Shay S. Mason
Have you ever pondered the fact that God has never created another person exactly like you? Even if you are an identical twin, you still have your own unique personality and gifting. There is only one you, and I’ve come to believe there is a profound spiritual reason for that. I remember hearing Li
Shay S. Mason
Does it seem like we are surrounded by chaos lately? The world is groaning and peace feels elusive. You’d have to be living under a rock not to see it. There is instability on so many fronts that it’s hard to keep up on current events. Much of what is presented in the news these days is described
Shay S. Mason
This piece was originally published on 1/18/25 at (in)courage . Most mornings throughout the school year were the same. Wake my two children, get them dressed and fed, hand off lunch boxes and backpacks, pray the armor of God over them, and get them out the door and headed to the bus stop
Shay S. Mason
Christmas is upon us, and once again we feel like there’s not enough time to get everything done. There are work parties and school performances, Secret Santa gifts to buy and bushes needing lights, cookies to bake and presents to wrap. I felt especially pressed this year as I had surgery just befo
Shay S. Mason
Would you describe yourself as a grateful person? A happy person? Did you know that gratitude has a powerful impact on happiness? Harvard Medical School reports, “Gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish go
Shay S. Mason
Have you had moments when you’ve wondered if kindness and compassion have completely evaporated from our society? Lately, I’m experiencing these moments more frequently. I was recently sickened by a first hand account of what I can only describe as wanton cruelty and a blatant disregard for human d
Shay S. Mason
Something happened when I turned 50. I started to see the world differently. Fifty isn’t a magic number, but I suppose the realization that you have almost certainly passed the halfway point in your life (and maybe you’re well beyond it) does something to your perspective. I began to care less abou
Shay S. Mason
I’m sitting in a coffee shop, waiting for inspiration. Sometimes coffee is inspiration enough, but not today. My mind is blank. I ask God to drop something into my brain. Then comes Tina Turner. You probably know Turner’s 1984 song in which she asks the question, “What’s Love Got to Do With It?” I
Shay S. Mason
The Instagram algorithm likes to show me Goldendoodles, Bible verses inscribed over watercolor landscapes, boutique hotels in exotic locations, and coastal decor. I have no complaint with any of those things. But sometimes the algorithm gives you a real gem. Today I discovered the Japanese word “ Yu
Shay S. Mason
Benjamin Franklin famously once said, “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Life feels that way, doesn’t it? Just when you think you’ve settled into some sort of rhythm, you get sideswiped by the unexpected. And sometimes even those changes we expect can throw us
Shay S. Mason
Have you ever woken up from a dream with a new realization? A new perspective? A few days ago, I awoke with this thought in my head: The ideal of American self-sufficiency has twisted the way we present the gospel. It is actually toxic because it fails to recognize the necessity of surrender.
Shay S. Mason
There are many things in this life that may consume us—some seemingly better than others. Most would acknowledge that to be consumed by something like greed or bitterness is not desirable. Perhaps we have a more favorable view of being consumed by a passion for justice or a desire for knowledge. But
Shay S. Mason
Many of us are feeling heavily burdened these days. Almost a quarter of all Americans experienced some sort of mental health condition in 2022. For young adults this number rose to over a third. There are numerous reasons for this. Covid, technology, social isolation, global instability, and politic
Shay S. Mason
I was speaking with a young friend recently who shared her heart about feeling welcome but not necessarily wanted in her friend group. She explained that when they all gathered she enjoyed herself. She thought of herself as part of their group, but then thought it strange that when she didn’t show f
Shay S. Mason
I recently arrived home from three months on a semi-off-grid island 60 miles from Auckland, New Zealand. When I left home in September it still felt like summer in North Carolina. When I arrived home in mid-December it had magically become Christmas. Having been magnificently out of touch with the r
Shay S. Mason
I don’t remember all of it — I was eight years old, so it’s a bit hazy — but I do remember the beaming pride I felt when my third-grade teacher gave me a sticker for a good choice I’d made in class that day. She told everyone why I got the sticker, and I believe I floated out to recess, the sticker
Shay S. Mason
In recent weeks, a singular question has repeatedly entered my consciousness. “Who do you say I am?” Of course, this is the same question Jesus asks Peter in Matthew 16:15 (NIV), so I know the “correct” answer. “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” But I don’t think God is checking to se
