Have you ever noticed how many different names of God there are throughout Scripture? These aren’t just nicknames; they actually all contain rich, unique significance!

I am here to help clue you in partners, spouses, kids, and loved ones to what Mom wants by sharing what we really, really don't want.

But when these major earthquakes, devastating wars, and mysterious eclipses take place, we cannot help but wonder if there is more going on than we can see with our own eyes or hear about with our own ears.

Are you dwelling on what is good in your marriage?

If you don't know how to serve a special single mom in your life this Mother's Day, here are 25 ideas!

I came across Habakkuk 3:19 in my attempt to refuel my sunken strength and journal out these thoughts in my morning quiet time. And what spoke to me is this…

Lying out over the horizon, and sometimes right offshore, are islands that seem to be caught in their own world. These islands keep close to them a pervading sense of dread and possibly supernatural forces from beyond our understanding. Let's take a look at yet more of some of the most ghost-filled islands in the world, which are haunted, cursed, or both. 

The 2011 film Moneyball follows the mostly true story of Oakland A’s general manager Billy Beane piecing together a budget baseball team based on computer-generated analytics. Frustrated with not being able to afford a competitive roster of highly valued all-stars, Beane scrapped the standard approach altogether in favor of affordable, overlooked athletes. It was unconventional but ultimately successful. Question: Can your church “moneyball” its short-term missions strategy? The analogy will break down at some point. We’re not competing with other churches, and I’m not suggesting computer analytics. But many churches feel the tension when their short-term missions desires can’t be accomplished given their financial realities. Is there a way to engage in short-term missions in a faithful, helpful, and still budget-friendly way? I think so. Here are five suggestions for those on a shoestring budget. 1. Start closer to home. A church in California may have a heart for the Middle East. But those places could be hard to reach—not just with the gospel but with an airplane. Given budget realities, that church might decide it doesn’t make sense to fund trips that require complicated flight patterns and multiple travel days. Rather, they may prioritize partnerships in the Baja peninsula or even Southeast Asia. Or maybe they strategize for ways to do ministry among Middle Eastern immigrants and refugees in nearby cities. If you have a meager missions budget, it’s probably wise to start with closer, easier-to-access ministry locations. This is a win. Churches should be self-aware and deliberate when considering partnerships. They should seek to faithfully steward their human and financial resources. If you have a meager missions budget, it’s probably wise to start with closer, easier-to-access ministry locations and trust that the Lord will provide more opportunities to far-flung places as he sees fit. 2. Think Tychicus, not teams. On several occasions in the New Testament, we see Paul sending a faithful brother named Tychicus to visit someone on the mission field, as it were. To the Ephesians, Paul explains the goal of those visits: So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts. (Eph. 6:21–22) Paul sent Tychicus to Colossae (Col. 4:7–9) and Crete (Titus 3:12) with similar aims—never as a part of a large team but to engage in good ministry nonetheless. It was a visit of encouragement whereby he’d convey news from abroad and seek to bless those on the field. Perhaps faithful missions for your church could look more like sending a couple people to visit and encourage ministry partners rather than sending a larger team. Send a pastor and his wife to minister to missionary couples for a few days. Send a single sister for a month or two to help a family with homeschooling or childcare so the wife can devote time to language study. Send a capable preacher to provide pulpit supply for a month so a missionary pastor can have a sabbatical. You get the point. Think outside the box of a large team that costs $3,000 per participant. 3. Don’t diversify your portfolio. Sometimes churches feel the need to support work in diverse contexts and locations. Maybe they have a vision of having at least one ministry partner on each inhabited continent. Or they want to make sure they’re supporting work in as many 10/40 window locations as possible. Or they want to get behind work in religiously diverse areas—a church plant in a Muslim context, Bible translation in an animist culture, and college ministry in a Buddhist country, All these would be fine ideas if your church has the resources. But if not, reject the urge to diversify. There’s no shame or lack of faithfulness in pouring into one city or a handful of church plants in one country or region. 4. Leverage existing travel. Consider if it’s possible to visit multiple partners on the same trip. If you’re already going to visit one partner in the U.A.E., plan to add a stop in Mumbai for a few days and hit the U.K. on your way home. This would be far better stewardship of tight resources than separate trips to each of those locations. Consider if it’s possible to visit multiple partners on the same trip. You can also leverage existing travel by seeing if your church members are already traveling overseas. Does your congregation have an airline pilot who flies international routes? Discuss what it might look like for him or her to build a relationship with a local church at a layover destination. Do you know a family who regularly vacations in a beach town in South America? Talk with them about carving out two or three days to engage with a nearby ministry partner. This may or may not be possible given your location and how much your church members travel for work or leisure. But consider the existing rhythms of international travel in your church and encourage members to see the world through lenses of gospel intentionality. 5. Form and use associations. Local churches can do far more together than we can apart. Forming gospel-focused associations with like-minded churches will aid any congregation in stewarding short-term missions opportunities. This will be especially true for smaller churches with restrictive budgets. Maybe your church can’t afford to send a team to run a conference and full VBS for that ministry partner in Indonesia. But you and four other churches could band together to see the task accomplished. And working together overseas can foster greater gospel collaboration back home. These suggestions only scratch the surface. I hope they’ll spur further thoughts on supporting missions on a tight budget. Regardless of our church size or financial status, may we all be found as faithful stewards of the opportunities and resources entrusted to us.

