• Sorrow and Love: Finding God’s Presence in Our Pain

    About once a decade, Easter or Resurrection Sunday falls on my birthday. This year is one of those times, and last month brought me closer to Jesus’ wounded side through some painful experiences. I’ll share just one of them here for now. What began as a beautiful ski trip to Beech Mountain ended in the emergency room. On day two, I crashed on the slopes and dislocated my shoulder. The pain was brutal. Although I hope you’ve never dislocated your shoulder, you more than likely have your own pain you could share. Pain takes many forms whether physical or emotional, and the two often interconnect. What I learned from last…

  • Praise God in Soggy Circumstances

    Summertime brings some of this Florida girl’s favorite things: from beach volleyball to stunning sunsets to outdoor adventures. Along with its golden glory, the season also presents undesirable side effects like thunderstorms that rain out weeknight runs with friends and weekend water plans. Anyone who’s lived in this state long knows what I mean. While I would choose sunshine over rain any day, the rain has its place. Yes, it keeps the grass green, but it also speaks a needed reminder to my heart. Rain reminds me to thank God even when I’d prefer sunshine. Life’s that way, isn’t it? Perhaps you had your heart set on one plan, and…