Shay S. Mason
Have you ever struggled with the idea of what it means to truly “know” God? How is it possible to know the Creator of the Universe? Can he even be known? Does he want to know me? As a young Christian, I remember being told that if I read enough scripture I would know God better and develop a deeper
Shay S. Mason
Between December 2021 and August 2022, our family lost four parents—both of my husband’s adopted parents, his birth mom, and my dad. This week is an anniversary that is hard to remember, and yet it must be remembered. On August 23rd of last year, we sat in an Episcopal church in suburban Chicago re
Shay S. Mason
Bear with me. I’m about to get nerdy. The concept of time has fascinated me since reading Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle In Time at the age of ten. It got me thinking about black holes and time travel, relativity and alternate realities. L’Engle, a devoted Christian, engaged with these concepts i
Shay S. Mason
Who doesn’t want to be seen by others as put-together and successful? We all like to put our best self forward, don’t we? Publicly displaying our shame, fear, or sadness is generally a cultural no-no, and I’ll confess I don’t particularly want people who interact with me to walk away thinking, “Yike
Shay S. Mason
Almost every Sunday I look around our worship service and think, “I love this so much!” Certainly, there are many things I love about our faith congregation, but the thing that strikes me every single time is the beautiful diversity around me. I often sit by someone I don’t know, introduce myself,
Shay S. Mason
When I was in high school in the late 1980s, I encountered something that touched my heart like nothing I had ever experienced. It left me with mascara and snot running down my face, probably dripping on my Laura Ashley dress. Even after the applause had died away, I sat in my balcony seat of Chicag
Shay S. Mason
Despite being an introvert, one of the things I’ve come to value most in life is community. I’ve become convinced that God does his greatest works through relationship. (Read Community Matters ) I guess this shouldn’t really come as a surprise since God himself exists in loving relationship within
Shay S. Mason
Battling fear, depression, or anxiety can sometimes feel like being trapped in your own head with no way out. As hard as you try to push them away, the intrusive thoughts seem impossible to escape. I’ve been there, and maybe you have too. Nobody chooses to have OCD or a panic disorder, yet these and
Shay S. Mason
I’ve been thinking a lot about the power of story lately. This past weekend my husband and I attended a theological conference on the writings of C.S. Lewis, entitled “Longing for a More Beautiful Story.” C.S. Lewis scholars from the University of Oxford, Wheaton College, and Boston College spoke on
Shay S. Mason
If you Google Christian articles on doubt, you’ll see a wide range of thoughts on the topic. One title really stood out to me: “Doubt—The Sin God Hates Most.” Umm, I’m gonna have to disagree. First, I’m not a big fan of ranking sins, but I’ll even go out on a limb here and say I don’t think doubt
Shay S. Mason
Peddling fear should never be the job of the Church. Neither should it be the occupation of a Christian. Yet fear has been, and continues to be, used to motivate people to follow Jesus. But nothing could be further from God’s heart. Jesus is the way to the Father— a Father whose only motivation is
Shay S. Mason
Christians love to quote Romans 8:28 when someone is suffering. Don’t worry. God’s working all things for good! And while I believe the truth of this verse, it can be really hard to understand when you’re standing in the middle of pain, loss, or grief. When nothing you’re experiencing seems “good,
Shay S. Mason
Part of being human is to sometimes feel like we don’t belong. Conjuring up memories of middle school might make us groan with the memory of feeling like we were on the outside, not sure where we fit. Introverts, like myself, may remember times when their quietness in a social or professional settin
Shay S. Mason
It’s Saturday morning. My husband and daughter are in Chicago caring for my father-in-law, who is in hospice care. My son is still asleep, so I’m enjoying a quiet morning on the patio. Eighty-five degrees feels lovely compared to yesterday’s sweltering 100 degree temp. The sound of birds, cicadas, a
Shay S. Mason
I haven’t studied German since 10th grade, but I recently came across a German word that caught my attention. Geborgenheit . It can be described as “the sum of warmth, protection, security, trust, love, peace, closeness and comfort.” ( germanyinusa.com ) Alas, there really is no adequate English eq
Shay S. Mason
Dying to self is an essential part of the Christian journey. I have come to believe it is the most important element of sanctification, but it is perhaps the hardest lesson to learn. Peace and joy? Sure, Jesus, I’ll take a double portion. Surrender, sacrifice, and death? Umm…Can I take a rain che
