Awe. That word makes me think of huge waterfalls, thunderstorms, mountain ranges or waves crashing — but it also brings to mind the birth of a baby and the love we have for special people.

The most awe-inspiring subject I can imagine is God, the creator of all these other miracles around us. There is a reason we have a similar response — planted in our DNA is a pull to God, a desire to know and understand him.

Awe in Hebrew is from the root word Yirah — very close to Yahweh — and that is not by coincidence. I love having a God so much bigger than my mind can comprehend.

My prayer: that we lean into the awesome faithful nature of our God. We trust him with our concerns and save any fear for a fearful worship of his awesome nature.

Recently I’ve been mulling hope… this is a transition season and the line between hope and settling is a carefully chosen middle ground.

David, after his son passed, cared for himself, ate and was at peace. His thinking shifted from loss to future hope. He began thinking on an eternal clock — not where he was stuck, not what had occurred, but what was to be.

How uplifting is it to think on what will be? The middle place is often the most traumatic — once through the process, regardless of the outcome, we find peace.

My prayer is that sitting in God’s abundant peace gives you the ability to find where your hope is anchored. Going to enjoy the mindless joy of my dog Ranger today. Happy Sunday.

Holding the promises of God through the journey of life isn’t always easy. I usually hear the promise in a close moment of meditation or worship and cling to it with a ferocious joy. Then life keeps stacking up weight and I slowly forget to hold the promise and the joy leaks away.

Today I read John 15:11 — the level of joy that Jesus lived in as God’s son — he left that in me. I want to hold that moment. So in gratitude and joy, I want to stand in this promise.

I hope you find a moment with God that gives you pause and makes you decide to claim it and hold on with all of your heart.

God painted a beautiful picture this week. I was looking up the word Hope in Hebrew — Tikvah — meaning expectation. But that doesn’t quite capture it. The word is closely related to the word for cord or rope. That’s what got my heart dancing.

Expectation is almost factual. Hope is more faith-related — for things unseen and unexplained. How can we hold that hope? It’s the tether, the rope God provides. The history of faithfulness, memories of prayers answered and moments God provided. Hope is real and it is not earned. We hold fast to God and He keeps His promises.

God adds so much good to my world — I really don’t know how people live outside of a relationship with our creator!

This is the week we leave for Australia and New Zealand. God always opens doors, and it happened again here with the vacation preserved during the job changes.

When I plan a trip I focus on a theme, hunt or activity. We’ve done waterfall tours in upstate New York, a BBQ and Blues tour in the south, a don’t-move-don’t-think trip in Playa Del Carmen.

Two things stood out planning this trip — the penal colony history created a love of mavericks and a casual, rough-and-tumble society. And the Aborigines and Maori people deserve the respect they’re finally gaining.

We’ll snorkel the Great Barrier Reef with an Aboriginal guide and raft a Maori sacred river with a Maori guide. I love when we can pay locals, meet locals excited to share, and experience things outside our comfort zone.

Last night in our women’s book study, we discussed the chapter in He Chose the Nails by Max Lucado — I Forgive You.

God had an individual list for each of us — all the petty moments, poor decisions, vengeful actions, moments we turned our backs. He carried it to the cross, and between the rough wood and his hand, that list dangled down. Long enough to have weight. Long enough to stretch almost to the ground.

Jesus, with carpenter hands that knew what nail they chose — didn’t flinch or turn away. He was eager for his blood to cover that sin. He held my sin. Felt that distance from God. I get to leave it behind. I get to stand up, clean, and run into God’s arms unblemished.

Are we willing to be foolish for God? Risk embarrassment? I was chagrined realizing I might be more grateful to someone who gave me a kidney than to a God who sacrificed his son — and Jesus, who chose the nails.

I love the word Abundance… so far beyond needs being met, but a confidence that future needs will be met. Abundance living means sitting down our personal scorekeeping, letting go fear of the future, living a daily life that honors God.

The flip side is a Scarcity mindset. Save a little more for yourself. There’s not enough to go around.

If we really believe Jesus fed 5,000 with a fish and two loaves — creating twelve baskets of leftovers — then we believe in a generous God who cares for our every need.

Are you living in faithful abundance? Pouring what God provides out to others? Or carefully tucking it away? God doesn’t give us resources filled with preservatives. Use the gifts he’s given, faithfully, trusting he will refill.

Beth Moore’s Believing God challenges us to take faith to a more active level — every challenge we face can be answered with five biblical principals.

God is who He says He is. God can do what He says He can do. I am who God says I am. I can do all things through Christ. God’s word is alive and active in me.

When reading Bible stories now I can see where doubt in one of these areas causes stumbles. It made me look at my own life — where am I pulling back from giving a big YES to God? It’s been a great time of leaning in and learning where I was holding back.

Last night I was thinking about prayer… answered prayers, prayers unanswered yes and no, and prayers in process.

I love the big YES — the answer like a big hug that comes quickly and clearly. I also love the quiet sweet yes, where I see God’s hand adding depth and wisdom in my parenting, my marriage, my friendships.

Where I kick my faith into overdrive is prayers I’m not sure were a No or a Wait or even an I already did. Sometimes I’m not watching what God wants me to see and I have to realign.

Let’s start a prayer journal — write down what you’re praying for. Leave room. Track the answers. God wants to show his glory. Are we watching?

Beth Moore’s chapter on Loving Faithfully has me really thinking — love not as an emotional response but as a duty we cheerfully give. We give love when it’s not returned, when it’s spurned, when patience has run out, when our well should be dry. Why? Because we are Christ followers and Christ loved that way.

How did Christ share a meal with Judas, wash his feet — not ironically but lovingly? He did it because it was his calling. He asks us to love the same.

Convicted? But also relieved. Love doesn’t have to stem from an overfilled heart but from obedience. Because I’m loving in faith, my only concern is pleasing God. There’s a huge burden lifted by that insight. Can anyone relate?