Author Archives: Nicole Byrum

This past December I had the opportunity to hike some beautiful trails in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee.  The scenery was gorgeous and I relished the views that differ so greatly from my homeland of Northwest Ohio.  As my eyes rested on the rolling hills and waterfalls, my heart was filled with gratitude and IContinue reading “The Hope of all Things New”

“Simon, Simon behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail,”  (Luke 22:31-32).  This verse has been on my heart all day today.  Consequently, it was this verse that led me to do something I have never done before-Continue reading “But I Have Prayed for You…”

I’ve always liked Peter.  That guy was all in.  He stepped out of the boat to walk on water and he knew that Jesus was the Christ.  He also cut a guard’s ear off during Jesus’ arrest in the garden.  He was so confident that he was always right.  And he was so sure thatContinue reading “Denial and Invitation: Peter’s Story and Ours”

“Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.  He is not here, for he has risen, as he said.  Come, see the place where he lay,” (Matthew 28:5-6). He told them.  He told them multiple times.  Yet, somehow they didn’t understand.  It seems so obvious to these eyes thatContinue reading “As He Said”

“It is finished.”  These three words declared the free gift of our salvation.  Yet, these three words are almost too wonderful to fathom; for they are the words that tell us the work has been completed- and there is nothing we can add.  Try as we might, that truth is immovable.     And so uncomfortable.   BecauseContinue reading “Fully, Finally, Completely”

“Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.”  Romas 5:9  Wrath.  That’s not a word we think about too often in our day to day lives.  Even at Easter, it may not be a word we give much consideration.  AfterContinue reading “Wrath Satisfied”

My mind can scarcely comprehend it.  Try as I might, I do not know why God invited me in.  Me, a sinner with no righteousness of my own.  What business have I to enter into the courts of the most Holy One?   As I reflect, I remember… Human rebellion and garments of skin.  Noah’s family,Continue reading “Even Me”

I’m not what most people would call a rebel.  I follow the rules, prefer order and schedules, and generally like to color inside the lines.  Yet somehow all of this changes when I sit in the driver’s seat of my car.  For whatever reason, I cannot bring myself to simply drive in accordance with thoseContinue reading “A Call to Abide: The Quenching of a Rebellious Spirit”

In the fall of 2001 I had no idea I was taking one of the most important courses of my entire academic career.  If you had asked me about it at the time, my 19 year old self would have rolled her eyes and told you what a drag the required Intro to Philosophy classContinue reading “Truth for These Hard Times”

Google tells me that approximately 50 percent of the U.S. population makes New Years’ resolutions.  While I prefer to think I make goals rather than “resolutions,” I guess you could put me in that category.  And while you’re at it, you might as well add me to the 38 percent of the resolution-makers who resolveContinue reading “Goals and Growing Pains”