by Emily | May 20, 2016 | Freedom, Love, Pain, Prayer
[After a long hiatus due to significant life events, we are finally back to unpacking the beautiful example of prayer given by Jesus. Thanks for your patience!] Forgiveness is a topic that can strike a raw nerve in many hearts. Several years ago I co-authored a... by Emily | Aug 7, 2015 | Anxiety, Kingdom of Heaven, Prayer
Jesus started His “sample” prayer with centering on God, both in His holiness and His grace to accept us as children. He then shifts to the practical, where we often find at the forefront of our thoughts. The God of Provision Jesus continued (Matthew 6:11): “Give us... by Emily | Jul 23, 2015 | Glory, Kingdom of Heaven, Love, Pain
The day I arrived in the city two bombs went off, one by a restaurant and the other by a mosque; over 40 people were killed. It did nothing to deter the training of “frontline workers” whose ministry was in thick of persecution and unrest; in fact, it was barely... by Emily | May 22, 2015 | Kingdom of Heaven, Prayer
There are a wide range of prayerful traditions, and a great deal of value in everything including liturgy, psalms, intercession, and so much more. Having seen God at work in many difference prayerful contexts, I find it hard to say the there is a “best” way to pray.... by Emily | Apr 26, 2015 | Anxiety, Freedom, Prayer
“Wait for the LORD; be strong, take heart, and wait for the LORD.” (Psalm 27:14) After finishing my year overseas working at a counseling center for missionaries, I arrived in the USA with very little idea of what lay ahead, but a wide variety of options... by Emily | Jan 4, 2015 | Glory, Kingdom of Heaven, Love, Pain, Prayer, The Beatitudes
It was the morning of Good Friday, almost 2000 years after Jesus was on trial. My father and other organization members had gone to the courthouse. I lived with my family in Central Asia, and for months our whole team had faced investigation from the government, court... by Emily | Dec 12, 2014 | Glory, Kingdom of Heaven
Over the years I have witnessed and participated in a variety of Christmas pageants (I made a good furry sheep) and have seen plenty of Nativity crèches, from tiny wooden ornaments to “live” representations. I largely accepted the scenes as moderately... by Emily | Dec 6, 2014 | Freedom, Kingdom of Heaven, Love, Prayer, The Beatitudes
When I look at the news headlines, I almost always see accounts of discord and power struggles, which catch our attention because of our aversion to pain and conflict. The global history of wars speaks of the human tendency to seek power, yet there remains a deep... by Emily | Nov 27, 2014 | Freedom, Love, Prayer
There is something special about Thanksgiving: It is a holiday reminding us of something to do, not only on one day but throughout the year. It is like other holidays in that it is based on the remembrance of an earlier event, but the name itself is based on an... by Emily | Nov 14, 2014 | Glory, Kingdom of Heaven, Pain, Prayer, The Beatitudes
When reading the Beatitudes, the descriptions of those being blessed often seem lofty (I know my focus is not always on righteousness) or unpalatable (whose goal is it to be meek and mourning?). We all know that no one is perfect, so the next statement appears out of...
