Did you know that I can’t control a pandemic’s impact on people’s desire to gather for church, a school’s failure to provide a healthy learning environment for students, or a foster system’s inability to provide options? You did. Hmmmm, I guess I missed the memo because I have lost a lot of shut eye over these items.
We often pray because we desperately want something to change. We pray the suffocating marriage in which each person feels desperately alone will change. We pray the diagnosis, the weather, our awful bosses, or our finances will change.
We know prayer changes things, so we pray and we pray. We just don’t know when, why, or how the change will take place.
God, take it all. Let your spirit come and move however you chose. Lead me. Use me. Fill me. Pour me out.
Amen.
If God is good, why is there so much pain in the world?
Pain leading to philosophical questioning is not new. Epicurus, the Greek Philosopher from around 341 B.C., is credited with saying:
“Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.
Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?”
Dear Church, Sunday was awesome! We had 76 people at the morning service and 20 at the discussion dinner. I am so excited about what God is doing. Recently there have been answered prayers, new connections, and moments of great encouragement. Don’t think I am the eternal optimist though. New churches are full of highs and lows, but God is […]
You guys are probably like, “Great, here she is again to talk about how reality and expectations haven’t lined up, how she is worn out, or something like that.”
Nope. Curveball. I’m breaking punctuation rules this time to share a WIN.
That’s right, even the disillusioned planter has a win from time to time. What do you think keeps me in it? It’s not my sheer willpower and awesomeness (sorry to disappoint if you thought it was).
I. am. so. tired.
In fact, I’m so tired that I just used my least favorite punctuation rule breaker. I hate when people put a period after each word. “I.” is not a sentence. I know we are being dramatic in our period usage, but it drives me insane. I hope this mini grammar rant helps you to fully grasp just how. tired. I. am.
Ashley Randleman, fellow Church planting lady, has become a dear friend and a great encouragement to me. She has listened to my insecurities and frustrations, prayed with me, and celebrated victories. One great joy has been watching her develop her writing. She has a beautiful and encouraging voice in her work. Check out this amazing post by her and then […]
I am weirdly at peace with my tiny church in a world that only celebrates the skinny jeaned booming success stories.
I am devastated. Okay, that might be a touch melodramatic, but I am seriously bummed. I applied for a job I really wanted, and I found out after work yesterday that I didn’t make it past the first round interview. Now I’m sitting here wondering what to do with myself. Do I lick my wounds, work three times harder to […]