His heart pounded, his lips quivered, decay crept into his bones, and his legs trembled (Habakkuk 3:16). He was confused, angry, terrified, and desperate for relief. He cried, “O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear?” (Habakkuk 1:2). Habakkuk, an Old Testament prophet, experienced a season of trials that seemed endless. He was desperate for relief, for change, for God to intervene. Does that sound like something you can relate to? I too recently felt like Habakkuk. The weight of grief, depression, and anxiety consumed me to the point where my heart pounded, my lips quivered, my legs trembled, and … [Read more...]
Let’s Be Like the Shepherds
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night…And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:8-12) With Christmas upon us, I reminisced about my childhood years in private school. Every year at church, we performed the Christmas story as recorded by Luke. The roles my classmates and I anticipated to play were Mary and Joseph. If not chosen for those main roles, we hoped … [Read more...]
My Go-To Plant-Based Fall Foods
When I first changed to a plant-based lifestyle, I remember getting nervous about what I'd eat for fall and winter. What about chili?! What about chicken noodle soup?! What about chicken pot pie?! Thankfully, these awesome vegan recipe developers and chefs have come to the rescue! I can confidently say that I love these dishes even more than the meat, cream, and cheese-filled ones I grew up eating. And as more and more people reach out to me asking for plant-based living advice and recipes, I've concluded it's easier to put everything into one post. So, here you go, friends: my go-to fall foods! I've included my tips for you too. Killer Vegan Chili by Eat Healthy Eat Happy I actually … [Read more...]
Greetings from the Pit
When I have written to you these past years, my words have always been rooted in reflection. I learned valuable lessons and God grew me mightily through my prior trials of infertility and anxiety. Even in those times, the pain and suffering lifted fairly quickly. These past years have been smooth-sailing. And I praise the Lord for that! It sparked my ministry work and my commitment to bringing you hope in your pain. Yet here I am today, and I am writing to you from a current, real-time pit of despair. This recent pit of depression, anxiety, and grief is unfamiliar, terrifying, uncertain -- and it's most certainly raw. It's not my norm. But I felt the Lord pressing me with: Write … [Read more...]