“St. Patrick’s Breastplate,” a powerful prayer attributed to Saint Patrick of Ireland, begins in this way: I arise today Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, Through belief in the Threeness, Through confession of the Oneness of the Creator of creation.1 “I arise today through a mighty strength.” Oh, wouldn’t that be nice…
The Heart of a Woman
Think about the women you meet at church. They’re trying to live up to some model of femininity. What do they “teach” you about being a woman? What are they saying to us through their lives? You’d have to conclude that a godly woman is… tired. And guilty. We’re all living in the shadow of that infamous icon, “The…
Warrior Princesses
“Me, a princess?” “You are the legal heir.” “I never lead anyone.” “We will help you to be a princess, to rule. If you refuse to accept the throne then the kingdom will cease to exist as we know it.” —The Princess Diaries In God’s name, we must fight them! —Joan of Arc…
Warrior Princesses
“Me, a princess?” “You are the legal heir.” “I never lead anyone.” “We will help you to be a princess, to rule. If you refuse to accept the throne then the kingdom will cease to exist as we know it.” — The Princess Diaries In God’s name, we must fight them! — Joan of Arc Women are…
Captivating: All Women Are Called to Mother
To Mother As large as the role is that our mothers play, the word mother is more powerful when used as a verb than as a noun. All women are not mothers, but all women are called to mother. To mother is to nurture, to train, to educate, to rear. As daughters of Eve, all women…
A Joyful Christmas
I love Christmastime. I love the way everything, from trees to parking lots, gets dressed up in shimmery lights, bows, and evergreens. I love the kindness of strangers that seems to snowball this time of the year. I love the holiness of Christmas carols heard from church choirs, church pews, and grocery store loudspeakers. Then…
Unwavering: Living with Defiant Joy Week 5 — Cultivating Joy
Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice. — Philippians 4:4 Hard times come and in order to have joy you must be willing to be present to them and to feel the sorrow. Your capacity to feel the one is actually connected to your capacity to experience the other. The two are…
Unwavering: Living with Defiant Joy Week 4 — Expectant Hope
Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill His promises to her! — Luke 1:45 He has promised that we can have joy in the midst of everything that life is throwing at us. ~ Stasi OBS Friends, You’re half-way through the Unwavering: Living with Defiant Joy Online Bible Study! Last week…
Pray When You Are Hemmed In
Why did God curse Eve with loneliness and heartache, an emptiness that nothing would be able to fill? Wasn’t her life going to be hard enough out there in the world, banished from the Garden that was her true home, her only home, never able to return? It seems unkind. Cruel, even. He did it…
Unwavering: Living with Defiant Joy Week 3 — Greener Grass
… to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. — Isaiah 61:3 God calls us to make divine exchanges: from mourning to dancing, from addiction to freedom, from death to life. ~ Stasi Can…