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What a French Toddler Taught Me About Wonder

Are you Bored with Monotony?

When I lived aboard the Mercy Ships, I’ve mentioned before that my job wasn’t exactly thrilling. I washed dishes, sliced bread, mopped floors, and hauled food for 400 diners—day in and day out. The same tasks repeated themselves: meal by meal, day by day, week by week.

And if I’m honest? I was bored.

How a Skirt Got me into a Presidential Event

My wardrobe in Liberia was rather casual. Working twelve-hour shifts in a non-air-conditioned kitchen wasn’t exactly an occasion for formality. One glance at my stained and sweaty clothes said it all.

On an off-day, I wore one of the only skirts I’d brought with me and took a walk around the ship, enjoying the view of the harbor. That’s when I was approached by a Mercy Ships worker in a leadership role. She looked at me and said, “You’re dressed up. Come with me!”

She led me to the main meeting hall, which was packed. As I stepped inside, I realized I had stumbled into something significant. And that’s when I saw her.

This Fragile Life: Reflections on Liberia and the Cross

There’s a small compound on the coast of Liberia called ELWA—short for “Eternal Love Winning Africa.” Founded in the 1950s by missionaries with a vision to serve the medical and educational needs of Liberians, ELWA has become a symbol of both hope and resilience.

In 2014, ELWA Hospital found itself at the center of global attention during the Ebola outbreak.

Jesus, the Light of the World

Recently, I was walking around dusk. When I started, I could see a few things nearby—the path, a parked trailer, and three fawns. As night approached, the light around me faded, and I could see less and less. Eventually, I came upon a bench sitting under a very bright light. Suddenly, everything shifted.

Soak It All In

This is my favorite time of year. Spring brings with it a sense of anticipation as buds stand ready to burst open at any moment. It’s also the time of the most sacred week in our calendar.

How Do You Hear from God?

How do you hear from God? How do you make faithful and potentially life-changing decisions that honor God?

Nicky Gumbel, a British pastor and author of the Alpha Course, suggests that God speaks through five key avenues, which he refers to as the "Five CS's":

Ordinary Work, Extraordinary God

My work in Liberia was, in many ways, ordinary. It took me halfway across the world, from a cozy cubicle to a non-air-conditioned galley. It changed my tool from a computer to an industrial dishwasher, and it shifted my view from a city skyline to the West African coastline. It wasn’t glamorous. In fact, it was deeply humbling.

The Poison of Unforgiveness

I’ve read that our brains integrate memories with our senses, which helps explain why certain smells can trigger vivid recollections from our past. I imagine that our memories are stronger when we experience something through multiple senses. For example, seeing the ocean is beautiful, but it’s nothing compared to hearing its roar and feeling its waves. Similarly, it was a conversation about seeing (and hearing!) a cockroach that sparked a deep discussion.

Beyond the Realm of Ruin

This month, we’re exploring the question: Was Jesus a minimalist? Last week, we reflected on the parable of the rich man who valued his possessions more than God. While he was wealthy in material things, he was spiritually poor. Today, we dive into Matthew 6:19-21:

The Cancer of Sin and the Skill of a Surgeon

Twenty years ago, I spent six months in Liberia aboard a hospital ship (January-June 2005). While I was only there for half of a year, it remains one of the most impactful seasons of my life. Before I went, I was considering PhD programs in Neuroscience. After returning, I attended seminary and completed a Master's degree in Christian Thought. I credit my time in Liberia with this dramatic shift in focus.

Was Jesus a Minimalist?

Americans have accumulated more clutter over the last one hundred years. In 1930, the average woman only had 36 pieces of clothes in her closet. Today, the average consumer has 120 items of clothing, but 80% go unworn according to Cladwell.

Build Bigger Barns... Or Not

This month, we’re exploring the question: Was Jesus a minimalist? Specifically, we’re looking at his teachings on possessions, and today we dive into Luke 12:13-31:

Vulnerability and Courage

Today, I want to consider vulnerability and its intersection with courage. There is a powerful scene in the Bible at the beginning of the book of Joshua. Upon Moses’s death, Joshua was assigned the leadership of thousands of Israelites and commanded to enter the Promised Land...

The Vulnerable Profession

For almost 20 years, I’ve wanted to write a book. And still I haven’t. Yes, I’ve pursued additional education to help me in this endeavor. I’ve added almost 10 years of work experience to enrich my writing. And I’ve honed my message and identified my audience. And yet, I still have not actually finished the book. In fact, I’ve barely started...

My Temporary Home

In my 20s and 30s, I moved a lot. In fact, a friend jokingly told me that I had reached my quota of moves and he would no longer help with future moves. At one time, I moved from a house without...

A Case of Blues… and of Greens

In my early 30s, I unexpectedly lost my job. I have some hard memories from childhood about my dad's seasons of unemployment, so being unemployed as a single woman was...

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Lydia's book, One Single Focus, will encourage single women in their faith. Lydia also wrote a devotional that features five single women. Lydia designed this devotion plan to help women in their discipleship journeys. By signing up for Lydia's email list, you will receive this free devotional.

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