Lisa Brenninkmeyer's Blog, page 18

For Your Weekend

Dig Deeper into Sunday’s Gospel: Read Luke 17:11–19

Imagine you are shopping for a swimsuit. It’s January. Your skin hasn’t seen much sun. You’ve enjoyed all sorts of warm breads and festive treats throughout the Christmas season. It’s been delightful. You get into the dressing room with the most unforgiving lights and try the first suit on. The reflection staring back at you is shocking. Is this what I really look like? Suit after suit—nothing is right. No miracle suit fixes the flaws you are n...

The Lies That Messed With Me When I Deleted Social Media

I’ve been off social media for the last twelve weeks. Give or take. I don’t know exactly how long it’s been because I’m no longer paying that much attention to it. But in those early weeks, I could have told you down to the day. This was not because I was coming off a social media addiction; it’s just that it was so extremely weird to not have it. The apps were off my phone, and I’d find myself stuck in a doctor’s office, or waiting in a long line, or experiencing some other unscheduled moment o...

Would You Lose Your Head For Jesus?

While on retreat a few weeks ago, I walked into the bathroom and overheard an elderly woman lamenting over the state of our world.

“This world is going to hell!”

Her friend snapped back, “Now, Judy, remember, no negativity today. We are on retreat!”

I walked into a stall, shut the door, and smiled.

Also, I agreed with Judy.

Leaving the retreat, I reflected on my own negativity, and so I made the conscious decision to spend less time on my phone (negative) and more time in God’s Word (positive). ...

Surges Of Grace

The Sunset Cliffs National Park is just one of the many stunning displays of God’s natural beauty along the coastline of San Diego, CA, that my family discovered during a recent vacation. My boys were determined to scale the cliff to the very bottom so they could jump “American Ninja Warrior” style from one rock to the next until they met the ocean waves. Luckily there were some steps built into the side and so down we went.

From the beginning of our 200-foot descent down the side of the cliff, ...

Step Into His Blessed Life

What do you think of when you think of soul-piercing beauty? Where would you go if I asked you to step out of this world for a moment and enter into pure, unadulterated peace? 

When I find in myself the desire to leave this world for another, I long to sit in the eternal beauty of a cathedral. These ancient structures are one of the greatest gifts the former generation of Christians has left for us. Their spires remind us that Heaven still awaits us even in the modern age. Their stained glass wi...

Get Up

I told her—the nurse with the purple headband and the sparkly eyes—that she was nutty.

I. Was. Not. Getting. Up.

Our fourth child was less than 12 hours old, and I was quite content to stay horizontal in the hospital bed. After enduring my first C-section, I was finally settled into my room with the baby nestled to my breast. I wanted to rest. But that dang nurse had other plans for me. God bless her, she had no idea how charming I could be—especially with Percocet pulsating through my veins.

Sh...

Things Could Be Worse

We moved our daughter into her freshman dorm last week, and the operation went surprisingly smooth if you were to ask me. If you ask my husband, he would say otherwise. Perhaps you heard him after he carried four gigantic bins up nine flights of stairs in 95-degree weather. He was the angry father repeatedly threatening a heart attack, exclaiming, “If I die, I want you to sue the school!” 

He didn’t die.

In his defense, things like stairs become tricky when you reach your fifties. Right around f...

Audience Of One

Middle schoolers are not my jam. If I’m being honest, other people’s kids are not my jam. I’ve never been the mom who hosts playdates or coaches soccer. I lead Walking with Purpose small groups with ADULT women—adult women who already love Jesus and whose prefrontal cortex is completely developed. Imagine my shock when I felt very clearly called by God to lead BLAZE, the WWP ministry for girls. I ignored that still, small voice. I shook it off for years. But the voice persisted, and the message ...

Nothing Is New Under The Sun

My son’s friends are all starting to sport mullet haircuts, and my daughter thinks low-rise jeans are the coolest things. Are you cringing along with me? What is happening with fashion lately, and why does it feel like we’re entering the twilight zone?

We are told these fashion styles are new and exciting, but those of us who have been around for more than 30 years know these trends have been around before. 

Ecclesiastes 1:9–10 says it best: “Nothing is new under the sun! Even the thing of which...

Jesus Is The Prize

Sometimes I come across a gospel story that doesn’t make sense to me. I can read it over and over again and listen to explanations, but something about it doesn’t click. Jesus often spoke in parables and veiled language to His followers. Two thousand years later, it’s easy for me to find my head spinning as I try to figure out what He was saying. 

One story has left me perplexed for years. It comes from Matthew 8: 

Now when Jesus saw great crowds around him, he gave orders to go over to the othe...