https://www.riverlantern.com/tuesday daily 0.75 2024-08-16 https://www.riverlantern.com/tuesday/2024/8/16/tuesday monthly 0.5 2024-08-16 https://www.riverlantern.com/art-images daily 0.75 2020-01-03 https://www.riverlantern.com/art-images/2020/1/3/anvil monthly 0.5 2020-01-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aaf3a069d5abb1734969944/1578088861608-ON0I66BCDQSFSJGPRDFT/website-5x7-anvil-5x7.jpg ANIMALS - ANVIL https://www.riverlantern.com/art-images/2020/1/3/horse monthly 0.5 2020-01-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aaf3a069d5abb1734969944/1578088734763-IKW722D3KQA124OVNRNW/website-Horse-5x7.jpg ANIMALS - HORSE https://www.riverlantern.com/art-images/2020/1/3/hosea monthly 0.5 2020-01-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aaf3a069d5abb1734969944/1578085945465-WOXGG7BVO0HV1VJH1BP7/website-Hosea-5x7.jpg ANIMALS - HOSEA https://www.riverlantern.com/art-images/2020/1/3/wolf monthly 0.5 2020-01-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aaf3a069d5abb1734969944/1578085644596-TWP9ONXQYBEL5E1JZ0LE/website-5x7-WOLFPACK-5x7.jpg ANIMALS - WOLF https://www.riverlantern.com/art-images/2020/1/3/team monthly 0.5 2020-01-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aaf3a069d5abb1734969944/1578085361569-SZ2OP1ZFUWFOSV8LVTZ5/website-Horse-herd-wide-5x7A.jpg ANIMALS - TEAM https://www.riverlantern.com/art-images/2020/1/3/lighthouse monthly 0.5 2020-01-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aaf3a069d5abb1734969944/1578084966817-7WET4A2YRIRKNQ1SP4XK/website-5x7-lighthouse-5x7.jpg ANIMALS - LIGHTHOUSE https://www.riverlantern.com/art-images/2020/1/3/lion monthly 0.5 2020-01-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aaf3a069d5abb1734969944/1578083454139-I7TQGHC4VBRSJZGSN66B/website-5x7-lion-5x7.jpg ANIMALS - LION https://www.riverlantern.com/art-images/2020/1/3/sparrow monthly 0.5 2020-01-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aaf3a069d5abb1734969944/1578083265470-8EJ2LUPXURPBLQV8IFLD/website-5x7-sparrow-5x7.jpg ANIMALS - SPARROW https://www.riverlantern.com/art-images/2020/1/3/bear monthly 0.5 2020-01-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aaf3a069d5abb1734969944/1578082967185-LD3J1PJHNG8REMJXIJ8F/website-5x7-bear-5x7.jpg ANIMALS - BEAR https://www.riverlantern.com/art-images/2020/1/3/deer monthly 0.5 2020-01-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aaf3a069d5abb1734969944/1578081754930-KSW7JFSM5G9N9ETGUAQA/website-5x7-deer-5x7.jpg ANIMALS - DEER https://www.riverlantern.com/art-images/2020/1/3/eagle monthly 0.5 2020-01-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aaf3a069d5abb1734969944/1578082273283-LA9JAQLPLQEY8QYL8WSF/website-5x7-eagle-5x7.jpg ANIMALS - EAGLE https://www.riverlantern.com/art-images/2020/1/3/grandad monthly 0.5 2020-01-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aaf3a069d5abb1734969944/1578087581077-BMIMECX4IMWJCPJA9YLC/website-Grandad-5x7.jpg ANIMALS - GRANDAD https://www.riverlantern.com/art-images/2020/1/3/savior monthly 0.5 2020-01-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aaf3a069d5abb1734969944/1578087995133-MWLCKT3L7AMZHDMWEXY2/image-asset.jpeg ANIMALS - SAVIOR https://www.riverlantern.com/art-images/2020/1/3/gardenia monthly 0.5 2020-01-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aaf3a069d5abb1734969944/1578088183535-BE6R87UGQG0178C8U55C/website-5x7-FLOWER1-5x7.jpg ANIMALS - GARDENIA https://www.riverlantern.com/art-images/2020/1/3/christmas-father monthly 0.5 2020-01-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aaf3a069d5abb1734969944/1578088619896-LRAQJOTS64O7YCD07SC8/website-FATHER-5x7.jpg ANIMALS - CHRISTMAS FATHER https://www.riverlantern.com/art-images/2020/1/3/rain-rain monthly 0.5 2020-01-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aaf3a069d5abb1734969944/1578088440436-V376KNYN6Q98KN3WXEC9/website-5x7-RAINY-5x7.jpg ANIMALS - RAIN RAIN https://www.riverlantern.com/art-images/2020/1/3/desert-flower monthly 0.5 2020-01-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aaf3a069d5abb1734969944/1578088297105-PC03WH6TIHPGDJ9D3W5Y/website-5x7-DESERT1-5x7.jpg ANIMALS - DESERT FLOWER https://www.riverlantern.com/art-images/2020/1/3/snow-kids monthly 0.5 2020-01-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aaf3a069d5abb1734969944/1578087505590-19VJ4IVA23G5D6ZOI9HY/website-5x7-snowkids-5x7.jpg ANIMALS - SNOW KIDS