Category: Uncategorized

  • gratitude: the way of escape

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    Jocelyn
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    I was doing some Bible study homework this week and these verses collided in my head and my heart. Then they mulled around for awhile. Now I think I may be onto something. 1 Cor 10:12-13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you…

  • How should we measure ministry ‘success?’ What is our aim?

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    Jocelyn
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    Have you ever wondered: Is anything I’m doing making a difference? Does anyone notice my sacrifice? What am I really putting in all of these hours for? Are these people I pray for and give to and reach out to ever going to make any progress – spiritually, physically, financially? These are all vital questions…

  • lent 2015: why I gave up dessert during lent

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    Jocelyn
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    Jesus is over there, sweating blood and being abandoned by God Himself, and I’m over here giving up my free DQ cone for Lent. #worldsapart The above was a tweet of mine from yesterday. Last night I was thinking more about it and thought I’d share just a little bit more. Thanks for reading.  I…

  • We need you at church.

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    Jocelyn
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    “We need you at church.” My friend Jeff was talking about plain old Sunday morning worship service at our 125 year old church. I wasn’t scheduled to deliver the sermon, lead us in the Lord’s prayer, or do special music (phew!). I wasn’t scheduled to do anything. And yet, for some reason, he said he…

  • Jesus is alive.

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    Jocelyn
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    This week a Jehovah’s Witness came to my door. She gave me a flyer advertising an event at her church on April 14 celebrating the “Memorial of Jesus’ Death.” As she described the event to me in 20 seconds, she used the words “Jesus’ death” at least four times. I was stunned. She thinks Jesus…

  • A bow & arrows. Oh, and a quiver.

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    Jocelyn
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    Howard spent his birthday gift card on something he’d wanted for a really long time: a bow and arrow set. And, so, of course, during this very slow, not-much-to-do-anyway month of December, I dropped everything that afternoon and made him a monogrammed quiver out of felt to hold his arrows. Actually, I really didn’t have…

  • Heart Treasure

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    Jocelyn
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    When I was a junior in college, I read an article by Bill Hybels called “The Art of Self Leadership.” The article helped me self-reflect in a way I’d never known before, and it changed my life so dramatically that I made it a habit to read it annually. One thing Hybels addressed was, “What…

  • I bought myself a handbag.

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    Jocelyn
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    I bought myself a handbag. Finally. I mean a really nice, high-quality leather handbag. I think that I thought about it for 5 years or more. (In my defense, I also had 2boys in less than two years in that time span, and really didn’t want it to get barfed or pooped or otherwise leaked…

  • Kemmerer, Wyoming

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    Jocelyn
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    My husband, 2boys, and I spent last weekend in Kemmerer, Wyoming. Ever heard of it? Yeah, I guessed not. It is the population 2630 town where my husband’s mother grew up and where  my husband spent the first few years of his life. Being in Kemmerer is delightfully and alarmingly much like going back in…

  • Our Favorite Jonny

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    Jocelyn
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    Two Thursdays ago, I showed up alone at my husband’s office at 3pm, blasted Jonny Lang from my iPhone through the crack in his door, and held up two concert tickets to see our favorite Jonny live at 8pm that night in a city 3-hours’ drive away! It was awesome! I guess I’m still pretty proud of…