Articles

If you had an audience with God today, what would you ask? If you knew He would audibly answer one question, what would you want the answer to be? I want to say that I would have some big theological question, or perhaps the obvious “why do bad things happen” would fly out of my mouth without a second thought, but I don’t think so.

In my off hours lately I’ve been watching “The Chosen” — have you heard of it? It’s a TV series that tells the story of Jesus’ disciples (the chosen, get it?). Before you rush to conclusions and start picturing all the other Bible shows you’ve seen, let me tell you — there’s something different about the way this one depicts the gospel stories. For one, they’re in no rush to tell the story in 10 succinct episodes.

“Brazil” – the first word stamped in my passport. Many other stamps have followed — and I have relished each one. I consider it a unique privilege that almost all my stamps have come from travel on mission trips.

Once upon a time, there was a wee little man who climbed up in a sycamore tree and was never the same again. Maybe you’ve heard of him. Maybe when you were young you even sang a song about him. His name was Zacchaeus. The day he met Jesus he was changed. That’s what Jesus does to people.

We took off at twilight, after the sunset had skipped ahead to the edge of the sky. I don’t know if this is the normal course for a MIA to DFW flight, but we ascended through clouds and flew to the edge of the city.

“As He stands in victory, Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me, For I am His and He is mine, Bought with the precious blood of Christ.”

I remember exactly where we were when we got the phone call. We had just dropped off our kids to Children’s Ministry before heading to church. A seemingly ordinary Sunday routine. Standing in that hallway, my husband took the call, and then looked at me, “There’s been a fire.”

1. You Suspect God Has More. You are happy with where your marriage is, but feel there are more areas in which you and your spouse can grow. You’re not dealing with any major issues, but you want to invest in your ability to love, listen and serve your spouse well.

Community is hard for me because I’m an introvert. Painful even. I prefer the solitude of my garden, playing with my dogs, and loving on my husband and kids. I love long, quiet solitary walks. And books — oh, can I get lost in a book.