https://www.riverlantern.com/art-images/2020/1/3/the-hike monthly 0.5 2020-01-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aaf3a069d5abb1734969944/1578086963274-62NLZKVO9GA99L27T7OQ/website-5x7-mount-5x7.jpg ANIMALS - THE HIKE https://www.riverlantern.com/art-images/2020/1/3/feel-the-wind monthly 0.5 2020-01-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aaf3a069d5abb1734969944/1578086239720-7I19SONNWJ2CCBUU0ITI/website-FeelTheWind-5x7.jpg ANIMALS - FEEL THE WIND https://www.riverlantern.com/reflections daily 0.75 2026-03-22 https://www.riverlantern.com/reflections/2020/8/16/awake-in-a-sinking-boat monthly 0.5 2020-08-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aaf3a069d5abb1734969944/1597629595521-9WSS31M5TXR4KE9M6PNL/IMG_8754B.jpg Reflections - Awake in a Sinking Boat “On that day, when evening had come, Jesus said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:35-41) I’ve read this story many times. What stuck out to me in the Mark 4 version was “the other boats.” When the disciples were freaking out, they assumed Jesus had no knowledge of their situation since He obviously was asleep. Not only that, they assumed He didn’t care. I’m sure someone said “right, like Jesus can’t hear the storm…and on top of that, He isn’t even throwing in with us to fix the problem…heck, He probably doesn’t care if it costs us our lives.” In fear, they couldn’t decide if He was unaware, wasn’t powerful enough, or simply didn’t give a rip. All they knew was the boat was filling up, the storm was barreling in, and they were far from anything secure in this world. It didn’t take a genius to see where this was headed. They knew the peril. Then I thought of those in the other boat who didn’t even have the option of waking Jesus up. What were they thinking? Maybe they thought “if only I was on that boat, I would have had hope.” Both boats got thrown a moment to trust God and His Word in whatever happened. But the disciples chose doubt because fear looked stronger than God. Fear didn’t compel God to move. He was up to something greater. But even in their weak moment, God took care of both vessels. He didn’t settle the boat. He settled the storm. The disciples lost their anchor in what was truly holding them together. And the right move for the disciples would have been to trust He had the power over it all whether they saw Him working or not. And just because He was at rest didn’t mean He wasn’t at work. He was giving them an opportunity to trust His heart in the chaos. He was teaching them a calm that endures. He was driving out fear if they would trust His love and follow His lead. Only a sovereign God could use sleep to wake us up to His deeper work. It’s ironic in the gospels that Jesus woke people up because of faith while the disciples woke Jesus because of their fear. But in love, He responded, grew their perspective, and increased their faith. Grace upon grace. The crowds couldn’t be with them to see that moment on the sea, but they would see it in the disciples’ courage later. For now, Jesus kept raising the vision in their hearts of the God they were dealing with and inviting them to know Him there. His Word sunk deeper in them as they heard the waves respond to His breath and they became a little more alive. What’s pouring into my boat right now that seems more powerful than God? What part of God’s heart is the storm’s momentum challenging in my perspective? Where am I finishing His story with my fear instead faith? Where am I looking at the “other boat” for rescue? Where do I need to rest? How should I engage? https://www.riverlantern.com/reflections/2020/8/15/effort-with-faith monthly 0.5 2020-08-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aaf3a069d5abb1734969944/1597517038751-2HDB71Q1M8J02SQOLY1Y/IMG_8479C.jpg Reflections - EFFORT WITH FAITH I think we often hit “end call” or “end meeting” with God and yet He is still in the room. We turn away and take our faith with us. We remember the “call” but we let it quit calling us. We become disconnected and scattered as a flood of other voices enter in. And there is no greater distraction than unbelief. And in response, we may even work ourselves to the bone because we haven’t absorbed what He said and effort to enter His rest. We only know effort with our work. And God calls us to effort with faith. Though God has unlimited power and we do not, that’s not