Michelle DeRusha's Blog, page 27

Weekend One Word: Growing

I tend to be prettygood at learning about God but not so greatat knowing God himself. Knowledge is one thing, but understanding is something else entirely – it’s a deeper, fuller knowing, moving from an arm’s length distance into a more authentic, realrelationship. To move beyond simple knowledge to true understanding requires opening ourselves up to being vulnerable, available and connected.

So…my prayer for you and me, today and beyond: May wecontinue to allow ourselves to be transformed....

Why You Need Time to See the Bigger Picture

When I read the story of Joseph in the Old Testament, I often end up thinking, “Man, he had a good attitude! He must have been a glass half-full for sure!”

Think about everything Joseph endured: He ended up crunched into the bottom of a cistern. His brothers planned to murder him but settled for selling him as a slave instead. He worked for years as a servant. He ended up in prison. And finally, after years of suffering, his life began to turn around when he found favor with Pharaoh.

Yet loo...

How the Daily Examen Can Help You See God

My friend Lelia told me a story recently about a time she begged God for compassion as she sped down a highway. It was a dark period in her life, and she yearned for a sign of reassurance. In the middle of her lament, Lelia glanced out the driver’s side window just in time to see a truck speeding past, on its side the word “grace” emblazoned in a gigantic cursive font. It was the answer, Lelia believed, to her impassioned prayers.

“Why is it that when you pray for a sign from God, you get th...

Living Gutsy for God {and a giveaway!}

A year or so ago, my friend Amy Sullivan had anidea to write a series of picture books for young girls featuring strong Christian women from history. She pitched it to a few publishers, but alas, no bites. So Amy made a gutsy move: she decided to publish the series herself.I am delighted to announce that the first book in the Gutsy Girls series is now available on Amazon, and friends, it is brilliant: a fabulous, fast-moving story combined with fun, vibrant, energetic artwork. As I told Amy t...

A Look at the Luthers {and a giveaway!}

Let me tell you straight up: I am not typically a reader of Christian fiction. BUT. I have read several of Jody Hedlund’s novels, and I’ve greatly enjoyed every one of them – particularly her latest. Luther and Katharina: A Novel of Love and Rebellion releases October 6, and I was ableto get a sneak peek at this latest of Jody’s novels — a historical fictional look at Martin and Katharina Luther’s lives and marriage. How fun to be able to read a historical fictional account of the Luthers at...

Weekend One Word: Why?

That’s God, talking to Jeremiah, asking some hard questions. Later on God asks Jeremiah,“Why do the people of Jerusalem refuse to turn back? They cling tightly to their lies and will not turn around.”Of course God already knows the answer to his own questions, right, because he’s God. But I think he states these questions out loud to get Jeremiah thinkingabout the whys behind his people’s actions…and to get us thinkingabout the whysbehind our actions as well.

Turn back…turn around…in other w...

Grace is Moving Toward

During a class she taught at my church last week, my friend Deidra offered a definition of grace that settled deep into my soul.

“Grace is moving toward,” Deidra said — moving toward those we don’t necessarily want to move toward or even moving toward someone as they are, not as who we want them to be.

“Do you need to move toward a person and into their world,” Deidra asked, “intead of trying to force them to move into yours?”

When Deidra asked that question, I immediately thought of my two...

A Day in the Life of Book Writing

SoI thought I’d give you a little update on how the book writing is going with Martin and Katharina. I’m definitely on a first-name basis with them now. In fact, Luther is so often on my mind, a couple of weeks ago I called one ofRowan’s friends Luther – his name is actually Leo. But, you know…Luther, Leo…they’re both German, right? Close enough.

Last week I hit the 35,000-word mark, which is officially the half-way point toward my 70,000-word manuscript goal. It felt like a big accomplishme...

Weekend One Word: Crossroads

Yeah, so this is what I typically do when I’m at a crossroads in my life: I barrel on through without so much as a pause.

This is a good word for me, reminding me to pause, look, listen and above all ASK God for direction and guidance when it’s decision time. Every decision doesn’t need to be made right now, right this very second. We are so trained to move and react, to weigh in immediately and opine. But truthfully, there is time enough for quiet reflection and discernment. Time to stop an...

When It’s Time to Head to the Big Sky and the Grassy Plains

Mymind and body crave air, wide spaces, big sky. So we go, the kids and I. We go to where the wind rushes loud in our ears and where our hair blows tangled. Where the sun sets hot andgrasshopperspingoff our legs and caterpillars munch milkweed into kaleidoscope designs.

We go to the grassy plains.

I press the pedal close to the floor as soon as the Capitol fades blurry in the rearview mirror and roll down the windows, wind whipping, boys laughing. When we arrive the preserve is empty, save o...