In this second story of my series on the power of the human spirit, I give you a young woman who had to face some very grown-up situations long before she was ready. To me, this story shows that no matter what we have done or what has happened to us, we can move forward and do something good with it. Our God is a God of second chances, of new beginnings, of transforming wounds into points of healing and redemption. I hope she can see that she is living this reality right now.

I've heard that the first time Keala Settle sang this song it made Hugh Jackman cry. I just saw this for the first time, and I understand why. The courage and strength Keala finds in singing this song are so incredibly powerful. When she steps out from her safety zone she completely opens up and she takes everyone's breath away. Did she have any idea? Do you?

In the last couple of months, I have heard stories that have inspired and awed me. Each one has shown me the sheer power of the human spirit and courage that comes in ways we don’t expect. Over the next three weeks, I will be sharing these stories with you, and I hope that you can find inspiration in them as I have. The first story came to me through our local high school’s student-run magazine. Even written anonymously, the courage and maturity of this young woman shine brig

Words are so powerful. A simple rephrasing can change the way we perceive a situation. Blessing to a curse, curse to a blessing. A friend of mine calls his much younger third child his Victory Lap. When we missed our train and had to stay in the city we had been visiting, we got a Bonus Day. Unplanned challenge? Unexpected opportunity. Unplanned pregnancy? Miracle to discover. Each approach yields very different results. May we all be able to see that God has something in sto

Today, we’re going to pray with a Psalm. I love this Psalm for so many reasons. As we swelter in these dog days of summer, I long for the shelter of God’s wings. As I wrestle with vacation plans or summer events gone awry, I remember to watch for God’s care even then. Read this Psalm slowly, and pay attention to any phrases, words or verses that stand out to you. Go back to those places and read them again. What is God saying to you? Take a moment. Rest in it. Psalm 91 You wh

I love how this song reminds us that we already know the end of the story. Our job is to be a part of the story so that our stories can be so much more than they would be without it.

I had a recent discussion with my children that left me stunned. I apparently have no idea what I am communicating when I text, and maybe even when I email! If you are older than a Millennial, you probably don’t know this either. If you are a Millennial or Gen Z, I’m here to tell you, although you probably already know, that we have no idea what we’re saying when we text you. It all started with a simple word. Sure or Sure. Did you see what I did there? If you are someone who

In a world full of self-help books, it’s easy to see that many of us are seeking peace. Peace in our families, peace in our communities, peace in our minds, and peace in our souls. It can be hard to find, and even if we find peace, it is easy to lose. As people of faith, though, we know that the greatest peace is found when we trust in God. We remind ourselves to place our trust in God and remember that it was God who created the universe, who knows every hair on our heads, a

I was just listening to “Rising Strong as a Spiritual Practice” by Brene Brown. At one point, she talks about processing those moments when you are “hooked” by emotion in a situation. There’s always a story behind the strong emotional response and it’s rarely a truthful one. She recommends writing it out. What is true, what is untrue, what is fear-based, and what is real? Fear can distort the truth or it can convince us that the truth is actually wrong. Fear Is a Liar. If you

I love these guys! They always have crazy stunts that bring them and everyone who watches such excitement and happiness. “The joy of the Lord is my strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10) Faith isn’t meant to be sad or burdensome. It’s filled with joy and excitement. Today I challenge you – do something a little crazy, a little challenging, and a lot of fun and let yourself be in the joy of the moment.