I love stories! I love telling them, but more often I love hearing them. I have random stories that like to pop up in conversation, then I have the stories that are a bit deeper and are more likely to share when I am asked. Stories of the places I have been in the world … Continue reading stories
God
prayer
“Stephanie, where do I go to pray for you today? I’m sitting at my table, coffee in my right hand and my Bible in my left.” It’s not every day that you get emails that start with those words…so many emotions in those simple words. The reality that someone cares enough to intentionally sit down … Continue reading prayer
justice
It is impossible to read the Bible and not see that justice is a theme from start to finish. It is even in the birth of Jesus. Was it fair his parents had to travel? Was it fair that he was born in a barn? Was it fair Herod wanted the baby dead, so he … Continue reading justice
hope
Hope is a strange thing, and a lot of times we find it in strange places. Last summer there was this star I noticed that was tracking with the moon for several nights. It was the brightest star in the sky, and the first to show up at night. For whatever reason, it has been … Continue reading hope
delight
Delightful. I have been trying to use this word more often. Mostly because I get stuck on words, and start annoying myself when I use it often. I started over-using ‘beautiful’ to describe things, and now every time I say it I cringe inwardly. I was stuck on ‘stellar’ once. Now it only appears every … Continue reading delight
ready
Just when I think I am ready for something...I quickly discover I am not, which is why I choose to live with flexibility that helps me adapt surrounded by others that believe in me and what God is doing within me. But what makes us ready for what this world throws at us? Is it … Continue reading ready
tears
Jesus wept.Tears. Just to double check I looked it up in the Hebrew dictionary…yep, actual tears. *Geek alert - maybe I should have led with that.*Also, shortest verse in the Bible. Mind blown? Good.And ironically (or not) it is found in the Gospel of John, which is the Gospel that has the most sent language … Continue reading tears
reasons
It’s too expensive. It takes too long to get there. You have to use translators. The money would be better spent on helping orphans than sending you to travel there for a week. You name it, I’ve heard it regarding the reasons NOT to travel to Russia, and spend time with our kids over the … Continue reading reasons
layers
Above me is a ceiling made out of a quilted patchwork of multi-colored tarps held together by a myriad of wires, ropes and thanks to some wacky Americans…zip ties. It holds so much beauty in its own right, but then add to it a Holy purpose and all of a sudden it is transformed into … Continue reading layers
simplicity
Every time I get back from a mission trip, I wonder how I look to other people. Sun scorched? More freckles? What do they see in my eyes? Am I more serious? Do I laugh more? Less? Do they mistake my ‘tired’ appearance for the real struggle of transitioning back to the selfish culture we … Continue reading simplicity
sojourner4jesus 