The past few days, here in North Carolina, everyone’s been preparing for “a significant winter storm” while at the same time hustling and bustling around to get things checked of the long, Christmas “to-do” list.  Our governor stated this past Friday in a press release: “This storm comes at a time of year when North Carolinians are usually hearing carols about snow, not actually seeing it. But this time, the real thing is headed our way and North Carolina is getting prepared,

These vibrant leaves are clinging tightly to their wood as the wind begins to usher in the colder months ahead.  As this 2016 holiday season has begun, I’m clinging tightly to wood, too.  The wood of the cross.  The wood from a GOOD, yet a tragic, mysterious tree .  Clinging to the good grace of God.  Clinging during this holy season because some days that’s all I feel like I can do. Let’s cling to joy in this crazy world.  Let’s cling to Truth that gives us hope.  Let’s clin

This week on one of these gorgeous fall days – sunny, 70 degrees – I walk to the mailbox to see what our mailman left us.  There’s of course the type of mail that isn’t even opened and torn up and put in the trash like another credit card offer.  It’s our son’s Sports Illustrated magazine, a JC Penny coupon and a monthly newsletter from Samaritan’s Purse.  Each November we fill a couple of Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes to send to children somewhere else in the world so

It was 6pm and my hair was still plastered to my forehead from sweating in the cloudless, 101 degrees day. I felt sticky and stinky because this was the second day camping on our family’s stay at Zion National Park in Utah this past June. We had spent the day hiking on wooded trails, under and around waterfalls, and even in the Virgin River up to our knees. When rays of light came through crevices in the formations, I couldn’t help but be in awe. We signed up to take a ranger

There’s still so much to process from this past weekend. Pictures and comments exploded all over Facebook, Twitter and Instagram from IF:Gathering and IF:Locals.  There’s words to describe our feelings – ignite, faith, stones, marking your moment, freedom, breaking down walls, building bridges towards racial reconciliation, be bold and courageous and what is your step of faith? We’re made stronger.  We feel God’s Spirit in us.  We feel more united and ready take on a personal

#Grace #See

As you can see, I decided to come back.  Back in June I was all done. Whatever that meant at the time.  I really didn’t know exactly what that meant, but I did know I needed some spiritual whitespace and rest.  So I did. I’m so glad I did. This past spring I guess I did myself in.  It wasn’t until I was in too deep to realize I had agreed to do too many things.  Why is that so easy to do?   I felt overwhelmed by the feeling of being overwhelmed.  It was overwhelming because t