Holiness, From Where We Stand

We hear the word holiness and something in us stiffens. It sounds lofty. Untouchable. Like something meant for saints in stained glass, not people with tired hearts and complicated lives. Our church is beginning a series on holiness, and I found myself quietly asking—not out loud, but deep inside— What does holiness actually look like…

Peace That Stays

静けさ Shizukesa A stillness that carries weight. Silence that feels inhabited. There is a kind of silence that isn’t empty. It doesn’t rush to be filled. It doesn’t ask for music, conversation, or explanation. It simply stays. not empty—just quiet This is not the silence of being ignored or forgotten. It’s not the awkward pause…

The Words We Never Hear

I came across a post recently—just a few lines my nephew wrote for his spouse on their anniversary. It wasn’t long. It wasn’t dramatic. But it stopped me. The kind of words that name partnership, gratitude, and choice so plainly that they settle deep before you realize what’s happening. I found myself tearing up, not…

Dear 2026

We’re stepping into you without a clean slate. We’re bringing unfinished conversations, tired hearts, quiet hopes, and lessons we didn’t ask to learn but learned anyway. Some of us are coming in stronger. Some softer. Some carrying grief so gently it almost looks like calm. Some still learning that healing doesn’t always need an explanation….

Where Is Christmas?

Every year, the question shows up again. Not loudly. Not dramatically. Just a small wondering that drifts in sometime between the early decorations and the endless lists. Where is Christmas? The song asks it with innocence—almost like a child looking around a room that feels different than they expected. And maybe that’s why it stays…

The True Wealth of a Man

The measure of a man’s wealth is not found in the size of his bank account, but in the atmosphere he creates at home. The way he loves, honors, and protects his wife sets the tone for the entire household. When a wife feels safe, cherished, and provided for, her spirit flourishes. Her heart opens…

10,000 Reasons

If I tried to list every reason I have to be grateful, I’d run out of paper. Not because my life is perfect, but because I’ve learned that blessings are not always wrapped in pretty paper or delivered on sunny days. Some of my reasons are obvious—family, friends, a roof over my head, food on…

Loyalty to Legacy

What Ruth and Naomi Teach Us About Women’s Strength Today… In the quiet pages of the book of Ruth, nestled between the lines of loss and famine, is a story that still whispers truth into the lives of women today. Ruth wasn’t born into Naomi’s world. She married into it—and then, after loss shattered their…

Expectations at a Cost

When Letting Go of Expectations Comes at a Cost There’s a common message in today’s world: “Lower your expectations, and you won’t be disappointed.” On the surface, it sounds wise. Peaceful, even. But beneath that advice lies a quiet truth we don’t talk about enough. In relationships—whether romantic, familial, or friendships—expectations often come from a…

When God Feels Silent

Learning to Trust in the Stillness… There are seasons in life when God feels quiet. Not absent. Not gone. Just… silent. You pray, and the words feel like they’re drifting into the void. You ask for signs, direction, comfort—but everything around you feels still. Empty. Quiet. It’s the kind of quiet that makes your doubts…