why He rested from His work in Genesis 2. There is a moment that shifts in creating where it becomes revealing. There is a stopping point, not because time or energy runs out...but because something deeper is filling it. In that pause, we worship, we reflect, we recall the good He has done, how good He is, and lean into His completion. I wonder what Adam & Eve thought the day God rested. It was both a completion and a beginning of a whole new world. I wonder what it was like to see His joy. And I wonder later what Joshua thought with his eyes toward the promise and all God was doing before his eyes. Faith sets the table of God’s feast in the wilderness as much as in Eden. Joshua knew God’s rest and welcomed its fullness even from a distance because he had faith. God entered in so we could enter His rest. We just follow His lead. You can’t survive the wilderness from just a memory of being delivered from Egypt. You trust in the God who invited you into that rest in Him. Into that saving, into that refuge, into that faithfulness of Him leading you to His promise. You rest in Him & His Word. The effort is faith, not “I’ll take it from here, God” or expend energy challenging His care. It’s to be aware and wholly given to Him to create a new work through that engaged dependence and remember what He has done. This rest leads to faith in the Living God and what is true. It’s reliance. By His Spirit, it’s the power grace unlocked that disarms the rebel heart and humbles us to walk with Him, obeying His voice and watching what He produces in a sabbath heart who will trust His call. (thinking on Hebrews 3&4) https://www.riverlantern.com/reflections/2020/8/16/what-is-wise monthly 0.5 2020-08-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aaf3a069d5abb1734969944/1597590536385-2P5SMFNEBAADUW4ZA1AM/IMG_6348B.jpg Reflections - WHAT IS WISE? This era I feel I’m needing wisdom a lot. Been thinking of this one phrase. Before you get to the rest of the signifiers of God’s wisdom in James 3:17, james thought best to start here. What is wisdom from above? Pure. It’s not tainted. Not selfish. Not full of competing worldly agendas, or a thousand arguments that fray any mind. It’s not for personal scheming. It’s not a mere consultation to get to the next level. It doesn’t possess a mood that changes. It’s not capricious. It’s not for those seeking to be wise in their own eyes. It will only stay more hidden from them. Seeking wisdom from God starts by seeking Him. Only through Him can we discern what is wise. Only through Him can we ever hope to apply what we learn. And the first thing we encounter in God is that He is not like us. He is pure. And that is a good thing. He is pure, so his wisdom naturally flows from that. The rest of the attributes in the verse help bring color to the nature of God’s wisdom to make it recognizable. But of all things, God’s wisdom is first of all pure. It’s in the core thread of reality since before time began. And God graciously gives it. So when I’m still in process, i can be at peace because God reveals the steps as needed. His Word will guide & shape the path ahead. And His way goes through the nature of who He is. I can simply do the next right thing in following Him. The wisdom of God assumes a heart is being transformed in living it out. And perhaps that’s its intent. It leads us always back to the fountain in Him where we are meant to flourish. “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” - James 3:17 https://www.riverlantern.com/reflections/2020/8/16/out-of-stock monthly 0.5 2020-08-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aaf3a069d5abb1734969944/1597591384773-A6CN3VBHA07BK0JYLDKI/IMG_8637C.jpg Reflections - Out of Stock This era continues to be an interesting one. Filled with briefings, advice, projections, video chats, updates, markets, curves, shelter-in-place orders...until it all begins to run together to show one thing. Frailty. But I think the phrase that stands out most is...Out of stock. Depleted resources spark creativity & much progress but can’t provide the core need. I think what folks are realizing is there is much to this Covid era that is simply “out of stock.” Some areas may be more in touch with this than others. And it goes deeper than TP, PPE, Internet capabilities, & cleaning supplies. How can folks stand to face the lack and still thrive? Not simply