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· July 10, 2020

Oxygen

My first published fiction piece, a flash story entitled Oxygen, is forthcoming from The Sunlight Press in 2020.

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I think we can all agree we learn a lot about our

I think we can all agree we learn a lot about our world and ourselves when things get hard—that’s when we’re awakened to our unhealthy tendencies, our deepest longings, our greatest fears. And right now, things aren’t just hard. They’re also disjointed, uncertain, and isolating. That leaves us with a lot of solitude and a lot of time to come face-to-face with those tendencies, those longings, those fears.

Many of us tend to run away from the hard things. We shut down, we bottle it up, we close ourselves off and withdraw. I certainly have this tendency. During the month of June, I even stopped writing, because when you’re a writer who’s writing, there’s no way to run away from the hard stuff.

None of us likes to feel the weight of the hard things around us and in us, to let them seep in, to give them space to settle in and stay for a while. Instead, we pretend and we cover up and we busy ourselves and we act like everything is okay, even when it isn't.

So, here’s what I’m asking this month—what if, instead, we chose to stay in the hard things for a little while?
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This is just a little excerpt of what I shared this afternoon with my email subscribers. Each month I send out a short note of timely encouragement aimed at helping you seek healing and purpose in the month ahead. If you’d like me to add you to the list, DM me or comment below! 🎉

It’s been quite some time now since I’ve poste

It’s been quite some time now since I’ve posted here. A week of stepping back to listen to our brothers and sisters of color, to reflect, and to pray turned into a month of sabbath from writing in this space. I didn’t expect to be quiet here for the last month, but it was good for my soul. And if I practice what I preach, that means slowing down sometimes. It means cultivating space for breath, rest, growth, and reflection. It means not binding ourselves to harmful standards of perfection or productivity. It means taking the necessary time to heal.

Life has been hard lately, for a number of reasons. And I’ve been learning to sit in it and lament—not to run from the hard—but also to look around outside of it, to see the sweetness life still offers. It’s a slow journey, and it always will be. But I’m glad to be back here, sharing what I’m gleaning and what I’m writing—though it might not be quite so often for a little while. And that’s okay. ❤️

Lord, help us. Help us when we don’t have the ri

Lord, help us. Help us when we don’t have the right words to say, but when we know we can’t stay silent. Help us listen. Help us discern. Help us humble ourselves. Help us learn.

Lord, hear us. Hear the cries of our brothers and sisters of color. Hear their shouts. Hear their fears. Hear their prayers. Hear their tears.

Lord, heal us. Heal this injustice. Heal our transgressions. Heal this brokenness. Heal this oppression.

We may not know the right things to say, but some words are better than no words. May we repent, may we listen to our fellow image bearers, may we see their pain, may we humbly learn from them, and may we begin to do something about it.

Mornings are so important. In many ways, how we st

Mornings are so important. In many ways, how we start the morning sets the tone for our entire day.

If we let ourselves be irritable and dread the tasks ahead, our attitude will probably stay sour as the day goes on. If we’re frazzled and rush through those morning moments to get working as fast as possible, we’ll likely maintain that posture of stress and hurry through much of the day. If we skip the things that matter most to us (whether that’s prayer, meditation, or exercise), we’ll probably keep on cutting corners. If we try to drown out our exhaustion with coffee or skip a nourishing meal, we’ll keep running on empty.

Little things add up. And being faithful with the small ways we can take better care of our bodies and souls could be life-changing.

Every day we wake is a clean slate—another beautiful morning that brings new mercy. That being said, it’s okay when they don’t go as planned. It’s okay to let our weary bodies sleep in later than we wanted. It’s okay if we don’t have the perfect morning routine—I certainly don’t.

But let’s remember that every small choice we make in the morning holds power through the rest of our day—and in the wise words of Annie Dillard, “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” ☀️

This post is a little late thanks to a very full f

This post is a little late thanks to a very full few days, but this past weekend was my wonderful husband’s birthday, and I couldn’t let that go by without expressing my thanks for him.

He’s the most loyal person I know.

He’s goofy and generous and hard working and has a servant’s heart.

He is the hands and feet of Jesus to me. He champions and supports my healing every single day—whether that’s by pointing me back to God on the hard days, celebrating every little victory, or helping wash an insane amount of vegetables and keep the house clean.

Find yourself someone like him and you’ll always have your best friend by your side in this journey of life & faith & healing. Its joys will be ever brighter, and its valleys won’t be quite so difficult to bear.

Happy birthday, my love. You make me a better person every day ❤️

I may search the earth and all the skies, but Lord

I may search the earth and all the skies, but Lord, my soul finds rest in You alone.

Truly my soul finds rest in God.
My salvation comes from Him.
Truly He is my rock and my salvation.
He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

May you hold loosely this weary world and find rest in Him tonight. ❤️

Today, do one small thing to restore your soul. F

Today, do one small thing to restore your soul.

For you, that might look like trying a new recipe without worrying about how it turns out. That might look like playing music through your afternoon or closing a handful of tabs on your browser. It might mean putting your tasks aside and diving into the Word with no schedule and no expectations. It might mean cleaning the bathroom or writing someone a letter or taking a walk in the sun. It might even look like taking a walk in the rain.

What’s your one small thing today? Comment below and let me know ☀️

Today, remember not to take yourself too seriously

Today, remember not to take yourself too seriously. Take a moment to laugh. Take a moment to dance in the kitchen like no one’s watching. Take a moment to cultivate the innocence & wonder of a child.

This morning I made shapes with my breakfast, but that’s exactly what I needed. To take a breath, to laugh, and to remind myself to tread lightly through this day.

Remember that no matter how much you need to get done, there will always be more to do.

Remember that God cares for the sparrows, and He’ll care for you too.

Let yourself take that breath today. Then smile. Then look up, and remember.

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