I've had the privilege of writing reflections/devotions for Greater Europe Mission to share with our GEM community. These stories and reflections focus on my conversations with God. Well, I'm not the only one writing these reflections. Many GEM workers over the last 10 or so years have written these. And now we've put 366 of … Continue reading A New Book is Coming Soon!! A Year of Conversations: Hearing God in the Everyday

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since … Continue reading Don’t Lose Heart

It was early September 2012 and I had recently learned that cancer had returned. I had only been in Vienna, Austria since January 2011 and had just begun to step into more youth ministry opportunities. I wasn't sure what would happen as this cancer relapse unfolded. However, in my time with the Lord, He led … Continue reading Celebrating a 12-Year Mile Marker

"Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure.” — Psalm 16:5, NIV The word “cup” kept replaying over and over in my mind as I sat with my communion elements.   I recalled that even while dining for the last time before His crucifixion, Jesus pointed out something new … Continue reading You Are My Cup

“I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.” — Psalm 130:5-6; NLT There is a song based on Psalm 130 that has played on repeat in my … Continue reading I Will Wait for You

“And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” - 2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV There is something beautiful about a winter snowfall and deep freeze until the resulting layers of snow and ice become a … Continue reading Trying to Speed Up the Thaw

In early October, I stayed in Mödling, a town just outside the city limits of Vienna, Austria It was about a 30-45 minute train ride into the city, and I probably made this trip two to three times each week. During one of my train rides, I sat near the window with my headphones on, … Continue reading The profound gift of leaning

“She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: ‘You are the God who sees me,’ for she said, ‘I have now seen the One who sees me” ~ Genesis 16:13 (NIV) Grief is a unique journey for each person.   July marked the first anniversary of the death of a dear friend I met only a … Continue reading You Are Seen, Known, and Loved – Pausing with God in Surprises

“Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest’”~ Mark 6:31 (NIV) It was Friday after a full work week in Colorado with a lot of people time. This … Continue reading A Silent Walk in the Woods

“My beloved spoke and said to me, ‘Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, come with me’” - Song of Songs 2:10; NIV Singer and songwriter Norah Jones expressed well this invitation between lovers on her debut album, “Come away with me and we’ll kiss on a mountaintop; Come away with me and I’ll never stop … Continue reading Come Away with Me