In Gennesaret

 "If the Son has set you free, then you are free indeed!" So Jesus tells us. Hallelujah and amen. But what does he mean by "free"? Not free from troubles and trials. He makes that quite clear later in the same gospel. "In this life, you will have many trials." Many of them. Free from condemnation, yes -- and hallelujah for that. "There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus," Paul tells us in Romans 8, one of the greatest chapters in the Bible. When we are in Christ, we are deemed no longer guilty. Amazing grace there, people -- because Lord knows, not a one of us deserves that acquittal.  But too often, we take advantage of this grace. Case in point: me and sugar. I've discussed my sugar addiction here; it's been a life-long struggle. But these last couple months, with all the stress of my school moving to a new location -- and an added admin role I've taken on at the same time -- and the loss of sleep resulting fro...

When I was a young wife and not yet a mother, I went on a women's retreat with my church. And it was an AMAZING weekend! Every worship service connected me with God. He spoke to me through every speaker. I kept a journal of his words to me, and they were deep and profound and desperately needed at that moment -- and I referred back to them often over the next few years. I went back the next year (and the next, I think) in great anticipation, expecting a similar experience. And yeah, it was fine . . . but it wasn't the same. I found myself trying to read into things I was hearing, looking for big messages from God for me. But they weren't there. It was disappointing all around. I thought of that retreat recently when I was listening to a podcast where Skye Jethani was talking about "Spectacle vs. Subtlety."  Specifically, he was referring to Jesus' raising of Lazarus and how it was clearly set up to intentionally be a spectacle. He waited until Lazarus had been...