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Gentle Spirit, Fierce Faith: A Tribute
This morning, my great aunt went home to be with Jesus. Her husband, PC Verghese, was a dynamic and respected evangelist in India for decades. He went to glory just two days ago. Both of them were like grandparents to me and instrumental in my faith journey. I have no doubt that they are rejoicing ...
Have We Learned to Hide Our Brokenness?
I live in a city in India where Christians still have freedom to worship together. In fact, I live in a part of town which we jokingly (and unofficially) call the “Bible Belt.”
In a five-mile radius from where I live, there are two thriving Bible colleges, not to mention dozens of churches, Christian schools, Catholic ...
Can We Go Back to “Striving”?
It has evolved into a distateful word in the Christian lexicon. A word we feel guilty about. Over the years, I’ve dismissed and disparaged it, too.
What word am I referring to?
“Striving.”
We’ve turned the word “striving” into something almost sinister and sinful. I’ve written blog post after blog post saying “wise” things like, “May we not ...
How to Read the Bible Consistently in the New Year
“You’ll love reading the Bible more than you love chicken.”
About 30 years ago, someone at a teen Bible study I’d attended spoke those words over me. I don’t know if there were an "impression" of sorts from God on their hearts. In fact, I don’t even remember who shared them with me.
But, back in the ...
Messed Up Your New Year’s Resolutions? Here’s What You Can Do
Seven days into the new year, I broke my “sweets only on Saturdays” resolution. It was my sister and brother-in-law’s anniversary. Surely, I could have a slice of pineapple cream cake on this special occasion, even if it was Wednesday? Right? And the chocolate lava cake was made by my nephew—as an encouraging aunt, I ...
A Prayer for 2026
The Arabian Sea stretches endlessly before me. As it curves toward the shoreline, fierce waves thrash against the barricade of jagged rocks. The waters roar and foam. The sound thunders in my ears as I gaze out at the ocean from the balcony of our Airbnb. We are on a family vacation in Kerala, in ...
The Thrill of Hope, The Weary World Rejoices
Back in 2007, eighteen long years ago, I hung up an ornament on our Christmas tree. Why would I remember that moment?
The hubbers and I had been married about two years, and I was six months pregnant with our firstborn. We were excited and anxious soon-to-be parents. I remember hanging up that particular dull-gold ornament ...
Give Thanks in ALL Circumstances? How??
On the eve of Thanksgiving, we walk through tired hospital corridors. We are there to visit a friend, but we can’t meet him because he’s still in the ICU. His sister watches the clock in the waiting room. She is emotionally exhausted—but she is also remarkably resilient. As we talk to her, there’s something else—through ...
How Can We Reclaim Joy?
When my daughter was little, she would present me with dainty bouquets—composed entirely of weeds. We lived in Portland, Oregon, at the time, and on our few and scattered sunny days, my mini-me would joyfully run through the grass, filling her hands with wispy dandelions and wild daisies. When she gave me her handcrafted bouquets, ...
MEET SUSAN