On My Shelf helps you get to know various writers through a behind-the-scenes glimpse into their lives as readers. I asked Drew Dyck—acquisitions editor at Moody Publishers and the author of several books including Just Show Up: How Small Acts of Faithfulness Change Everything—about what’s on his bedside table, favorite fiction, go-to writing advice, the book he bluffs about having actually read, and much more. What’s on your nightstand right now? I have a few on my nightstand. I’m reading Remaking the World by Andrew Wilson. I love books with a big bold thesis, so I’m finding it fascinating. Frankly, I’m blown away by the breadth of Wilson’s knowledge. No one should be that smart. It’s not fair. I’m also slowly working my way through the new book by the poet Christian Wiman, Zero at the Bone. It’s collection of short essays, interspersed with poetry. Wiman tackles the topic of despair and doesn’t sugarcoat it (“There is nowhere to stand and see, nowhere to escape the stink of being human”). But he wrestles his way to a hope aided by his subtle but strong faith. I’m currently rereading On the Incarnation, which I haven’t read since seminary. It’s the edition with a foreword by C. S. Lewis with his great exhortation to tackle primary sources. I’m halfway through Walter Isaacson’s biography of Elon Musk. The thing I’ve found interesting is how his traumatic childhood shaped his relentless drive. It highlights a paradox I’ve observed in the lives of many prominent figures—that often there’s a pathology underlying extreme success. Lastly (and I’m embarrassed to admit this), I’m reading The Hunger Games. My 12-year-old made me. And don’t tell anyone I said this, but it’s not bad. What are your favorite fiction books? My favorite contemporary fiction book is Peace like a River by Leif Enger. He’s a master of the craft and explores Christian themes so beautifully in his novels. I’d like to meet him but alas I’m on Day 794 of him not accepting my Facebook friend request. I loved The Road by Cormac McCarthy. Well, “loved” is probably wrong for a story that bleak and brutal, but it affected me deeply. The Great Gatsby is still a favorite too. I like how Fitzgerald writes for the ear (“I must have stood for a few moments listening to the whip and snap of the curtains and the groan of a picture on the wall”). Plus, his unforgettable portrayal of a hollow and decadent age seems newly relevant for our time. What biographies or autobiographies have most influenced you and why? Missionary biographies were huge for me. I wasn’t a reader as a kid, but my mom read them to me. She was the original Audible. Two that left a big impression were Lords of the Earth and Bruchko. It’s great for a young Christian to encounter these stories of courage and sacrifice for Christ. What are some books you regularly reread and why? I like to read Finnegans Wake a few times every year. OK, that’s a lie; I couldn’t make it through once. I reread Buechner a lot. I especially like his memoirs. My copy of Now and Then is falling apart. He’s my favorite Christian writer. He just had a knack for expressing timeless truths of the faith in a way that was both fresh and profound. I also read the Chronicles of Narnia series regularly. When you have kids, you kind of have to. What books have most profoundly shaped how you serve and lead others for the sake of the gospel? That’s a scary question because it assumes I’m out there serving and leading like a boss, but most of the time I’m just trying to make it through the day. But setting that aside, I’ve been shaped by Eugene Peterson’s A Long Obedience in the Same Direction. I love what he says about obeying God, even in the absence of feelings. “Feelings are great liars. If Christians worshipped only when they felt like it, there would be precious little worship.” That principle extends to all areas of the Christian life, whether it’s worshiping God or serving others. As Peterson writes, “We can act ourselves into a new way of feeling much quicker than we can feel ourselves into a new way of acting.” Ain’t that the truth! What’s one book you wish every pastor would read? Pastoral Graces by Lee Eclov. (Full disclosure: It was published by Moody where I work, though I didn’t work on it.) This little book is a best-kept secret. I cried twice when I read it. Lee is just an ordinary guy who pastored a smaller church faithfully for decades. But he wrote a beautiful book that cuts against the grain of all the leadership literature and calls pastors back to the heart of ministry—the care of souls. What’s your best piece of writing advice? Write like you talk! I’ve worked with a lot of people who are good verbal communicators. But when they write, the wheels come off. They think they need to sound official and academic, so they use words and phrases they’d never use if they were just chatting over coffee. The best writing doesn’t draw attention to itself. It’s invisible. When you read it, you feel like you’re having a conversation with a good friend. That’s hard to pull off, but the first step is to stop trying to sound smart and just write like you talk. What are you learning about life and following Jesus? I’m learning that the Christian life is a marathon, not a sprint. When I was younger, I was in a hurry to change the world and do something great for God. Now I’m midway through the journey and my perspective has shifted. I have a demanding job, a couple of sidelines, and a few kids. My life is wonderful but it’s hard. I’m tired. Changing the world sounds exhausting. But the freeing conclusion I’ve come to is that we’re not called to change the world. That’s God’s job. We’re only asked to be faithful. Thankfully God seems to delight in multiplying our meager efforts for his glory. So, we can just obey and leave the outcomes of our life to him.

