The other day I was listening to a podcast promoting a new (Christian) movie. The host and director were talking about what made any music or movie stand out and move your mind and emotions. Their final conclusion was that…
Tender Words of Love
We talked last week about how God speaks tenderly to us in the wilderness (Hosea 2:14). When He speaks to us, it heals the scars on our hearts; it renews and revives us. One of the things that I’ve discovered…
Tender Words in the Wilderness
There is an incredible verse in Hosea. He says, with God speaking, “Therefore, behold, I will allure her and bring her into the wilderness, I will speak tenderly to her and to her heart.” (Hosea 2:14) I wonder sometimes when…
Grace and Hope
We’ve been talking the last couple weeks about extending grace to others and calling them higher rather than trying to mold those people and situations to fit our expectations. A MeWe friend commented, “We live in hope, not expectation.…
Giving Grace and Calling Higher
Last week we talked about how giving grace to the people and situations around us can have untold benefits: benefits of peace in our own hearts, benefits of allowing people grow into the reality that God has for them.…
Expectation, Reality, and Disappointment
There are a few national parks that have been a disappointment to me. To others, they are the best-of-the-best, but I found them a disappointment. The problem was that I was looking for something else in them – I wasn’t…
Delight in the Wilderness
I read a beautiful quote about the wilderness the other day. The author said, When God created the earth, He put so many delightful things in it because He stocked it from heaven. Right? So He’s filled the earth…
Seasons and Faithfulness
In the beginning of the world, God set out time. He created seasons to mark time and to prove His faithfulness through the years. “And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to…
Preparedness is Key
It is absolutely vital to be prepared when we go out into the wilderness. Some parks require specific tools and preparation – for example, a shovel and a bucket; or to carry a certain amount of water per person; or…
Awe and Humility
Last week, I wrote about how the wilderness leaves us in awe – a sense of reverential fear at something bigger than ourselves. I finished by saying, “We’re not afraid of a mountain view, but it humbles us and…