Shay S. Mason
Easter Sunday was earlier this week, and there is always a temptation to simply celebrate and move on. The church service is over, photos taken, brunch complete, eggs found, candy eaten. Now we move back into normal life. Work, school, meetings, appointments. But here’s the problem… The celebrat
Shay S. Mason
It’s been a hard few months for our family. We lost my mother-in-law in December to a long and terrible degenerative disease. Last week, we lost my dad after a short and devastating battle with pancreatic cancer. I would never have chosen for our family to walk through any of this. No one would. O
Shay S. Mason
Earlier this week, I was revisiting some old journal entries. One entry from late 2020 caught my attention. It dealt with the hardening of the human heart. I was asking God about the process that unfolds in Adam and Eve’s hearts in Genesis 3 from the moment sin and shame enter the picture on through
Shay S. Mason
The last month has been a hard one. I can’t sugar coat it. Our family has gone through illness, loss, and yet more illness, including a difficult diagnosis that we are powerless to change. Maybe you’ve walked through seasons like this. Perhaps you’re going through something similar right now. Thes
Shay S. Mason
The Grinch hated Christmas! The whole Christmas season! Now, please don't ask why. No one quite knows the reason. It could be his head wasn't screwed on just right. It could be, perhaps, that his shoes were too tight. But I think that the most likely reason of all May have been that his heart w
Shay S. Mason
You’re likely familiar with the Parable of the Prodigal Son. If you’ve spent much time in church, you’ve probably heard more than one sermon on the familiar passage in Luke 15. Most of the sermons I’ve heard center around the younger son in the story—the son who demands his inheritance and leaves ho
Shay S. Mason
This week has felt heavy. For a few days I wasn’t able to put my finger on why. Nothing has drastically changed for our family or our ministry. Sure, much of the world looks like one big dumpster fire, but that’s nothing new. The weight pressed down particularly hard yesterday following a couple day
Shay S. Mason
(An excerpt from Rest for the Weary) My struggle with fear began when I was just four years old. My friend Sarah had convinced me to explore a stairway she discovered
Shay S. Mason
When I was 7 years old, I wanted to be Little Orphan Annie. I listened nonstop to the soundtrack from the original Broadway musical. Seeing the touring production in Chicago felt like a dream come true. I set my sights on becoming a cast member. Of course my goal was to be Annie, but I would have be
Shay S. Mason
Have you ever felt stuck—desperate to experience God’s touch but not able to see a way forward? I’ve been there. In the midst of chronic pain and anxiety, I wanted to know that God heard my cries. I wanted to know I wasn’t alone. I couldn’t understand why I didn’t experience God’s presence the way s
Shay S. Mason
Late last summer, my husband and I sat on our patio as we participated in a Zoom ministry meeting. During a time of prayer, my gaze wandered to the flower pots at the edge of the patio. I watched as two bees happily buzzed between my red hibiscus and another pot full of cheery sunflowers. In my head
Shay S. Mason
“Read the broken window one!” we’d ask Mom as she settled us into bed. Published in 1957, the family devotional book Little Visits with God featured simple stories with popular, decade-appropriate names like Dick, Dorothy and Sally. My brother and I were kids of the 80s, but we d
Shay S. Mason
Vessel: a: a container (such as a cask, bottle, kettle, cup, or bowl) for holding something b: a person into whom some quality (such as grace) is infused
Shay S. Mason
I love going out to walk in the spring. Everything smells fresh, the sun is warm on my face, the birdsong seems especially joyous, and the trees are bursting with life. There’s so much to perceive with the senses. Today as I walked, I watched my dog taking in all the smells. This, of course, is no
Shay S. Mason
If I were to make a list of things that make my heart sing, God’s creation would almost certainly be at the top of the list — and amongst my favorite things in nature are mountains. My parents lived in Colorado before I was born. Surviving on a grad student budget, they found mountain drives to be a
Shay S. Mason
When I was in third grade, I memorized the Ten Commandments in Sunday School. At the time, the Second Commandment seemed like a no brainer. You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to t
Shay S. Mason
An image I saw yesterday is seared into my mind. The caption read “protesters celebrate upon reaching the Capitol rotunda.” Some of the people in the photo were clearly celebrating, but there was a small group that appeared to be gathered in prayer. I looked again. I was fairly sure my interpretatio
Shay S. Mason
