God
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Week 51: waiting
I’m familiar with waiting. I remember spending a 12 hour “layover” at a city train station in Mandalay, Myanmar many years ago, having already taken a 12 hour train ride on an “ordinary class” train, with a 14 hour train ride ahead of me to go further north. (“Ordinary class” trains had hard, uncomfortable, nearly Continue reading
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Week 50: more
I’ve heard it, I’ve prayed it: “More Lord, more God, we ask for more…” If we come to God wanting “more” and receive nothing–no inspiration, feeling, experience, emotion, change, result, or answer–it’s still worthwhile. God is still worth it. We do not “need” anything from God (hear me out here). We already have what we Continue reading
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Week 48: detachment
We are not in control, and must learn to surrender and let go of unhealthy desire and attachment. Insecurity and fear and perfectionism and resentment and worry and victimhood dominate us because of our constant need to control a situation or outcome. All we can do is make the best of what we have. Whatever Continue reading
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Week 45: new
Some days you just feel discombobulated. It’s one of those for me. Getting lost and turned around trying to find some place (even with GPS), angry and upset at the smallest things (like new scratches on my truck and no public showers in the whole state of NM due to COVID)—just a general feeling of Continue reading
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Week 39 / 40: deconstruction and reconstruction
Deconstruction has become something of a buzz word—and unfortunately a cliche—in the world of homegrown evangelical Christians. I’m not sure it’s the best word to use for the process many of us who grew up in the church are going through (or have gone or will go through). Personally, I’d like to use the word Continue reading
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Week 38: burdens
“Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Then come to me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis. Simply join your life with mine. Learn my ways and you’ll discover that I’m gentle, humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in me. For all that I require of you Continue reading
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Week 37: prayer
“Pray your hardest when it’s hardest to pray.” I saw this quote recently. And it rang true. I don’t know if I remember the last time I really prayed in this way (in the traditional sense at least). Sometimes I don’t know if I remember how, or ever even knew. It’s like I was always Continue reading
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Week 36: earth
There’s no quiet quite like this. The wind is the breath of God on my back, trying to speak what I can only hear here. It is so freeing to be lost; unaware of the noise. It’s only you and I and the earth. Nothing can take me from you here. To be alone is Continue reading
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Week 35: rest
“I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.” I do not rest as well or as often as I believe I do. Most “rest” is still activity in some way. Then there are the days we have no choice; we are forced to be still. When our bodies are weary and won’t Continue reading
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Week 33: the false/true worshiper (part 2)
Some of us may also be saying: “You know I’m not walking away from you. So what am I walking away from? Please, tell me.” He might respond in this way. “You are walking away from all the things that are associated with me, but are not me. The very things that may have once Continue reading
a kingdom built of seeds 