My sleepy eyes popped open with a start and a grimace. “What in the world was that pain?” A couple hours later, I added another question my worries, “why isn’t the pain going away?” I looked at the clock. The doctor’s office wouldn’t be open for hours, yet. Just wait a little longer, I reasoned. Maybe this will […]
How Jesus Helps Us Face Rejection
During the years I studied musical theatre, I repeatedly heard this warning from my instructors: “It’s a tough business out there. Get ready for rejection.” And they weren’t kidding. For every show I was cast in, there were a half-dozen shows I didn’t even get a callback for—and I wasn’t alone in this. Far more talented […]
What is Your Redemption Story?
My grandmother came to know the Lord in her thirties and, much like a child at bedtime, I never tire of hearing the story. When she speaks of how Jesus saved her and changed her life, this already beautiful woman lights up with wonder—and I walk away wanting more of what she has. I think, “I […]
A Harvest of Beautiful Things
We stared at the dirt and saw the possibilities. “You can plant anything here you want!” my mother said, motioning to an empty corner of the yard. “This is your garden.” I knew immediately what I wanted and soon the space was dotted with tiny daisy plants, just beginning to bud. I remember thinking, “this is going […]
Worship that Moves God’s Heart
“Pause right there,” my voice teacher interrupted me mid-verse. “Do you know what you’re singing, Paige?” It was the third time she’d stopped to quiz me on the song—and we weren’t even to the first chorus, yet. “I do,” I replied tightly, willing her with every non-verbal cue I could muster to “just let me […]
When Our Strength Feels Rickety
When I was little, my family would visit an old-timey seafood restaurant every time we went to the beach. It had aquariums of exotic fish in the lobby and yummy popcorn shrimp on the kid’s menu, but my favorite part was that it boasted its very own alligator, named George. George lived in the lake […]