I learned my parents had feet of clay in my early 20s. My husband, Jim, pointed out that they weren’t good listeners and constantly interrupted me when I was speaking. I opted to confront them in hopes of improving the relationship. Neither parent came clean. My folks, hurt by my accusation, believed Jim was the problem. My husband wasn’t against my parents. He just wanted my relationship with them to be better. I’m sure they perceived it as an attack, however, and spouses do sometimes attack their in-laws, setting up a difficult dynamic for even the best of parents to navigate. In a culture quick to label relationships “toxic,” it’s common to hear of adult children severing ties with their parents over disagreements like the one I had with mine. According to a national survey on estrangement, 27 percent of American adults reported cutting off contact with a family member—in many cases, a parent. There isn’t enough data to confidently determine if more people are estranged from their parents than in past generations. But it seems more people are willing to talk about it. Of course, some relationships are harmful, and we shouldn’t dismiss the level of heartache a truly toxic person can bring. In rare circumstances, it might be necessary to sever a relationship. But often, strained relationships between adult parents and children can be repaired. So how can you pursue a better relationship with your adult child and his or her spouse? 1. Pray without ceasing. Never stop praying for your kids and for God to help you love them well. Daniel’s prayer for wisdom in Daniel 2:20–23 may be helpful. We need to remember God is our source of peace, wisdom, and power. He “knows what is in the darkness” (v. 22). He can give you wisdom when you don’t know what to do and power when doing the right thing is difficult. Let your mind stay on him (Isa. 26:3) and not on your current circumstances. 2. Consider your part in the conflict. Adding an adult to the family will bring joy as well as risk. Spouses may see things you’ve been previously blind to. Perhaps you don’t feel you’ve wronged your adult kids, and not all their assessments will be accurate (Prov. 18:17). Still, there’s much to be gained by prayerful contemplation: Do I have a blind spot that has hurt my kids? Is there some truth in their perspective? Meditate on Romans 12:18. Be just as skeptical about your own opinions and actions as you are about your adult child and her spouse. 3. Be willing to apologize specifically. While a strained relationship isn’t automatically the parent’s fault, rarely is someone completely blameless in a relationship. Consider how you’ve contributed to the conflict. Apologizing without making excuses may open a door in the future (Matt. 18:22; Rom. 12:18). Meeting with a trained pastor or family therapist who can serve as an objective third party can be extremely helpful in discerning what sort of apology is appropriate in your situation and in facilitating conversations with your child and his spouse. 4. Be patient. Though difficulties may seem to have come out of nowhere or have felt nonexistent until a child’s spouse came into the picture, they most likely took years to develop. And they won’t be resolved overnight. Moving toward a healthy relationship will likely take much longer than you think, requiring more forbearance and patience than you realize. When there’s animosity between adult children and parents, acting impulsively with demands and ultimatums will only escalate the argument. 5. Don’t make your child’s spouse the enemy. The person your adult child married is an image-bearer of God. He is more than his behavior. Even if you believe your child’s spouse is in the wrong, seek to show her honor in how you speak to and about her. Realize that anything negative you say about your child’s spouse may be hurtful to your child and will likely be repeated to that spouse. Be just as skeptical about your own opinions and actions as you are about your adult child and her spouse. Instead of engaging in a tug of war (“I know she’s your wife, but I am your mother”), pray for their marriage to flourish. Instead of driving a wedge between your child and his spouse, pray for them to have unity in the Lord. Don’t be surprised if your relationship with them also improves. 6. Don’t fear. We don’t make great decisions when we operate out of fear and anxiety. Give your worries to God through prayer as Paul instructs in Philippians 4:6–7. Look for any opportunity to give God thanks, and let his peace “guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (v. 7). 7. Don’t suffer alone. The body of Christ is called to bear one another’s burdens (Gal. 6:2–5). Give your brothers and sisters the opportunity to support you by sharing your concerns. Find a prayer partner, and meet with an elder or pastor for prayer and counsel. Take Heart In Home Alone, 11-year-old Kevin McCallister gives his neighbor, “Old Man” Marley, some advice: call your estranged son even though he might not talk to you. “At least you’ll know,” Kevin says. “I don’t care how mad I was, I’d talk to my dad, especially around the holidays.” The movie closes a day later with Kevin looking out the window to see Marley with his arms around his granddaughter, her parents warmly touching his shoulder. Cue the tissues. Though difficulties may have felt nonexistent until a child’s spouse came into the picture, they most likely took years to develop. In this life, we have no guarantees of a happily-ever-after Hollywood ending. But we do have the promises of God: “I 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). It’s true my parents are quick to speak and slow to listen. But they became much better listeners as grandparents. Despite their earlier refusal to see their behavior for what it was, I have no regrets about maintaining the relationship. No human relationship, be it with a parent, a spouse, or a child—no matter how wonderful—can fully fill us as Christ can. When Christ is ultimate in our lives, he can empower us to be life-givers in difficult relationships.