On our drive down to Gatlinburg last Friday the license plate on a little red car in the next lane caught my eye. It read “FNLY HPY”. As we accelerated past, I glanced over at the driver; a sixty-something woman with shortly-cropped gray hair and dark-rimmed rectangular glasses. For some reason I expected the owner…
Tag: joy
My God Story
Guys. I have NEVER had it all together. Not before I was a Christian, and not since becoming one. I fall short every day. But if God can take the mess I was, the girl who thought she had zero value, then he can do the same for you. The amazing thing is, he longs…
I like Big Buts and I Cannot Lie
What situation seems impossible right now? Where do you feel helpless? I have good news. If you belong to Jesus, there is always, always, always hope. We have a God who is present and powerful. Things may not look good right now, but God is in control; working all things together for the good of…
Contentment
Last night, gathered around our couch and enjoying country-style donuts and a delicious Meritage from New Kent Winery, a small but awesome group of friends read through the book of James. There is such a sweetness in simple fellowship. Food, friends, God’s word and good conversation. It was an anchor in a week where I’ve…
Forty, Unsporty, and Thriving
41. The year you get a bird feeder for your birthday. And the terrifying thing is, you asked for it. It’s also apparently the year when I’m naming the different terms for “love” found in the Bible and I forget the word “phileo” (Greek for brotherly love) and instead say something that makes my co-ed…
Living Well
I’ve never really been successful at…well, being successful. It’s not so bad, really. I have my comfort zone. There’s pizza there. But there’s this nagging question buzzing around in my head like an annoying little gnat lately: what if I am actually capable of way more than I think? What if I’ve been letting…
My Love Life and other Ghost Towns
I’ve always found comfort in running. Not physically, obvs, because people that love actual running are straight up crazy. I will never understand. Never. In my laughably terrible dating life, I have historically gravitated towards the…less desirable, shall we say. There has definitely been some “I don’t deserve a good man” garbage taking up space…
Here we Go
I’m in love. There. I said it. Let me back up for a minute. This year has been a roller coaster of emotions, mostly leaving me face-down in bed with the covers pulled over my head. Don’t worry, I left enough of an air pocket for my wine. I know you were concerned. So back…
Quail Burgers
When the ancient Israelites were wandering around in the desert for, oh, about forty years, they began to complain and say that they missed the good food they’d had back in Egypt. They conveniently forgot they’d been slaves and how great it had been building pyramids every day one brick at a time. God…
Blah Humbug?
Hey, you!- the one trying to escape the pervasive sadness that sits like a wet blanket over you as you numbly go through the motions this holiday season- You want to feel warm and fuzzy, but you just don’t know how- I’m right there with you, friend. I don’t know why you’re down. For me,…
Living Well 