Friend, if I could sit across from you, I would hold your hand and tell you…maybe you lost the battle and didn’t get the healing, the miracle, the child, the relationship, the dream job…you fill in the blank…on this earth. But maybe you aren’t defeated after all…

My hand rests on my friend’s knee as I kneel in front of her. I’m choking back tears listening to the prayers of the ladies around me. I’m afraid to chime in and pray too, because I won’t be able to stop the floodgate that’s about to unleash from my empathetic heart…

What if there is a “magic shield” to protect us from the effects of sin that we face on earth? What if in our spiritual battles we can kneel, put up our shields, and be guarded from the sin struggle, depression, anxiety, shame…you name it?

The Bible has graciously given us a clear, specific “magic shield" to fight our spiritual battles…

We all understand grief and suffering. But have we all found the source of comfort and hope? It's in a Person, and His name is Emmanuel, God with us.

Brett and I understand grief and suffering from losing our two sons. Yet, we also experienced the presence of Emmanuel like never before in the midst of the pain.

This holiday season, I encourage you to see the new thing God is doing in your life. He came to this earth to make a way and a stream for you by suffering through the wilderness and wasteland. Look for Him, and you will see a new thing spring up.

While many are obsessing over all things pumpkin spice or debating if it’s too early to put up their Christmas tree, I have a different emotional response this time of year. I can never look at a fall leaf the same. Both of my sons, Seth and Roi, were due to be born in the fall. And the Lord spoke to me through the process of leaves dying. Here is a chapter excerpt from my book, Living Hope…

I’m tired of hearing people boohooing over our secular media; yet they still pay with their pocketbook and don’t support the alternative. This weekend is your chance to bring your family and friends to watch a film that shares the hope of Jesus Christ.

Sometimes, my faith looks like this.

Broken. Right in the middle. Torn between belief and unbelief.