Archives

Rethinking Christian Life

Already Not Yet Victory: How to Falter and Still Win

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 1 John 5:4 ESV Sometimes I wonder if John really gets it. I mean there are days when my faith is strong and I feel and see the victory that comes from my…

Faltering Steps: How to Walk by Faith

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do…For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.Now if I do what I do not want to…

The Incessant Drip: How to Stay Sane with All the Things

“There is another leak,” my husband looked up to the ceiling and back down to the floor near his feet. A drop of water ran down our yellow walls. He raced to turn the water off at the meter. I crutched after him and helped him dig through mulch and mud to find the shut-off…

When Words Are Not Enough: How to Support Those Walking Dark Roads

It doesn’t make sense. At least not this side of heaven. Cancer stealing years from folks who live and love well while rapists continue their lust for power and flesh. Infertility leaving wombs and arms empty while others abandon and abuse their children. Addiction powerfully pulling its prey away from work, family, friends. A momentary…

How Do You Love a God Who is Able, But May Not?

It is a wonderful thing to know that God is omnipotent. It means that every seemingly impossible circumstance is not hopeless. Miracles can happen. Things can change. But God’s ways are mysterious. He isn’t simply a divine vending machine. “I go to church every Sunday, I tithe, and I even went on that mission trip…

Cracked Places: How to Let God Shine Through

In high school I wrote poetry that I rarely showed anyone. The few times I let someone read the words I scratched out on notebook paper, I shook like a leaf. Scared I would be judged, sure my words were not good enough. Some days my inner editor keeps me from tapping out words. Especially…

Can You Help Me?

I’m working on creating an e-book. Which topic appeals to you the most? — Angela Mackey (@Rethinkingme) October 19, 2017

Feeble Offerings: Seeing God’s Glory in the Mundane

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 2 Corinthians 4:7 ESV Jochebed was a slave – a slave under Pharaoh. This Pharaoh noticed that the Hebrews – Jochebed’s people – were becoming too numerous. So he ordered that all Hebrew…

Defiance: How to Fight for Joy

Today I almost cried as I read a book aloud to my kids. The scene wasn’t poignant. No one lay dying nor was anyone confessing unrequited love. Still the darkness pressed in around my heart. The heaviness of life, friends fighting cancer, the ton of feathers falling on my shoulders, and my ongoing battle to…

Silent Grief: Pregnancy Loss, Grieving, and Hope

It still hurts and I can’t explain it away. There are these babies who crawled into my heart, but died in my womb. And a part of my heart still beats for them 13 years later. Even thought I only held them in my body a short time, I began the process of planning their…

Letting Go to Grow: the Startling Secret to Contentment

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. John 12:24 ESV “God, I don’t understand why Sandra has a beautiful green leaf and I am stuck in this hard shell,” Lucille prayed. “We were seeds…

Rest and Watching: How to See God Move in Life’s Challenges

I [Jesus] have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. John 16:33 ESV Life’s challenges. Physical injury. Plumbing leak. Saying good-bye to some really dear friends. Transition in my husband’s office. At times emotions…

A Battle

A Battle By Angela Mackey They. People I trust and love People I hide from If THEY knew… If they knew what I thought If they realized what I have experienced THEY would call me names… Heretic. Foolish. Liar Progressive. Conservative. Wrong. Or would they? I do not know because I hide.

Poetry

Complexity

Complexity By Angela Mackey Yes or No? It isn’t that simple Yes or No? Nuance matters Yes or No? Is it really a dichotomy? Yes or No? Maybe both… Yes or No? There is so much more Yes or No? Can’t there be shades? Greys and beiges maybe even…

Culpable?

Culpable? by Angela Mackey It happened before A leaving, a void, a rift I see it. How it happened. Where we have been. Will they listen? Decisions tabled Waiting, flailing, languishing I see it. The coming storm. Will they listen? Do I dare? Bitterness whispers Tearing, ripping, wounding I see it. The anger roiling.…

Will the Dawn Bring Light?

Will the Dawn Bring Light? By Angela Mackey What violence done? What beauty trampled? …in the darkness …repeated in the dark Hope had bloomed But darkness brought violence Night snuffed the light Would day return? What would be left shame? destruction? Would the light make them see? Could they see …the violence? …the brokenness? …the…

Is It Just Noise?

Is it Just Noise? by Angela Mackey Go home! Jezebel! Heretic! False Teacher! Liberal! Conservative! Progressive! Fundamentalist! Words echo through glowing screens. Communication that bites and stings and clings. When I express my thoughts will flesh and blood echo the world of glowing screens? Will I be greeted…

Misc

EnJOYing Election Season: Cultivating Joy in the Chaos

“Evangelicals for Harris” are all CHINOS — Christians In Name Only. God is not fooled. Neither should we be fooled. My Social Media feeds are full of vitriol…from both sides of the political divide. “How can any Christian vote for a convicted criminal, rapist, insurrectionist, etc.” And it grieves me. The Bible says that all…

Art and Beauty: How to Embrace Beauty to Change Culture

“I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way… things I had no words for.” ― Georgia O’Keeffe Sometimes we forget that God created beauty. At least we evangelicals who value utilitarianism above beauty and art do. We forget that God is the original artist. He paints on canvases…

A Reason to Go to Church: God’s Presence and Joy

“Silence is the perfectest herald of joy. I were but little happy if I could say how much.” Claudio, Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare God does something special when His people come together as a congregation. When we sing, take communion, baptize people, listen to the preaching of God’s Word, His presence comes to us in a special…

Joy and Presence

Just a note…I have missed sharing this space with you all. So through prayer and planning, my goal is to post here twice a month. I hope you are blessed. Where Joy is Found You [the LORD] reveal the path of life to me;in your presence is abundant joy;at your right hand are eternal pleasures. Psalm…

Obedience, Running, and Calling

“So don’t throw away your confidence, which has great reward. For you need endurance, so that after you have done God’s will, you may receive what was promised…But we are not those who draw back and are destroyed, but those who have faith and are saved.” Hebrews 10:35-36 and 39 CSB I’ve been silent for…

Archives

Rethinking Challenges, Rethinking Christian Life

Rethinking Challenges, Rethinking Hard Times, Rethinking Life, Wrestling with God

Rethinking Christian Life, Rethinking Hard Times, Rethinking Infertility

Misc, Poetry

Get a FREE 9-day Devotional titled Think About Such Things by signing up for my newsletter.