Behold the Lamb of God

December 8 I’m a no-Christmas-music-before-Thanksgiving stickler. But this year, I broke my own rule in October because Andrew Peterson released his first recorded album of Behold the Lamb of God. Behold the Lamb is a collaborative Christmas production that’s been in the works for twenty years. Every December, Christian artists join at the Ryman Auditorium … Continue reading Behold the Lamb of God

The Shepherd of all Shepherds

Christmas is closing in and I’ve been thinking about Jesus’s grandfathers: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, David. These were men with staffs in their hands and wool in their beards. Centuries before sheep and herdsmen welcomed Jesus into the world, shepherding personified Israel. Then came the age of kings and “shepherd” took on a new, royal … Continue reading The Shepherd of all Shepherds

10 Things I Love About My Church

Two months ago, a friend emailed me for advice on finding a solid church. I wanted to respond that I was the wrong person to ask. I’ve never “church hopped” or “church shopped.” I’ve never had to hunt down a healthy congregation. My Dad became a pastor in 2001, the year I was born. Not … Continue reading 10 Things I Love About My Church

“He Will Stand On the Dust”

September 1 You and I are corruptible beings because our great-grandpa swallowed the poison of curse. We’re banished to the dust we came from (Gen. 3:19). Our days are like grass ripped by the wind. God knows we’re perishable, rotting (Ps. 103:14-15). And yet. Grace acted, history shifted, and the Father took the Son from … Continue reading “He Will Stand On the Dust”

Hope for the Gentile (Like Me)

August 4 I tend to take my salvation for granted. And when I do stop to thank Jesus for his profound love and sacrifice, I still underestimate the gospel. How? By forgetting I’m a Gentile. I shouldn’t belong in Jesus’s family. I shouldn’t have access into this incredible mystery of divine grace. But I do. … Continue reading Hope for the Gentile (Like Me)

A Prayer for the Busy Person

May 5 May is by far the busiest month for our family. And this year, we’ve added some significant events to the calendar. I’m graduating high school, my sister (Leanna) is planning a wedding (!), and we’re headed West for a family trip. These are exciting times—busy times. My days are brimming with plans and … Continue reading A Prayer for the Busy Person

Easter Isn’t Over

April 28 My family ran out of time to watch an Easter movie last Sunday. So it wasn’t until Tuesday that we finished the film Risen. I’m glad we waited. I needed the reminder that Christ’s resurrection doesn’t end on Easter Sunday. In the liturgical year of Christianity, Eastertide lasts fifty days, beginning on Easter … Continue reading Easter Isn’t Over