It’s just a few days before Christmas, and I find myself wide awake at 5 a.m. This is unusual for me. I’m not a morning person, and I’ve never been one of those “I love my early morning quiet time” people. But jet lag from a recent trip is clearly dominating my desire to be sound asleep. My mind fil
Shay S. Mason
Last night as I was praying with friends, I had a strong sense that there are many people who have been walking through a Season of Despair. This is not surprising. 2020. Need I say more? If you’ve been experiencing despair, I want you to know this season is not the end. You have a hope and a fut
Shay S. Mason
Subject line of advertisement for Lasik surgery that popped up in my emails this afternoon: Restore 2020 Vision I had to laugh! Remember the excitement in the air as we approached January last year? 2020! A year of perfect vision! Focus! Clarity! Riiiight. It’s been clear,
Shay S. Mason
The brown pelican and I have had a chequered relationship. I’m not really a fan of these large water birds, and I was surprised to learn that they are common in my newly adopted state of North Carolina. What’s to dislike about pelicans? For most people, probably nothing. They are impressive predat
Shay S. Mason
In 2004 our family went through a significant transition. We sold our house in Virginia, put most of our belongings in storage, and moved across the pond to Oxford, England for my husband to begin theological training. We were blessed to find a house that was being vacated by an American family with
Shay S. Mason
We’ve all heard that old adage “If it walks like a duck, if it quacks like a duck, it’s a duck.” Well, here’s a confession. I think that’s bunk. In this world, we are often led to believe things are facts when they aren’t really anything more than convincing fiction. There are so many competing voic
Shay S. Mason
Three years ago this month, I left the U.S. for a grand adventure in New Zealand — three months learning about God’s love, off-the-grid on a remote island. It felt like I was finally getting the opportunity to live out my dream of being a hobbit. And I suppose, in a way, I was a bi
Shay S. Mason
There’s no shortage of social media posts these days that can make you want to bang your head against a wall. A few days ago, I saw a graphic posted that showed the phrase “Be Kind” x-ed out and replaced with “Be Anti-Racist, Be Anti-Sexist…” This pretty much stopped me in my tracks. What I felt was
Shay S. Mason
I got up at 4:45 this morning. This has only happened a few times in my life. I once got up at that hour to give birth to a child. I also got up at that hour for the same child’s emergency appendectomy twenty years later. And a couple times I’ve been forced to catch a flight at a similarly ungodly h
Shay S. Mason
We all know what it’s like to have a week or month that doesn’t cut us a break. Maybe it’s even a whole year — 2020 may fit that description for many of us. We do our best to push through hoping to make it to the other side. We put on our best positive mental attitude and keep on chugging like the L
Shay S. Mason
What does the word “father” mean to you? It’s kind of a loaded question. We all have some idea of what a father should be. Or perhaps we have a better idea of what a father should not be. For this reason, Father’s Day may not be a welcome holiday for some. And it’s okay to recognize those wounds.
Shay S. Mason
Last month my husband and I had the opportunity to do some teaching and ministry with a group of friends in Singapore over Zoom. While these last couple months have been challenging, we’ve honestly loved being able to connect in new ways with people we love across the globe. Our Singapore Zoom meeti
Shay S. Mason
Lots of people have phobias. Spiders, snakes, public speaking, even clowns. Those are all understandable fears, right? But fear doesn’t always make sense, and it can sneak up on you at times when you are exhausted and overwhelmed. Even now, 15 years later, the fear that overtook m
Shay S. Mason
For someone who travels nearly six months out of the year, having this extended period of time at home has been more than a small adjustment. Earlier this year, as our family viewed the 2020 calendar, April held the promise of being both busy and satisfying. Our daughter would still be at school in
Shay S. Mason
Adulting. We know we have to do it. Nobody gets to be Peter Pan. And it’s so easy to get annoyed with people who can’t seem to grow up. We want people to take responsibility for their actions and be productive members of society. And, of course, we all know that selfishness is not a virtue. Life sho
Shay S. Mason
I’ve written about the what ifs before. They’re nasty little beasts. Once they attach themselves to you, they are difficult to remove. Our house seems to have been attacked by a swarm of them this week. Mine tend to hover around thoughts of health, whereas my husband’s tend to be attracted to fina
Shay S. Mason
What does it look like to surrender control? Maybe the mere suggestion causes your heart to skip a beat. Does it conjure up images of chaos or calamity? Missed deadlines or failed exams? Piles of laundry or germ-infested bathrooms? There are oh so many ways we try to keep control over our lives.
