A most beautiful group of women recently gathered in my living room, snuggled under blankets, feasted on Blueberry Crisp and Scandinavan Swimmers, and dove headlong into life together. We spoke of tragedy and sin and hope and fear. Many are headed off to college this coming year and are experiencing anxiety in the face of the … More You will be known by your love.
Oh my goodness, HELLO. I wish I could jump out of the screen and give you a big hug. My heart is exploding with joy and anticipation in light of the fact that I am re-entering this writing journey. I have MISSED you, missed THIS. A little recap… the summer closed with the Salt Bible 101 … More Faith + Adventure
You guys. I am so excited. There is a glorious, faith-filled, adventurous group of young women out there who I have recently become very endeared to. They come from all over but convened in Southern California due to college and common interest and a passion for Jesus, and this past year Salt was born. Their … More Salt
Last Sunday, Marshall walked into the kitchen and, standing at the sink, declared out of nowhere, “Emsy, I want more faith.” His words were heavy, swollen with desire and frustration, and yet lingered in the air with a lining of hope. I immediately wanted to throw my arms around him and kiss him, {there … More The Masked Enemy
I have run into a few scenarios of late that have evoked a chest-tightening anxiousness that is both uninvited and perplexingly incapacitating. Fear. The kind of fear that no logic dissipates, that no prayer removes, that no simple choice solves. In fact, the presence of fear and God”s “apparent” inactivity to just make it leave … More Fear
If you’ve ever lost something ridiculously valuable, my heart touched yours tonight. You might know that sinking, pit in the stomach feeling that consumes you as you begin to pray…. “Lord. Help me. YOU know…” I have had that feeling a few times in my life, the worst being when any of my little men … More Lost
For years, Marshall and I have dreamed of having people live with us… college age or just beyond, maybe even an “orphaned” high schooler that just needed a place to be restored and loved and set back on their feet. We have honestly never had even a guest bedroom to speak of, but it hasn’t stopped … More Meet Ellie
We went to the butterfly exhibit at the Pacific Science Center last week. As always, my boys were mesmerized. Colorful wings flitted through the air, little works of art slowed to sip on oranges and then fluttered to the ground to rest. We always hope one will mistake us for a tree limb and land on us. They’re beautiful. But they … More Wings
You know what is so crazy? God sees us. He really sees us right down to the depths of our souls. He sees the gloriousness of us and the beautiful, gifted parts of us. And he also sees the really dark parts of us. The embarrassingly insecure parts and the fearful attention mongering parts. Nothing … More Left Behind
Every Wednesday, my three littlest guys and I pack up and head off to Community Bible Study. It is such a gift to study God’s word in a diverse group of women – age, race, native tongue, faith background. To say it is rich is an understatement. Last year we waded through the book of Romans, and … More Mercy
THE TETHERING PLACE 