stockpile learning, distractions, & tools to navigate (which is helpful) but to know what to do when they run out. To know what is needed for a soul to endure anything...alone and together. I’ve been reading 2 Corinthians 1. What strikes me most is comfort wasn’t housed in warehouses strained by a supply chain or lab. It wasn’t in a building at all. Facing need is facing being out of stock. And Paul felt that frustration & pain too in all its pressure, depth & nuance. So how did Paul supply anything when he himself was overwhelmed? He let his heart be comforted by God of All in that place of “beyond his ability to endure.” If he was still running his own offense from his Pharisees days, he would have cratered. “Pull yourself up by bootstraps” or “save face” does not work longterm (or really in the short term either because of the faulty foundation it seals). So what does he do? Paul is honest. He didn’t shy away from talking about his limits & struggles with being overwhelmed. He never graduated beyond dependence. He had to rely on God to supply life even in death. Comfort is inextricably woven in suffering if we know Christ. It happens at all levels. So how did Paul give comfort when he was “out of stock”? Relationship. He shared, asked for prayer, and modeled what it looks like to rely on God alone even together. His intimacy with Christ was the flowing gift to others. It wasn’t a chapter in a book. It was trust displayed in the struggle. He kept it simple. He drew strength and comfort from God in overwhelmed places....So those he called brothers and sisters could have that same Hope & comfort. In doing that, he transmitted to them the ability to patiently endure suffering by relying on God to comfort us all. We aren’t very patient. But God’s comfort to a frayed soul can make us able to patiently endure suffering, struggle, uncertainties of all kinds. Our brains are exhaustible. Our talents are exhaustible. Our work is exhaustible. Our relationships are exhaustible. Our timing is exhaustible. But Jesus is inexhaustible. He is not out of stock. He is not depleted. He doesn’t require a mask. He doesn’t flee the overwhelmed. He is right in the midst as only He can be. Present to comfort. Present to supply. Present to lead to hope in Him. And raise us back to life. I love how Easter is smack in the middle of all this. It’s more than a story. He’s the God of all comfort as much today as then. Maybe this era is preparing our hearts better to know the beauty of Easter. Maybe it teaches how much He showed His Word in that moment. https://www.riverlantern.com/reflections/2020/1/3/new monthly 0.5 2020-01-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aaf3a069d5abb1734969944/1578092996224-QMZR9G69G2CV8OXH5Y91/IMG_8382.JPG Reflections - NEW https://www.riverlantern.com/reflections/2020/1/3/nicodemus monthly 0.5 2024-08-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aaf3a069d5abb1734969944/1578096225788-DQAPSVZTYOS69B0DMN68/IMG_2767b.jpg Reflections - Nicodemus https://www.riverlantern.com/reflections/2020/1/3/waterfall-overwhelmed monthly 0.5 2020-01-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aaf3a069d5abb1734969944/1578096885859-MQLQAMA6CMFVOKDNREYN/IMG_7405B.jpg Reflections - Waterfall: Overwhelmed https://www.riverlantern.com/reflections/2020/1/3/revelation monthly 0.5 2020-01-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aaf3a069d5abb1734969944/1578097708104-HA9AN00NH5N3Q2BZ3DRG/image-asset.jpeg Reflections - Revelation https://www.riverlantern.com/reflections/2020/1/3/spent monthly 0.5 2020-01-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aaf3a069d5abb1734969944/1578098665340-204WCQ3B6HHMH1J787GI/IMG_2769b.jpg Reflections - Spent https://www.riverlantern.com/reflections/2020/1/3/the-staff-of-god monthly 0.5 2020-01-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aaf3a069d5abb1734969944/1578099011515-RYHGQDVVZBX5IRJ5ML1Q/IMG_2770b.jpg Reflections - The Staff of God https://www.riverlantern.com/reflections/2020/1/3/unchanged monthly 0.5 2020-01-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aaf3a069d5abb1734969944/1578099488137-VJ6QPWHR7WPFMQ9SKRK4/IMG_2771b.jpg Reflections - Unchanged https://www.riverlantern.com/reflections/2020/1/3/layers monthly 0.5 2020-01-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aaf3a069d5abb1734969944/1578099881233-Q0T9ZU7DGUVZ3UL94RWO/IMG_2772b.jpg