There are many challenges people face every day. The world we live in is dysfunctional, torn apart by imperfection. Sin has twisted God's good creation, but Jesus came to heal the brokenness we inhabit. Because of Jesus, we have hope, and we get to share this hope with each other. When one of my friends [...]

"Behold, I will do a new thing.” Isaiah stood on a hill overlooking the once great city of Jerusalem. His shoulders were bent with age, his long beard a tangle of gray. It had been years since he first spoke the prophecy of Israel's downfall and of the Messiah. The promised Rescuer had not yet [...]

Many of us have taken care of plants at some time, whether a little succulent, a pot of herbs, a flower bed, or a field of vegetables. Some of us are more successful gardeners than others, but whether we're good at growing plants or not, there's a lot we can learn about our lives from [...]

As Christians, how should we approach science? From forests to soil, seas to sky, planets to microorganisms, to you and me, God's creation is incredible! God calls us to be caretakers of His creation, and to best take care of something and appreciate it, we have to understand it. But first, we have to acknowledge [...]

"You're not part of the team. You can't come with us. You're not invited.” Has anyone said something like this to you? It hurts when others make it clear you are not welcome. We all want a place to belong. Whether in a family, church community, with friends, or on a team, having a place [...]

It's okay to not know what is to come. It's alright to go into a new year or phase of life without plans or expectations. My expectations don't always happen anyway. My plans aren't always for the bEsther But when I look to Jesus, when I ask Him to guide my life, everything will turn [...]

I. ran a marathon once. In case you are unfamiliar, a marathon is 26.2 miles of running. That was in the year 2000, and I've never even considered running another one. I'm completely convinced it's because I didn't create a celebratory moment at the finish line. I've found that if I don't celebrate something that's [...]

Dull gray eyes stared back at me in the mirror. Unimpressive, unimportant, unseen. That's how I felt—invisible. Would anyone notice if I were gone? Would anyone really care? Contemplating my apparent superhero power of invisibility really lifted my spirits. Sighing deep, I tried to stop the tears from leaking from my eyes. As I turned [...]

He takes a whole mass of nothing, a void of empty, and fills it with light—and life! This is our God. When His heart breaks over evil and sin consuming His precious creation, He seeks out the faithful and delivers them. After the waters roar and the mountain peaks are covered, He covers us with [...]

For many years, my family celebrated Christmas at my grandparents' home in northern Wisconsin, where winter is typically very cold and snowy. One year my dad thought it would be fun if he and I hiked out into the woods and cooked breakfast over a fire. We got lost. Then we couldn't start the fire. [...]