When Jesus lived on earth, he never walked on eggshells around people, worried about upsetting them, clung to them for approval, or pushed to get them to do what they should. He was self-aware, secure, solid, purposeful, straightforward, loving. How did Jesus do this? How was he able to be so loving, even to difficult…
In a few months I’m going to be a “Papa!” Our daughter Jennie is pregnant with a baby girl! This is helping Kristi and me have a fresh and joyful celebration of the birth of Christ. The precious gift of a baby girl reminds me of Jesus’ free gift for you: God is your Abba…
If I could have anyone lead me on a spiritual retreat with Jesus it’d be Brennan Manning. I wish I could do that and invite you to join me, but he died in 2013. But we can imagine what it’d be like to have Brennan guide us on retreat. That’s what we’ll do in this…
“Play! Play!! Play!!!” that’s what our friend Papa Joe Johnson said to Kristi and I in our time of need. How do you play? When do you have fun? Do you know how to have fun with Jesus? This is an important question for your living and loving. Play rejuvenates us in the happy joy…
Our youngest child is eighteen years old and in college! Where did the years go? Here’s a journal entry I wrote eleven years ago when I was still “Daddy.” It reminds us that the primary way we experience God’s love, especially when we’re children, is through people. When I woke up this morning I saw…
When I was a girl I loved to float on a raft, soaking up the sunshine and resting on the water. I did this in our pool, but I especially loved to do it in the ocean where I could be immersed in the vastness of the sea and the sky and be carried along…
Recently I led a retreat for 18 pastors and their wives who serve at churches in Mexico. It was called, “Embrace Abba with Me.” I’d like to share with you one of our times of reflection and prayer on the father wound that proved to be powerfully healing for everyone. There were many tears, hugs,…
Here’s a renewing Scripture meditation on the most compelling story about God in the Bible — the greatest short story ever told anywhere — Jesus’ “Parable of the Prodigal Son” (Luke 15:11-32). The parable is misnamed – the real Prodigal in the story is God! Prodigal means “wasteful, lavish spendthrift.” Sure enough the son squanders his inheritance…
What burden is weighing you down? Is there a struggle or sin that’s caused you to fall? Let Jesus teach you how to fall into Abba’s arms of love. Bring your burden to Jesus as you watch and pray with him.
The hospitality of God to us is so beautifully expressed in Jesus’ Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32). But most of us struggle to experience the heart-warming love of Abba Father that Jesus offers in this story. Rembrandt’s famous 17th Century painting of Jesus’ parable, “The Return of the Prodigal,” is a great help. Linger with Rembrandt’s…