What’s Your Story?
I’ve always loved the story of Hagar. I simply thrill at her proclamation of “the God who sees me.” I scoop that name up and tuck it into my heart, and I pull it out when I feel alone, lonely, and unseen: El Roi. I’m sure you all know the story. Sarai’s inability to conceive […]
Running with the Story
When my teammate and I moved to a small border town in western Cambodia for a year, we spent a lot of time walking and praying. We soon earned the reputation around the area as “the foreign twins who always exercise.” At least people knew who we were, I guess! As we walked, we would […]
Let It Shine
“Hide it under a bushel? No! I’m gonna let it shine! Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.” —Harry Dixon Loes I remember singing this song many times as a child. The song speaks of letting our God-given lights shine. It is a powerful message, albeit a bit lost on my six-year-old self. […]
Tell Me a Story: How God Meets Us in the Narrative
My sister Shawna has always been a masterful storyteller. When her kids were little, she’d gather them close and announce, “I’m going to tell you a story!” Instantly, a new world would open—one filled with fairies, dragons, and all sorts of enchanting characters. The best part? Everyone got to join in. The kids—and any lucky […]
No team. No Starbucks. Just us.
When my husband and I decided to move our family for the third time since moving to Southeast Asia, we knew this move would be ambitious. Pioneering, as some would classify it. Going into an unknown country or place for the sole purpose to explore and settle. We would be on our own with just […]
Starting New Christmas Traditions: Homemade Cinnamon Rolls
Living in Asia during the holidays is like living any other day. There’s no Black Friday—a family favorite for me! (Although, any weekend shopping trip here can seem similar with the crowds.) There aren’t tons of Christmas lights lining the streets. There aren’t carols being played in the store, except maybe the most annoying version […]
The Grove Prompt: Story
As we enter into the last month of 2016, we want to circle around the idea of story. We’re beginning Advent, a time to remember the story. To prepare our hearts and minds to enter again into the miracle of Christmas, Christ becoming flesh. Let’s walk intentionally together into this mystery. We’re also celebrating a story, […]
Mid-Story Endings
A couple of weeks ago I read Brene’ Brown’s most recent book Rising Strong. The subtitle is “the reckoning, the rumble, the revolution.” The cover also says, “If we are brave enough, often enough, we will fall. This is a book about what it takes to get back up.” One part that stood out to […]
Taste the Sweetness
People really are the most interesting creatures. I’m a people watcher. A student of human behavior. When I go places I don’t mind chatting with strangers. You never know who you might meet or what you might learn if you look up from your own life for a second. As a general rule I try […]
Sharing the Rough Draft
My story is changing. A dramatic shift in the plot. A change in setting. New characters. New descriptions for current characters. Word usage and verb tenses have changed. The topic of dialogue is changing. As another section of the story of my life is beginning, the transition from one section to the other is proving […]
The God Who Wants To Hear Your Story
I’ve always loved the story of Hagar. I simply thrill at her proclamation of “the God who sees me.” I scoop that name up and tuck it into my heart, and I pull it out when I feel alone, lonely, and unseen: El Roi. I’m sure you all know the story. Sarai’s inability to conceive […]