Reflections - Layers https://www.riverlantern.com/reflections/2020/1/3/three-days-thirsty monthly 0.5 2020-01-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aaf3a069d5abb1734969944/1578100317878-WVZ626W1AGWUH3QNN4ZK/image-asset.jpeg Reflections - Three Days Thirsty https://www.riverlantern.com/reflections/2020/8/15/turning-40 monthly 0.5 2020-08-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aaf3a069d5abb1734969944/1597516934448-OHR6SGX3BD8Q7WP81OD7/IMG_0F6E016F883C-2.jpg Reflections - Turning 40 "...I brought back to him as it was in my heart." - Joshua 14:7b I opened my eyes this morning as a 40 year old (and my lupus knees reminded me:). There were 2 ways to spy out this land. 2 ways to see. One way could be to see no godly husband in bed next to me, no little kiddos chasing each other down the hall, no adventures with them, no job considered by the world as high powered movin’ on up successful, no home I own, no beauty defying the age it is, etc, etc. I could choose to say this land is too intimidating, too much, a statement of what’s impossible or what was never possible, and lose heart. OR I could live by faith. I could look out and see how incredible it is to live this life and have purpose at 40. How insanely amazing it is to know the God who formed my heart, pursued it like crazy, and called me to Himself. The same God who spun the world, lit up sunrise, and created more views than any eye would ever see in a lifetime...and the fact He entered the war so we could have His life. I could see every dream He blew up so I wouldn't miss His. I could see right now the fact I have 2 good roomies, a place to rent (while not pretty, it’s a great location for the life I have), a chance to love Vickery Kids, great job useful in this generation to reach those living in darkness, a family I love, friends that know me, love, & weather seasons with me. I could take note of the 1000 little things that fill my life reminding me what matters. 40 isn’t a statement. It’s simply a mile marker, reminding me to stay honest and know He is faithful. At 40, if we’re facing reality, there are no polyannas. But there’s a land of beauty if you’ll open your eyes. Lupus reminds me I may not have the physical strength Caleb had at 85 (or 40) but I sure as heck can have his report at 40 and vision at 85. In college, I said I simply wanted to know the Lord and respond with a pure heart of worship. God never forgot that dream. Every season humbled me toward that pursuit. Grace never let it go. And now at 40, I get to see the land He knew about and He’s just letting me spy out to see if that heart ever learned to see. God’s goal with Caleb wasn’t Caleb. He just simply made Caleb so His people wouldn’t miss the promise. Grateful. https://www.riverlantern.com/reflections/2020/1/3/the-day-the-manna-stopped monthly 0.5 2020-01-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aaf3a069d5abb1734969944/1578093538752-FLWMIP0YM5NPKR99QV0L/img_1156-B.jpg Reflections - The Day The Manna Stopped https://www.riverlantern.com/reflections/2020/1/3/a-well-a-tree-a-tomb monthly 0.5 2020-01-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aaf3a069d5abb1734969944/1578094073475-DDJ66BZ34OX859KAMJ5I/image-asset.jpeg Reflections - A Well. A Tree. A Tomb. https://www.riverlantern.com/reflections/2020/1/3/anything-you-ask monthly 0.5 2020-01-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aaf3a069d5abb1734969944/1578094657628-XJFG2G1Q4M09HJT7EP5S/img_7556.jpg Reflections - Anything You Ask https://www.riverlantern.com/home-jaunt daily 0.75 2025-05-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aaf3a069d5abb1734969944/1523213439193-VSO1MCBOU4OEDEXYJT9E/bird.jpg Home https://www.riverlantern.com/new-page daily 1.0 2020-01-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aaf3a069d5abb1734969944/1523234080274-3L8XIPFEPUQEDREDN1WK/GRB-1800x1350.jpg ABOUT https://www.riverlantern.com/animals-1 daily 0.75 2020-01-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aaf3a069d5abb1734969944/1578080593239-GXGGF4G571FTTUULQY7M/website-5x7-sparrow-5x7.jpg ART https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aaf3a069d5abb1734969944/1578080719787-6IS69AKMGL2FPAP0OGOH/website-5x7-bear-5x7.jpg ART https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aaf3a069d5abb1734969944/1578080707302-Q9H46IOCF7MO7O2OGAU5/website-5x7-lion-5x7.jpg ART