Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.This exhortation is so relevant to us in these tense days. In general the words humility and gentleness are lost in our modern society. This type of virtue isn’t exactly celebrated. In fact, when these characteristics are exemplified in the way Paul is encouraging, they’re hidden. We’re not going to find them easily in o...  Read More

In July 2019 my wife Heather and I moved to Anacortes from Sammamish, WA with our 3 children, Sophia (16), Owen (12) and Della (10).  Our move not only included a change in address, but ultimately a change in career which has taken us on a new adventure while teaching us how to trust in God completely, clinging to His provision and promises.  Our journey to Anacortes began several years prior and ...  Read More

Well, I have worn out the soles of my favorite walking shoes! I am putting in lots of miles and it is perfect for “prayer, praise, pondering, and podcasting”. (And most often, the podcasts make me pray more fervently). There is just so much to pray for: health crises, stress of finances, stress of navigating COVID, disappointments, shattered dreams, loneliness, school decisions, and much more.I wa...  Read More

Over the past year and a half I have received two blessings from the Lord, that have helped sustain me during my tiring days of Motherhood and now during Covid.  One was an image, and the other a book.  While exiting the Salvation Army building, I saw a bulletin board decorated with brown and black construction paper.  I studied this image for awhile, which someone had clearly worked hard to creat...  Read More

God Has A PlanFor those that do not know me my name is Ellie Chambers, I am the oldest daughter of Rick and Kristen Chambers. I have attended CTK Anacortes since I was very little and have grown up in the church. I have also had the opportunity to be a part of the middle and high school ministry, YoungLife, where we come alongside middle and high schoolers and show them a little piece of God's lov...  Read More

Most of us are talking about the disruptions of normal life, news, elections, Covid-19, and getting very fatigued by the hostility of the world around us. We are getting tired of not gathering, and some of us are gathering, and being judged by those who aren't. When you think you can isolate and ignore everything something happens right under your nose to keep the discouragement going.We have rece...  Read More

As one we can say we are tired of COVID 19 and all the circumstances that surround it.  Most of all, we are all just so tired of uncertainty.  Personally, I like to have a plan for life’s ride, the direction, how fast, and when.  I like to know where things are leading, and currently none of us do.  For me there is a lot of “I” misplaced there.  God has always been in control, and He always will b...  Read More

“Say hi first” is possibly the best, most impactful piece of advice/training I have ever received. It is so simple to say but in real life not easy to do.I was at a week long training event when I joined Young Life staff. Throughout the week we heard really good content but there is one presenter who cut through all the “information” and presented a three word statement encapsulating way of thinki...  Read More

In the last months have you found it easy to go down the rabbit hole of fear, uncertainty, or even despair?I’m assuming we all have gone from what we thought was some sense of worldly security to what seems to be all unknowns. Who would have thought that we’d be talking about, researching, and worrying about any of these things- sickness, unemployment, furloughs, isolation, masking, or social dist...  Read More

When I was a teenager there was a popular rock 'n' roll song , “there’s a whole lotta shakin goin on.”  The title popped into my thoughts yesterday as I was contemplating what I might write for this blog post.   While that title and it’s lyrics have nothing to do with what God has to say on the subject, still I found the title applicable to where we all reside at this current moment in our history...  Read More

Jesus says in John 15: 1-5 (NIV): I am the vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit, he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither ca...  Read More

Lately, God is teaching me through seeing parallels between the work He’s given me as a teacher and the truths He wants me to own in my walk with Him as a follower.In my work as a math teacher, I frequently talk about strengthening students’ “math identity." I know this isn’t something you might think much about, but it’s become a powerful label for so much of what I am passionate about in my work...  Read More