Corella Roberts's Blog, page 5

Colliding With the Call Book Excerpt + Alaska Photos

While living in bush Alaska, we would go for weeks on end looking at only each other, our co-teachers, and the same dozen student faces. Those beautiful faces, round like a blueberry, tinted with the warm hue of earth. Faces framed in raven hair, set with dark eyes that changed like the sky, often cloudy and veiled, then the next moment streaked with angry lightning. Occasionally we beheld a clear, sunny day, when heaven shone through and all were invited to laugh with the joy of light. But...

A Wilderness Excursion Through the Bible Part 4 – Yearning

How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. (Psalm 84:1-2)

I want this Psalm to be my prayer. I want to want God like this. I want to genuinely sing out with the Psalmist a few verses later, Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere (84:10).

But, sadly, that isnt the typical yearning of my heart. I am often, as C.S. Lewis says in The Weight of Glory, like an...

A Wilderness Excursion Through the Bible: Part 3 – Awakened

Hagar and Gomer. If you know their stories, their reputations, you likely wont choose to name your daughters after them. One was a maidservant, used to bear a child; the other was a prostitute who couldnt seem to stay faithful to her husband. These are not the Sunday school stories we retell in detail.

But for all their brokenness, all their ups and downs, these two women bear the testimony of Gods mercy. Lets look at Gomers story together, then youll explore Hagars on your own. (A few weeks...

Communion: A Sample or A Feast?

My daughter tugged on my arm, her green eyes pleading for me to come closer. With her lips to my ear, she pointed at the tiny cups and fragments of bread. Mommy, is it time for samples yet? she asked.

Her five-year-old understanding caught me off guard, and I didnt hide my smile well. You mean Communion? I said. Soon, baby, soon.

Its her favorite part of church. The sip of juice, the nibble of cracker. And when we take it together, she tells us what Communion means: Jesus gave his body for...

A Wilderness Excursion Through the Bible: Part 2 – Waiting

A defining characteristic of the wilderness is its uncertain timeline. Part of what makes it such a bitter experience is the waiting. You might know it wont last forever, you might be certain that God will eventually lead you to that place/dream/ministry/relationship He promised, but you simply have no idea when.

No figures who crossed Bible terrain have more waiting in their story than perhaps Abraham and Sarah. Lets summarize their story a bit:

At seventy-five years old, God calls Abraham...

Are You Vulnerable with God?

Two months ago I made a promise to myself: this year, I will not fall to pieces and get resentful and weird when the next predictably busy season hits. I will not accuse my basketball-coach husband of loving the sport more than me. I will be patient and supportive, knowing that the season will soon end.

My plan to keep that promise went something like this: I will get lost in my own busyness of planning an upcoming womens retreat and well reconnect when the onslaught has passed.

Can you...

A Prayer of Protection and Trust while COVID-19 Turns the World Upside Down

Every conversation I have with friends these days seems to end with the statement, We just dont know.

There is uncertainty around every decision at the moment, and all of us are forced to sit and wait. How long will this all last? We just dont know. When will the world return to normal? We just dont know. What will the economic repercussions be? We just dont know. How will we navigate weeks of school closure and not go crazy? We just dont know.

But one thing we do know, and in this I hope:...

A Wilderness Excursion Through the Bible: Part 1

His dust-caked feet ache from traveling long miles, his shoulders sag under a heavy pack. Even the cattle balk, and the sheep lay down in the midday sun.

Get them up. Theyll die if we stop here now, he commands his eldest.

Abba, can I have some water?

He checks the gourds to stall giving the answer he already knows. They clank with a hollow shout. He finds his sons expectant eyes and shakes his head.

Ill ask around. See if I can find you and your sister something to drink. His eyes blur, but...

Ashes

I write this today out of the rawness of my heart. I write as one who is abruptly, sharply, painfully aware that I am ashes. And all that I cling to is but ashes.

As one who controls much of her life by careful planning, my plans are scattering like dried leaves in a gust of wind. Good plans. Sweet plans. Treasured plans. Disappearing from view before I can even reach out a hand to grasp at them.

This all on the heels of some major letting go. An intentional choice to release...

Give Me the Grace to Receive

Its more blessed to give than to receive. (Acts 20:35)

Yes, absolutely, cries my heart. So I scurry around giving. Pouring out. Nurturing. This is my role, and this is my calling. This is where I lean into Christ-likeness when I listen and serve and help and feed and guide.

Until He whispers, Receive my rest.

Rest? Mm-hm. Rest in heaven will be lovely. 

No, I mean right now.

Oh, like guard my weekly Sabbath. Okay, working on it, Lord.

RIGHT NOW. 

But, theres so much to do, and so many...