Learning to Lean

Therefore I am now going to allure her … The invitation was unmistakable. The call to come away with him. He was wooing me. Pursing me. Calling me deeper. Calling me to follow him wherever he led … I will lead her into the wilderness … What? Didn’t I answer the call? Didn’t I leave everything … More Learning to Lean

Getting It

“Lord, I just don’t get it!”  It had been a bad week. A really bad week. There had been challenging circumstances, to be sure, but honestly it wasn’t that kind of bad week. It was a bad week between my ears. It was a bad week in my thoughts.  It was a bad week in my … More Getting It

Beautiful One

In case you haven’t noticed, there is a lot of ugliness in this world. It’s not hard to spot. Darkness lurks all around us, all the time. Hiding in the shadows–ready to pounce; ready to devour; ready to enshroud and ensnare souls with hopelessness. It would be easy to become overwhelmed by the darkness; by the ugliness.  But … More Beautiful One

Shhh …

Shhh … What do you hear? When the smartphone is put away.  When the computer is shut down.  When the television and the iPod are silent.  What do you hear? Do you hear him? Shhh … What do you hear? When the props are gone.  When the distractions fade. When everyone and everything else slips into the … More Shhh …

What I (Really) Need

I don’t need …       —another great sermon or a good book    —a divine appointment or an important connection    —a word of encouragement or exhortation I don’t need to visit  …    —a significant or sentimental place from the past    —an anointed conference    —a church or a prayer room I’m not looking for … More What I (Really) Need

His Reward

It was like a scene out of a fairytale. Finally, my prince had come.  But this was no ordinary prince, this was the Prince of Peace. Hand-in-hand we walked through a beautiful, lush garden, up to a magnificent arched entry.  Before we reached the ornate double doors, they opened before us.  With my trembling hand still … More His Reward

The Open Door

After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here …”  –Revelation 4:1  There is a door standing open in heaven. “Come up here!”  The invitation has been issued.  The way has been made.  … More The Open Door

His Eyes

Look at me. I wanted to. I needed to. But I couldn’t.  Instead, both my gaze and my heart remained downcast.  He persisted. Look at me. I tried, I really did.  But I couldn’t quite will myself to look up.  So I  did what I should have done much earlier that morning–I cried out to him. “Help me, … More His Eyes

My Soul Waits

I’ve been meditating on the “psalms of ascent” a lot lately (Psalms 120-134) – and these past few days in the prayer room at IHOP, I’ve particularly been parked on Psalms 130 and 131  –  especially Psalm 131:2 “But I have stilled and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother, like a … More My Soul Waits

Kisses of Grace

I don’t remember when I first used the expression “kisses of grace” but it has become a regular part of my vocabulary.  Even better, His “kisses” have become a regular part of my life! This past weekend was especially filled with sweet kisses. I was away at a retreat in a place that held a lot … More Kisses of Grace