A friend asked me to write out for her what my passion is. We're working on a book project, so she kinda needed to know what I care most about in life. Sheesh. That's a hard question and I feel stuck, like I have to say something really professional. And goodness, anyone who knows me, knows that I'm the worst at being professional. I don't even iron my clothes. I don't even brush my hair all the time because it looks a little wavy when I don't brush it. And, that's not very professional. Everybody knows that.Well, I am good at rambling, so if you don't mind, I'm just gonna ramble around here and try to figure out what in the world my passion is. You don't mind do you? I am passionate about some things. Besides just chocolate and naps and Brent's beard. First of all, I'm passionate about li[...]

I stand in this wreaking barn, with the manure splattered on the wall and the dust swirling in the air while the radio blares. They're telling me that there's been another shooter at a school in Connecticut. This guy has killed more than twenty people, mostly little kids. My gut groans. There's something terribly the matter with the world.Hours later, the sadness doesn't lift. Just this heavy weight pressing in, for everything twisted and painfully broken. I look over at my kids and listen to their little cheerful voices as they help Grandpa feed the cows. What sort of world will they grow up in? Can't I keep them safe? Their lives only knowing sweet things like newborn calves and kitties? Growing corn and wheat? Long walks down an old lane in the security of a family farm? I would spare [...]

Music affects me deep. And so much of life, when you stand still to listen to it, does actually feel like a song. This particular song is written for the church. The people that claim to believe in God and follow His Son. And every time I hear it, I want to get on my face before my God and pray-sing it with everything I've got. So, sometimes I do that. I worship Him and I pray for the church.I want the church to wake up. To stop the sleep walking and cease this half-dead living. Jesus came to make us very much alive. And it's only when we live vitally connected to Him that His passion can pulse warm through our blood.  You can sing it with me, if you want. Just push play and scroll down.We have seen the painthat shaped our heartsAnd in our shameWe're still breathing, 'causeWe have see[...]

All the Poor and Powerlessby All Sons and DaughtersPush play.Scroll down. All the poor and powerlessAnd all the lost and lonelyAll the thieves will come confessAnd know that You are holyAnd know that You are holy And all will sing outHallelujahAnd we will cry outHallelujahAll the hearts who are contentAnd all who feel unworthy And all who hurt with nothing leftWill know that You are holy And all will sing outHallelujahAnd we will cry outHallelujahShout itGo on and scream it from the mountainsGo on and tell it to the massesThat He is God Shout itGo on and scream it from the mountainsGo on and tell it to the massesThat He is GodShout itGo on and scream it from the mountainsGo on and tell it to the massesThat He is GodShout itGo on scream it from the mountainsGo on and tell it [...]

Christmas is coming! We've already spent lots of time in the toy aisle. Gideon's been pointing out all the stuff he could really use. He even tells us what Hopey needs for a present. It tends to be stuff he's mostly interested in playing with himself. TRAINS! No,wait, CARS! No, wait, creepy Mickey Mouse doll that rocks and rolls! Okay, just kidding. He's not interested in rock-n-roll Mickey. I think he's actually scared of him. We're all a little scared of him.   Now that Christmas is coming, I do feel this tension. Because, for us, it's really not at all about the presents. I mean the presents are nice. Who doesn't love presents? But, for us, Christmas is really a sacred holiday. But, how do you instill in your wee little squirts that Christmas is so much more than trains and c[...]

I can't really let a day all about being thankful go by without telling you some things I'm really thankful for. So, here goes.Firstly, Brent and I are part of this non-profit Christian ministry. (Most of you know that already.) And we live kind of like missionaries, in that we're responsible to raise our own financial support. It's kind of hard to explain, but our supporters send money to the ministry and then the ministry writes us a check each month. And just this last week, someone anonymously gave us a bunch of money. And I don't usually like to talk about money, but this was so out of the blue, and Brent and I had been praying because we want to refinance our house so we can pay for it in 15 years instead of 30. And now, we have more than enough to refinance. So, God, thank You. Than[...]

I need You, Lord. Every hour I need You. More like every moment. Though sometimes I walk around in this stone-cold stupor, oblivious and unaware.But, right now I feel it, my desperate need. That God-ache that no other thing will satiate. Just You, Your love, Your Spirit filling all my soul-holes. All my sore and hollowed out empty places. I'm parched and You come to let me taste and see. That You, in all Your glory are good. You are good but You're not tame. I should fear You, the way all the wild life fears a roaring lion. You are strong and You are fierce. But, still You're good. And I need You. I have always needed You. Oh God, please come. Could You come right now? Your voice, it shakes the wilderness. Like loud claps of thunder and bolts of lightening, it rips open the sky. Your excla[...]

Yesterday the wind was very windy. My friend tells me how she noticed it whipping everything into winter ready shape. And we chat about how though we can't see the wind, we can see all that it does as we look around and about. I'm reminded of a verse I read that talks about the Holy Spirit, how He, too, is like the wind. (John 3:6-10) The wind rushes this way and that. We hear it rustling the tall grasses and whipping through the trees, but we can't see where it comes from and we don't exactly know where it's going. So it is with the Spirit of God. We can't see Him. We can't reach out to touch Him or hold a part of Him in our hand. But we see His movements, sometimes this rushing, sometimes this gentle sort of breathing. And we know He's there because we see what He does as we look up and [...]

Every morning when I wake up, when  my eyelids are just fluttering open, I whisper to God that I need Him. Well, first I usually tell Him good morning, and then I tell Him how much I need Him. And this morning I told Him that I needed Him to the gleaming moon and back, like infinity times. Because I do. And I thanked Him for all these new mercies this morning because I seriously need those too. And I love waking up to the awareness of the One who made me. Who knit me together when I was in my mama's tummy and fashioned all my parts. And the One who breathed His life into my lungs and who wakes me up every morning to stars singing and a brand new day. Then I came downstairs and made my coffee and sat in my usual spot to read His Words. Because although I live in my body, I also have a[...]