during my third cancer diagnosis and while ridiculous amounts of chemotherapy and radiation were aimed at my face and head, a handful of people took it upon themselves to let me know that I was making a huge mistake. Some were strangers, piping up from their social media seats. And some were in-real-life acquaintances. One was so adamant and unrelenting about her position (and her need to correct me of mine) I finally had to have a couple friends intervene. The irony is I had spent five years living my reality and exploring every option. I agonized over the decision, knowing that surgery and radiation would leave me with a permanent disability and pain. And yet, in that hard hard place of weighing risk and praying for wisdom, a small group of people felt it was their duty to tell me I’d done it all wrong. Not helpful. There’s a certain arrogance that thinks it knows better than everyone else. And every single one of us can slip into that place when we talk more than we listen, and choose pride over humility. All that to say, this girl got her first vaccination yesterday. And while I wrestled with the risks and advantages, I determined it was the right decision for me. And I’m good with it. In fact, I’m ecstatic. That said, you have to decide for you, and I am good with that too. I trust you have the wisdom and insight into your own life to make that choice. With you either way. We’re all doing the best we can, yes? Let’s do it together. It’s not only possible to disagree and love at the same time, it’s pretty spectacular when we do. ❤️
  • Anyone else? 🙋🏻‍♀️ Everyone knows you can’t see when the music is loud. Duh. 😂 (Thanks @niki.hardy for the laugh. Day made. 😘)
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    Anyone else? 🙋🏻‍♀️ Everyone knows you can’t see when the music is loud. Duh. 😂 (Thanks @niki.hardy for the laugh. Day made. 😘)