by Emily | Apr 2, 2020 | Anxiety, Freedom, Pain, Prayer, Trauma
Recently, my husband and I took a hike near Joshua Tree National Park, intentionally staying away from the popular trails to make “social distancing” easier. Indeed, we encountered no one else along the way, and felt safe from any COVID-19 contamination. The downside... by Emily | Mar 21, 2020 | Anxiety, Freedom, Love, Pain, Prayer, Trauma
Over the last two months our perception of COVID-19 has been constantly changing, and with it, our internal and external reactions. When mostly isolated in China, it was something foreign, distant, and therefore not very threatening. But as its territory gradually...
by Emily | Feb 7, 2020 | Anxiety, Freedom, Love, Pain, Persecution, Trauma
PART 2 (Read Part 1 here) As discussed in Part 1, trauma is very real and has been throughout history. We are equipped for survival in the present, but once the danger is past, it is not always easy to move forward “as usual.” Yet, we read of Paul’s accounts of being...
by Emily | Jan 30, 2020 | Anxiety, Love, Pain, Persecution, Trauma
I recently returned from Nigeria, where we work with many who have a heart to help the hurting. They usually relate to the suffering from their own experiences of pain, fear, loss, and sorrow. Some saw their villages attacked, churches burnt to the ground, and family...
by Emily | Aug 20, 2019 | Kingdom of Heaven, Love, Serving
(Click Part 1 or Part 2 for the first two posts.) Leaders are influential not only through instruction of others, but by the example they set. One of the challenges of being in a position of authority is that every word and action is more carefully observed. As a... by Emily | Aug 12, 2019 | Kingdom of Heaven, Pain, Serving
(To read the intro, click Humble Leadership, Part 1) When we think of influential people, rarely do we get a picture of someone asking for help. From the perspective of the audience, a powerful speaker may seem to have everything under control, to be fully in charge,...
by Emily | Aug 5, 2019 | Kingdom of Heaven, Love, Serving
The Exhausted Pastor Michael was a pastor of a large congregation, who had seen God work in many ways. One day, another pastor, James, whom he’d known for several years came to visit. He heard the stories of all God had been doing and was very impressed, praising God...
by Emily | Jan 26, 2019 | Anxiety, Freedom, Love, Prayer, Serving
The trail started out very clearly trodden, even though blanketed with a recent layer of leaves. Every so often a white, spray-painted mark on a tree would confirm that we were still on track, even after climbing over tree trunks that lay across the path and sloshing...
by Emily | Dec 23, 2018 | Love, Pain
It was the second week of December, with the weather in northern California cool enough to warrant a hat and coat when standing outside, conversing with those who walked toward our door. Most were attracted by the sign that offered restrooms, coffee, and a listening...
by Emily | Nov 22, 2018 | Thanksgiving
