The Census
For years, I have been a part of the leadership/writing team here at Whispers & Fringes. Every week I pray, read, study and then write as the Lord leads. But every so often, as I hit the submit key, I hear the voice of the enemy. ‘Is anyone even going to read what you just wrote? Do you really believe you are making a difference?’ I look around for affirmation, but nada….just the sound of crickets. Perhaps you can relate. You know God has given you a message for His people, but all too often, you hear that same voice,
You Can Be Different
Do you feel like your background limits you from the potential God has for you? Maybe you had a parent that was an alcoholic, or divorced, or struggled with bitterness and anger? It’s hard to believe that your life will end up any different from theirs. But it doesn’t have to be. In the scripture we read about a man named Korah. Korah lead a rebellion against Moses and Aaron by planting doubts in the people’s minds of whether they were really chosen by God to lead Israel. The interesting thing is that Korah had already been given a
Greater Joy
If you have lived life long enough, you have probably experienced deep sadness. I know I have. A diagnosis, a betrayal… whatever the cause, you are left engulfed and overwhelmed with sorrow...so much so, you can hardly move. You are not alone. Theologians believe Psalm 3 & 4 were written during one of the darkest seasons of King David’s life. It was a time when his son, Absalom, attempted to steal the kingdom from his hands. Once David was informed of his son’s plot, David gathered his men and fled. 2 Samuel 15:30 tells us, "But David continued up the
He Leadeth Me
There is a lot about the Israelites journey through the wilderness that sounds difficult but knowing which way to go wasn’t one of them. A cloud by day...a pillar of fire by night. I wouldn’t mind that for my life too. When I was in my mid 20’s, I remember being confused about some major life choices, including marriage. I talked it over with the young adult pastor at my church and he said something that has always stuck with me… “Trust more in God’s ability to lead than your ability to follow.” Psalm 25:12 Who is the man who
What If?
Yesterday, I was talking to someone about some things they were worried about. Today, I had to follow my own advice. We all worry about different things...it depends on the season of life we are in or even the time of day. Worry can hit us at any time. The question is what do we do with that worry? In Steven Furtick’s book, “Crash the Chatterbox”, he shares his counselor’s most unlikely advice for worry. Ask yourself, “What if?”. What if the worst possible thing happened? Here’s the rest of that conversation: Pastor Steven: “I’d be devastated.” Counselor: “Right,
God Is In This
“They are letting people go.” Words you never want to hear at work. Hearing this cut our work family to the core. Confusion and concern hung in the air...who were they keeping and who would leave? We were suddenly thrust into a whirlwind of uncertainty. I remember being in this season of doubtfulness eight years ago when I was first looking for a job. I had just graduated and needed a stable place to work, and so the search started. I tidied up my resume, mailed it out to the masses, and waited. My husband and I prayed for the
My Refrigerator Doors
As I came in through the garage and entered my home, I could smell it right away. The cleaning crew had been there. (Now, please don't judge me. This is my one luxury that I afford myself. For a long time, I tried to keep up with cleaning my house and grew frustrated at the ever increasing imbalance of my free time and cleaning demands.) My home smelled delightfully clean and as I surveyed my kitchen, I almost squealed with delight to see how shiny everything was. I came in with an arm load of groceries and set them down.
You, Me & Mephibosheth
Since the day I said “I do,” I began to enjoy the benefits of my mother in law’s cooking. My visits to their home have felt more like a weekend getaway than a trip to the ‘in-laws.’ I enjoy waking up to the smell of my favorite Indian breakfast (pallapam and curry). After breakfast, the day usually consist of more eating, resting and then of course, even more eating. The more I eat, the more she cooks. In 2 Samuel 9, we read the story of Mephibosheth. If you don’t know his story, continue reading and you’ll know why I
A Mother’s Legacy
"Mom, how did you do it? Raising four kids with no guidebook to tell you what to do?" I was sitting at the kitchen table, and my mom and I were having some special time together. I was in my early 20's. I was about to graduate from college...that time in your life when you start to wonder about your future and appreciate the efforts of your parents in raising you. It really was quite daunting to consider it all. How did they do it? It was starting to hit me how much my mother had done for our family.
Confidently Confident
It’s one thing to have confidence. It’s another to have “foolish confidence”, as mentioned in Psalms 49:13. What’s the difference? Your first thought may be the people who make the blooper reel of the talent shows we watch on television. There is some truth to that but it can go much deeper than our ability to carry a tune. If we look ahead to the words of Jesus, He talks about the wise vs the foolish man. The wise man built his house on the rock; the foolish man built his house on the sand. Maybe you know how the