Shay S. Mason
My eyes met the ground in an attempt to avoid contact with the doctor, who was sitting across from me and my husband. My mind was spinning. I was trying to process the words the doctor had just spoken out loud, but they wouldn’t compute. The warmth in my lap was from my nearly 5-year-old son who was
Shay S. Mason
There’s a plethora of books on the market these days about how to overcome fear. Some come from a secular perspective, but many are more spiritually focused. These books give tips to harnessing our thought life and defeating our debilitating fears. Over the years, I’ve read many of these books but,
Shay S. Mason
The show’s premise revolves around four people who experience untimely deaths and find themselves in a quirky afterlife where they delve into questions of moral philosophy. (If you haven’t seen it and decide to check it out, be sure to start at the beginning.)On a recent episode, the main characters compile a list of exemplary human beings, people they hope will sail through their latest experiment geared toward saving humanity. I know a young woman whose love for the children she served in Madagascar is so great that she shared a bed in the plague ward (Bubonic plague, folks!) with a young girl who had been stricken.
Shay S. Mason
I’ve noticed a lot of people sharing their word for 2020. Gratitude. Growth. Impact. Balance. Some have chosen a word that encapsulates their hopes or reminds them of their goals. Many people I know pray for a word from the Lord. My husband and I both did this separately in our quiet times. He came back with a word that I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear. Upheaval: a violent or sudden change or disruption to something. Well, if that doesn’t throw a wrench into things…
Shay S. Mason
This week I’ve been thinking about the people I know who have given up on God. The ones who are angry at him, the ones who have decided he’s not worth their time, and the ones who have declared that he simply doesn’t exist. Maybe this is you, or maybe it’s someone you love. Maybe you’ve been told by
Shay S. Mason
Shay S. Mason
Friends, God is for you, not against you. Do you believe it?
Shay S. Mason
People are often quick to stand for justice but equally quick to leave love and mercy standing on the sidelines.
Shay S. Mason
The first to respond is a wise old bear, who immediately sees the folly of such an idea. But we don't want all those things...We want to be free. And we want to hear Aslan speak. The ape's rebuke is swift, calling him a "fat, stupid old Bear."
Shay S. Mason
I can't imagine what it would have been like if, in the midst of the irrational thoughts being driven by my OCD, there was no one to come alongside me and gently say, "It's not really as bad as all that. It's going to be okay."
Shay S. Mason
Don't let the failures of other humans be the reason for removing yourself from the One who is love, the One who wants to fill you.
Shay S. Mason
Show the world those scars. Don't let them be a source of shame, and don't pretend they don't exist. They are part of your story. But don't forget that Jesus' story didn't end with those scars and neither does yours!
Shay S. Mason
How often in our spiritual lives are we getting by on so much less than we really need?
Shay S. Mason
The journey had developed in us a deeper love for this amazing country and her hospitable people. God had transformed an annoying turn of events into something beautiful.
Shay S. Mason
You are completely unique, which is why no blueprint of what solved someone else's problems is ever going to solve all of yours.
Shay S. Mason
We have failed to impart love to our young people. We have failed to impart love to those who feel marginalized. We have failed to impart love. Period.
Shay S. Mason
Father's love opens the door for us to come home -- to be completely at rest and secure in our relationship with him, to know who we are!
Shay S. Mason
A new command I give you: Love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. (John 13: 34-35)
Shay S. Mason
Friends, what unites us is so much greater than what divides us, so let's take Jesus' advice: A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. (John 13:34-35)
Shay S. Mason
If you're out there hustling to get that "abundant life" Jesus promised, you're going to end up disappointed. Abundant life can never be found in the things of this world. It can only be found when we slow down long enough to let God work in our hearts.
Shay S. Mason
We aren't here to just survive this life, although sometimes it can certainly feel like it. We were created for joy, for passion, for love. Live your adventure!
Shay S. Mason
If you have a Bible verse that is precious to your heart, don't let it go.
Shay S. Mason
Over time, I began to see that as I gradually loosened my grip on my dreams, I could trust God with these prized possessions.
Shay S. Mason
God speaks to every person in a unique way, but we all know the tug. Some describe it as a voice. For others, it's a feeling or something that appears visually highlighted.
Shay S. Mason
Wherever I find myself on a Sunday morning, the one thing that breaks my heart is encountering Christians who don't know they are loved and don't know how to love others.
Shay S. Mason
We all have weaknesses. And we need to know that it's okay to ask for help. Sometimes, it's an absolute necessity.
Shay S. Mason
He knows your name and He knows mine. And He alone knows the names of all of those whom the Khmer Rouge, Nazis, Hutu Supremacists, Ottoman Turks and others have tried to erase.
Shay S. Mason
As I look ahead to 2019, I want to remain in that place of learning what it means to love and be loved.
Shay S. Mason
The path of love is a journey that lasts our entire lives, if we are willing.