encouragement

A stunning yellow, black and white butterfly emerges from its cocoon attached to a rusty iron chair.

See! I am doing a new thing

Post published:June 13, 2024
Post category:Living Life My Story
Post last modified:May 29, 2025

Nine months ago, I did not see renovation in my future. Now, I’m neck deep in refreshing my website. And I’m marveling at God’s renewing work in our lives.

Closeup of a snowdrop, the bulbous white flower that droops when in full bloom

The blessing of mourning

Post published:January 12, 2024
Post category:Trauma and Grief
Post last modified:June 13, 2025

There is a time to mourn. And much fights against our doing it. But what short-circuits our grief also blocks us from Jesus’ promise of comfort and blessing.

In a dark, eerie forest, one weak ray of a hazy setting sun shines through the almost-bare trees.

Spiritual sundowner’s: When darkness overwhelms you

Post published:November 11, 2022
Post category:Trauma and Grief
Post last modified:June 13, 2025

Darkness can increase disorientation. It can increase anxiety and depression. Can something similar be true spiritually? Can spiritual sundowner’s be a thing?

Newspaper clipping from 1991: Deborah and teammates on Red Square. Deborah, standing on box, pauses talking, looks at her notes, while Alla beside her translates. Three team members in background listen. So do two men, one of them a Soviet soldier.

Extraordinary! Russia, Ukraine, breakthrough, God

Post published:October 16, 2021
Post category:My Story Times and Seasons
Post last modified:March 19, 2024

At times in this world, all eyes turn toward what seems most important, invincible, extraordinary. If we look further, the Lord will remind us what actually is.

Light is breaking through

Post published:November 24, 2019
Post category:My Story Trauma and Grief
Post last modified:March 12, 2025

In the very act of seeing what is brown, murky and decidedly unsafe, there’s movement. There’s life. And the light is breaking through.

Pink-white dove with gray-tipped wings, caught in flight

Not by might

Post published:August 29, 2018
Post category:Spirit-to-spirit with God
Post last modified:March 13, 2024

A beautiful song and a powerful word that have encouraged me in the night. - "Not by Might (By My Spirit)," Eden's Bridge

Stunning cloud formation: A towering fireball of a cloud looks to be riding atop a flattened black storm cloud, over land and sea.

God who rides to help you

Post published:May 30, 2016
Post category:Knowing and Going with God
Post last modified:March 16, 2024

Minipost: Be blessed to know this God, who rides across the heavens to help you.

Frightened kitten, cowering on wood chips and peeking out from under fronds of green foliage

God who sees me

Post published:February 16, 2015
Post category:Knowing and Going with God
Post last modified:May 29, 2025

Mini-post. When you think you're hidden, be blessed to know: You're not.

Gray striped kitten, sitting on tree branch, head lifted, eyes looking up

God who lifts up my head

Post published:September 9, 2014
Post category:Knowing and Going with God
Post last modified:March 11, 2024

Again and again, the “God who …” phrases in Scripture reveal God’s works. As we respond to our Lord deep within, receiving what he communicates Spirit-to-spirit, those phrases also reveal…

Illustration: Man in casual collared shirt holds Bible in left hand, pointer in the right. Posted to his right are 10 small human silhouettes - the kind used for target practice. They're lined up in 2 rows. Smiling broadly with his mouth, but not at all with his eyes, the man points to the one silhouette colored red.

Dis-abling spiritual abuse

Post published:August 22, 2013
Post category:Healing from Toxic Church
Post last modified:March 10, 2024

Insights from Carolyn Custis James that can help us recognize and "dis-able" spiritual abuse.