Step Into Significance

The first time I remember doing laundry for myself, I was a sophomore in college (I know it sounds crazy, but I was the baby of my family!) I was shocked when I pulled out my once-white socks, t-shirts, and underwear and realized they had turned pink! Since I was a broke college student, I […]

In traditional Jewish culture, a beautiful part of the wedding ceremony is the Hora—a dance symbolizing honor and unity. I love watching the wedding party lift the bride and groom in chairs as they dance around the room, celebrating the couple’s new life together. Every time I watch this dance, I’m reminded of the vital […]

When I was a senior in high school, my co-captain of our varsity basketball team won Mr. Pittsburgh—an area-wide strong-man competition. It was a big deal, so I invited him out along with two of our girl friends to celebrate, on me. I thought first we’d go bowling, and then possibly go out to eat […]

All over the world, Christmas celebrations are coming to a close. The trees are being taken down, extended families are returning home, and leftovers are disappearing as we shift our focus to the New Year and our deepest hopes for it. If you’re like me, you have written goals down. You know what you’d like […]

Turn your eyes upon Jesus Look full in His wonderful face And the things of earth will grow strangely dim In the light of His glory and grace The first time I heard these lyrics sung, I was a young Christian. I so desperately wanted to believe what I’d been learning—that God would fulfill His […]

The holiday season can be a magical time, as many of us gather with our families, eat good food, and exchange gifts to celebrate our Savior’s birth. But for some of us, the holidays also bring other, tougher emotions.  In 2018, one study reported that 88 percent of Americans felt stressed during the holidays. Though […]

I love nativity scenes. They’re one of my favorite Christmas traditions for several reasons, but one of the main reasons is that they cause me to think of the various perspectives of the characters represented.  For example, I often think of Joseph. I imagine how he likely felt both awe and trepidation as he considered […]

John Bunyan, a Puritan preacher in the 17th century, became known for standing for truth. The government punished him by throwing him into prison, leaving his wife and six children at home, unprovided for. In his distress, Bunyan sought God, and God responded. He told him to write. Although Bunyan only had a third-grade education, […]

A pastor friend once told me a story, and it has stuck with me ever since. When he was a teenager living on the east coast, he sinned in a way that caused him deep shame.  One day, he took a walk on the beach and sat on the shore. He felt so overcome with […]

In 1977, my high school basketball team raised money by playing donkey basketball. If you aren’t familiar with the concept, donkey basketball is exactly what it sounds like. You play basketball on a donkey. To this day, trying to coerce that donkey to take me toward the right goal was one of my most frustrating […]