I clutched the bar of my camel’s saddle with a death grip, ready for a crash course in Camels 101. My family and I were visiting a ranch in the Negev during our trip to Israel, and I was the first to mount. I smiled for the paparazzi, which consisted of my husband, daughter, son, and daughter-in-law. Their phones clicked and the moment was saved to our family iPhone album. Akhmad, our wonderful guide, stood beside me. “Lean back.” he instructed. I leaned back as my camel lumbered from a resting position to its feet. “Your camel’s name is Olmra,” Akhmad added. “It means ‘long life.'” I exhaled a breath.…

Hide-and-seek rated as one of my favorite games growing up. When the ‘seeker’ closed her eyes and counted to ten, the neighborhood kids scattered. Of course, some of our hiding places were in plain view. But every now and then, we’d find a spot so perfect the seeker would give up and head inside for a snack. As adults, we’d sometimes like to hide when situations turn awkward. But when we face fear, sickness, and isolation, we long to be noticed, understood, and cared for. And thankfully, we have a God who sees. The Bible introduces us to a woman who lived two thousand years ago and struggled with these…

Blue sky, bright sun, and mild temperatures promised the perfect spring day. I gripped the leash of my eighty-five pound lab and we headed out for our early morning walk. Though I pray while we walk, my prayers are sometimes scattered, something like “Thank You, Lord, for Your mercy and … no, Gibbs, leave it!” We live in a neighborhood with patches of woods between the houses, and Gibbs always manages to pull me to underbrush as he picks up scents of deer and rabbits. Today was no exception. As we rounded a curve, Gibbs veered toward a wooded area. He poked around branches, leaves, and a log resting on…

In The Secret of Jenny’s Portrait, Jenny fears a future with Joe because of the danger of his work with the FBI. The “what-if’s” threaten to cloud her faith. In our own lives, how many times do we do the same? What if I lose my job? What if I get sick? What if something happens to my family? Do we choose fear or faith? When we allow fear and uncertainty to become our focus, we stop looking at Jesus, the all-powerful One. Peter, one of Jesus’ disciples, found himself in the same situation on the Sea of Galilee. Matthew 14:28-30 tells us Peter got out of his boat, intending…