A Life of Gratitude

As I listened to my pastor talk about King David and Bathsheba’s story, a question rose up in me that I couldn’t shake: Was Bathsheba just collateral damage in King David's story? In 2 Samuel, David saw Bathsheba bathing from his rooftop and summoned her. She was taken by a king who held all the power and ended up pregnant. David tried to cover it up by bringing her husband, Uriah, home from battle. When that didn’t work, he arranged for Uriah to be killed. After Uriah’s death, David took Bathsheba as his wife, and their first child died as a consequence of David’s sin. The weight of David’s sin fell squarely on Bathsheba's life.  The Bible doesn't sanitize the fallout of sin. Instead, it exposes the deep impact sinful choices have on others. Bathsheba was used, her husband was killed, she was forced to marry the king, and on top of it all, she lost her child, all because of choices she didn’t make.  The Bible never blames her. It never even hints that she was at fault. Ins...

2025 was quite the year. Not tidy. Not simple. Not linear. It’s the kind of year that feels like three lifetimes stacked on top of each other. There was suffering, joy, exhaustion, miracles, growth, and God’s fingerprints everywhere. 2025, stretched me in ways I never imagined. It was a year that held both the deepest valleys and the most breathtaking mountaintops. This year my 11-year-old son was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, and we came terrifyingly close to losing him. One moment I was lying in bed when I heard God tell me to take him to the hospital, and an hour later we were in a hospital room fighting for his life. The beeping monitors, the fear, the helplessness… those memories still sit close to the surface. We spent a week in the hospital with him, learning a new language of numbers, needles, and nonstop vigilance. And then, unbelievably, I spent another week in the hospital myself when my body rejected my new stimulator battery, sending me into emergency surgery. Tw...

Hebrews 5:8-9 (NLT) says,  "Even though Jesus was God’s Son, H e learned obedience from the things He suffered. In  this way, God qualified Him as a perfect High Priest, and He became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey Him."  During my quiet time recently, I came across a passage that I've read many times, but  I as I read this time, I realized I had never noticed the power written in these words. The Passion Translation words it this way, " But even though He was a wonderful Son, He  learned to listen and  obey through all his sufferings.  And after being proven perfect in this way He has now become the source of eternal salvation to all those who listen to Him and obey." The Greek word for obedience is "hupakoe." It means to "listen to for the knock on the door" or "pay attention." So, this verse explains that the many ways Jesus suffered while He walked on the earth, were lessons of listening to and obeying Go...

It seems like just yesterday we were praying over the decision to homeschool our children. It didn't make a lot of sense in many ways, but we were obedient and said we would simply take it year by year. Here we are, twelve years later, all the curriculum has been completed, the requirements have been fulfilled, and today the boy who made me a homeschool mom will walk the stage in his cap and gown.  I know this milestone is difficult and complex for every parent, but I think it may hit a little differently for a homeschool mom. These years have been a journey of learning, growth, and connection for us both. I taught him to read, guided him through lessons tailored to his interests, and took him on every field trip to make learning hands-on. We've spent every day together as I did my best to nurture his confidence, correct his mistakes, and ensure he had the social experiences he needed. It hasn't been easy, but it has been so rewarding. Homeschooling has shaped both of us in...

"Then Moses told them, “Do not keep any of it until morning.” But some of them didn’t listen and kept some of it until morning. But by then it was full of maggots and had a terrible smell. Moses was very angry with them." Exodus 16:19-20 (NLT) I'm always amazed when reading the story of the Israelites being rescued from slavery in Egypt. God showed up in the most incredible ways for His people! Exodus chapter 15 begins with a song of praise to God for the deliverance He provided, but by the end of the chapter, the Israelites were already complaining. Can you believe it?  I think we are all like those Israelites to some degree. We witness God do incredible things for us and those around us, but then as soon as a problem arises or we become uncomfortable, we begin to doubt and complain, revealing our lack of trust in God. After much complaining, God provided fresh water, quail, and manna, which was a flaky substance that blanketed the ground each morning (Exodus 15:22-Exodu...

The names Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego typically go hand-in-hand with the image of a fiery furnace. However, I recently noticed a significant story about these men that I had never paid attention to before.  In Daniel 2 King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that he desperately wanted someone to explain to him. He called the astrologers, sorcerers, magicians, and enchanters but none of them could help him. The king was so angry, he ordered that every wise man in Babylon be killed. Because of this order, soldiers were sent to kill Daniel and his friends because they were known to be wise. Daniel handled the situation with composure and calmness, requesting that the king give him the opportunity to explain the meaning of the dream. The king allowed it. Daniel 2:17-19 (NIV) says, " Then Daniel went home and told his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah what had happened.   He urged them to ask the God of heaven to show them His mercy by telling them the secret, so they would not be...