CAREFULLY CARELESS

I've never stopped to ponder what the wife of the infamous Ark-builder was actually like. Strangely though, she has recently become a comfortable companion for me-- a friend, whom I can warmly sit and relate to her story. As a boy mom, we both know the pangs of being punched, bruised, and yelled at in the names of love and hate. She welcomed three daughters in-law, into the family. (I'm sure she could shed a lot of wisdom I have yet to obtain.) I on the other hand welcomed a

"Abandonment means refusing yourself the luxury of asking questions, The moment you truly abandon yourself to God, you no longer worry about what He's going to do." (Oswald Chambers, Utmost for His Highest, Apr. 28) Abandon: To forsake, relinquish, yield without restraint, give up control, leave completely, physically depart, release inhibitions, renounce utterly, freedom from artificial constraints, ease to surrender, leave behind, release, hand over, or give up completely

It appears one way from the outside, but when you open it up it's actually something different altogether. Many cultures comfortably call upon "God" even if they are not speaking of the same One. They can easily latch onto a "Father" or Higher Power for protection. Other cultures (western contexts) are more comfortable with the "Son of Mary." The Jesus who was a historical person, whose motto was love, justice, and grace, even if they ignore His teachings that contradict thei

Have you ever known someone whom you just couldn't get close to? Despite sharing a best friend, or a close community, you feel as though you're the only one who just can't cross the comfortable line with this person. There's nothing you can put your finger on that's wrong with this particular person. No glaring flaws. No incongruities. No drama or discord. No bad habits that irk you. Just a strange discomfort in getting close to the person. The invisible window we open to tho