This was the second time I have attended the MLK rally and march here in Spokane. My daughter and I marched with other members of Immanuel. The decision to participate was sort of a no-brainer. We are a part of Immanuel, Immanuel values racial reconciliation and we were able to attend, so we joined in.
Read MoreAs a doula, my number one goal is to empower women. In the birthing room, I do not speak for them, I do not make decisions for them. If I’ve done my job well, both mother and partner are educated and prepared beforehand to ask questions, to know what could happen and to make decisions with confidence.
Read MoreThe other day my small group and I were reading John 5, which includes the story of a man who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. Day-in, day-out he sits near a pool that many believed had healing powers, hoping that someday he might be first into the pool, which he hoped could heal him and free him.
Read MoreI recently read the book “Just Mercy- A Story of Justice and Redemption” by Bryan Stevenson. It is a book that opened my eyes. It is too easy to sit in my own comfort zone. This zone often includes my home, my family, my friends, my city, my church, my community, and the list could go on.
Read MorePatience, patience, patience. When it comes to pursuing goals, it is hard for me to be patient especially when I have this notion that running into any obstacles means that I have become a “failure” and that it will be harder to accomplish my goals. In the past two and a half years repeatedly I felt as if I was failing at school.
Read More“The angel Gabriel from Heaven came
His wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame
‘All hail,’ said he, ‘Thou lowly maiden Mary,
Most highly favored lady, Gloria!’”
For a lot of people, the subject of Christmas music is a pretty sticky one.
Read MoreI have always been someone who questions my purpose.Most of the time, whether it was a volunteer position or a job, I would start to question what I was doing and start looking for something new and what I thought was “better” a little before I had been there 2 years. I felt that I wasn’t doing “enough.”
Read MoreOne person has stated that hospitality is resistance. In a world that caters to the rich, uber-gifted and best looking, true Biblical hospitality is a prophetic voice. When the larger empire disregards and dishonors certain persons, small acts of respect and welcome are powerful gestures of a greater Kingdom!
Read MoreSeveral years ago, I spent a summer working as an intern for a children’s ministry, helping with a summer Vacation Bible School program. During a daily session, one of the leaders was giving a message about fear, and asked kids to shout out some things that frightened them.
Read MoreEvery year on Thanksgiving I sit at a table with family and close friends and we declare things we are thankful for. I think this is a terrific exercise and we should incorporate more of this into our daily lives! I am thankful for my family, for my home, for my education, that I have regular meals, etc.
Read MoreI’ve been meaning to involve myself in a small group (we call them “Life Together” groups,) more or less since Immanuel first started, and now, almost four years later, I’ve finally done it. Better late than never, I suppose.
Read MoreI spent some time with a dear friend, an old professor of mine, a couple weeks ago. This person has seen me through a lot of the darker parts of the last few years, as well as some of the most joyful. Consistently, though, I have witnessed him see the absolute best in people.
Read MoreI spent two hours unclogging a toilet this week. When Monday rolled around I had an idea in my head of how the next few days would go. I had tasks to accomplish, and deadlines to meet, but then all of the sudden, the plan that I had set for the week, was thwarted by a horrific mess in the boys bathroom at the Hillyard YFC building.
Read MoreCommunity is one of those words that when you hear it you think of something dreamy – like a group of people eating a meal and drinking wine together, where everyone is such good friends and is vulnerable but also funny and everyone is happy about their community all the time.
Read MoreIn early 2012 I met with someone I greatly admired, she was a school counselor at a local middle school and from what I knew of her, she was a world changer. I had just moved up to Spokane to follow my dream of attending a Spokane University in order to obtain my Masters in School Counseling.
Read MoreIf you don’t read any further than this first paragraph, that is completely fine, because I believe it holds an important axiom on which we are to base our entire lives as believers. It is an all encapsulating, unshakeable truth, often wrapped in cliches and Christian platitudes, and mostly diluted to the point of seeming like an afterthought.
Read MoreAs I review my journal of the past year and a half it could only be described as bleak. Since my husband died last May, I’ve taken to processing thoughts in a diary. Well thoughts might not be the right word...
Read MoreIf you are involved in ministry in any capacity, you have certainly heard about burnout. We work or serve others because God calls us to and many of us have...
Read MoreFor most of my young adult life, I had no idea what I wanted to do. I wandered around from opportunity to opportunity knowing it wasn’t quite what I wanted.
Read MoreLet me just start by confessing that I’ve written this blog three different times. Why? Because I’m a closet perfectionist and arrogance is a champion at masquerading itself. On the upside, I’ve been learning a lot about irony, as I’ve had to screen my blog(s) about arrogance for the very kind of arrogance I intend to discourage. The justice is sweet.
Read More
