As an architect, I loved this one-on-one chat with my clients, especially the lady of the house. But where the house was built and how strong it was to weather the storms were important. Ranjit who designs structures to weather earthquakes tells me that a house built on the rock would even withstand earthquakes as it could the storms!
Read MoreThough many Christian women would rightly push away feminism, Courtney Reissig believes that despite this, many women have embraced aspects of feminism unknowingly as our culture subtly influences us. The book’s introduction presents this, revealing ways Christian women may have become accidental feminists and giving a brief but important history of the feminist movements. The following chapters are packed with theology and practical advice for living out our roles as women. While rich in depth, readers will still find the book approachable.
Read MoreOne of the most underutilized descriptions of Jesus in the American church today is that of Jesus as the truth, I think. We tend to focus on Jesus as the only way to God, and as the Life, considering how Jesus has given us abundant life. Whether it is out of ignorance or willful blindness, I cannot say. But being that truth is connected to love, such that love rejoices in the truth (1 Corinthians 13:6), we must consider this relationship and see what it reveals about the love of God.
Read MoreWhen I decided to write about ‘giving’ I wrote down all the verses I I could find in the Bible about the topic. From them I learnt that we could give of our money, our time and what we no longer need or use. Jesus talks of the importance of giving and a lifestyle of generosity.
Read MoreImagine for a moment, two women, both of similar socioeconomic backgrounds and both unexpectedly pregnant. Today is a scary, life-altering day for them. At 24 weeks of pregnancy, both mothers learned of their baby’s gender four weeks ago, and could have heard their baby’s heart beating 18 weeks ago. The women and babies will undergo procedures performed today by physicians who took the Hippocratic oath to “do no harm.”
Read MoreHuddled around the piano we sang- Ranjan and Meshak on guitars, Mike on the piano and me bursting forth in praise! And the piano knew that we would find every excuse to sing to God the Father!
Read MoreI recently had a friend share that she has been reflecting on what it means to “redeem the time” as is described in Ephesians 5:16. Time is precious, especially in a world consumed by busyness. As believers, we are called to live differently. Our lives are to look differently. So what does it mean to make best use of the time?
Read MoreThere's a certain beauty in God's love, which I, yes, do love. Consider the picture of marriage, which is the physical counterpart of the relationship God has with His bride, the church.
Read MoreWe do a variety of things to try to be accepted by others. Whether it’s exercising so we can fit in with the cheerleaders, reading popular books to have something to talk about with nerds (like me!), or wearing new kicks and clothes to ingratiate ourselves with fashionistas, we all have a desire to fit in. To belong.
Read MoreSomewhere between playing cars and cowboys, a lot of boys learn that showing emotion is a sign of weakness. Whether it’s through upbringing or society’s pressures, they learn they need to be strong for the girls. I think this mentality slows them down. Guys need to forget this way of thinking.
Read MoreI have a confession to make: I am a perfectionist. Not a minor perfectionist either, liking things done well and making deadlines on time. I am the kind of person who literally does not know when to stop, because things could always be better. I could always be better. Do more. Get more done in a day.
Read MoreThis chorus to the song “Lamb of God,” by Vertical Worship encapsulates beautifully just what Christ did in dying for our sins on our behalf. In connection with this passage, it serves as a reminder that Christ’s death was a gift. For us.
Read MoreI was asked to review Grace Valentine’s book “What Will They Think? Nine Women in the Bible who can help you live your life boldly”. This book was amazing and Grace was so talented. If you’ve read my reviews before, you know I can be incredibly picky about books - especially books that fall into the psychology and self - help category.
Read MoreYou have finished the laundry; the cooking is done and you are enjoying your coffee time as you look at your little ones playing. ‘Is this where I am supposed to be right now?’, you wonder as you massage your tired hands. ‘Or should I be at work, using all my degrees to bring in money to the family? That may make it easy for us to buy a home and maybe have another car too.’ You ask yourself. ‘Does God want me to start a business or take up this job offer?’
Read MoreI’ve recently celebrated my 40th birthday with an international travel-themed party. In decorating the cake, a friend and I created icing cut-outs of famous landmarks, using embossed cookie cutters. We didn’t want family and friends to look at the cake, and ponder, ‘What have they done here?’, but rather to readily identify the icons we’d represented.
Read MoreImagine yourself in a courtroom where you are being judged – perhaps by God (yes, I am aware that no one has seen God at any time; just imagine the context of the scene). You know that you are guilty of disobeying the law – again. You know there is no hope for you, and shame and fear fill your insides as you contemplate the just punishment that awaits. Maybe this is something you know is wrong, but keep doing despite your desire to do the right thing (Romans 7:15-17).
Read MoreI remember the special words my sister said to me before walking outside for the ceremony. I remember crying with joy as my new husband and I came walking down the aisle. I will forever remember the sweet few moments my husband shared right after the ceremony alone just having been proclaimed husband and wife. Mostly I think of God’s faithfulness to me my entire life, including that glorious day when I got to marry the best man in the world.
Read MoreThough intimidated, I admired her spirit and generosity. So we left our door open. As girls walked by to go to dinner, they would invite us to come, too. When they came back from their evening classes they would come into our room to talk. I remember one night perched on my bed, stunned by the number of girls that could fit into our tiny room. They sat on our desk chairs, and our beds, and spilled onto the floor. All because of an open door and my roommate’s welcoming smile.
Read MoreIn Acts 8:26-40, we see that an angel of the Lord told Philip to go south along the road that went from Jerusalem to Gaza, to a deserted place. Philip obeys and encounters a prestigious Ethiopian official, a eunuch who had charged all over the Kandake’s (Candace in Latin) treasury and was returning to Jerusalem. Ethiopian doesn’t necessarily refer to the modern country of Ethiopia; the Greeks used the term to refer to all of Africa south of Egypt (likely similar to Sub-Saharan Africa today). In this case, this eunuch came from the kingdom of Kush - we know that from the word Candace, transliterated from the title Kandake, which the Kushites used as their term for the queen.
Read More
