Lately, I have been thinking about where our stories begin. For much of my Christian life, when I thought about my need for God, I naturally began with what had gone wrong: Sin. Brokenness. Wounds. Bad choices. Fear. The experiences that happened to me and the mistakes I had made. The places in my life that needed healing, forgiveness or transformation. And when I wasn’t looking at myself and what I had done wrong, I was often looking for what the enemy might be doing. Because of the way I...

Have you ever noticed that sometimes a story can change us in a way that information never could? Many of us can remember books, movies, and stories that stayed with us long after we finished them. We may forget a sermon, a lesson, or a teaching series, but we remember the journey of Frodo carrying the ring, the strength of Aslan, or the moment when a beloved character discovers who they truly are. Stories have a unique way of slipping past our defenses and speaking directly to the heart....

I love what I do. I get to sit with people God cherishes and help them rediscover how deeply loved they are. I cannot imagine doing anything else. But calling and passion do not protect us from sorrow. In less than a year, our family has walked through death, dementia, serious illness, and the slow goodbye of someone we love. The kind of year that leaves you standing in the kitchen wondering how the ground beneath your feet shifted so suddenly. Maybe you know that feeling, too. Grief has a...