Gaining a heart of wisdom
Part Three: Carols I Want My Grandchildren to Know The word hope has been gutted by misuse to the point where it's a flimsy thing, a wish thrown out into the universe, a desire held close to one's heart. Christmas allows us to fill the word hope back up again with true biblical meaning. The… Continue reading Christmas Hope for the Fears of All the Years
I was sitting on the attic floor sorting through hand-me-downs when the phone rang, and a bridge began to crumble. Through tears, via a clunky cordless phone, my friend dropped the bomb. She and her family would be leaving our church—the church where our kids had misbehaved together and where she and I had moved… Continue reading Two Strategies for Navigating in a World of Temporary Connections
Part Two: Carols I Want My Grandchildren to Know We live in a world described by C.S. Lewis's devil Screwtape as "The Kingdom of Noise." When we're not being assaulted by ringing phones or pinging notifications, we have podcasts and playlists pouring into our ears as if listening to something might actually be our real… Continue reading Wishing You a Silent and Holy Christmas in the Kingdom of Noise
I had begun to picture cobwebs growing in the corners of my email inbox, and my impatience was rivaled only by my disappointment. After two years of watching my speaking ministry grow, the invitations suddenly stopped coming. Of course, I kept all my fraught feelings to myself. How could I share this particular sadness without… Continue reading Is There a Place for Ambition in the Life of a Christian Woman?
Part 1--Carols I Want My Grandchildren to Know Expectation and Christmas are long-time friends. Tantalizing gifts under a sparkling tree, anticipated gatherings with loved ones, seasonal parties, and special menus that happen only in December add to the expectational cocktail that has become North American Christmas. Taken in reasonable doses, this festive anticipation fuels a… Continue reading It’s Christmas Time! What Is Your Hope? What Are You Waiting For?
When my husband and I were still a “young couple,” we used to laugh over an imagined scenario at our church: Whatever happened to that young couple with all the boys?” “Haven’t you heard? They divorced – someone said that they just grew apart, that they didn’t know each other anymore.” “No! They were here… Continue reading 2 Good Reasons to Keep Showing Up at Your Church
I have a bag for everything. Maybe you do as well? If I grab the right bag as I walk out the door, I'm in business. This morning, with "the church bag" in hand, I'm pondering this question: What do you bring with you when you come to God? Psalm 95 suggests thanksgiving as cargo:… Continue reading Gratitude Is Not Limited to the Month of November
What will you be reading during Advent this year? Will you return to an old favorite devotional book or crack open a classic by Dickens or O. Henry? Do you find that your reading during Advent prepares your heart for deeper joy and a more meaningful celebration? We are blessed in 2023 with a rich… Continue reading 4 New Christmas Books to Deepen Your Joy as You Celebrate Jesus
With eyes sparkling, my grandson came to the door, cookie in hand, and grinned through the window. He waved at me with his free hand and then pointed to the cookie. "Thanks, Bam!" he shouted and with a leap, he was off the deck and on to more important business, but the moment stopped me… Continue reading Gratitude Is Solid Evidence of the Transaction of Grace from God
Brother Lawrence, a seventeenth-century French monk, was assigned kitchen duty as his ministry in the monastery. Disappointed at first that his lack of poise and formal education had disqualified him from a more conventional "monkish" life, he eventually lived his way into an enthusiastic embrace of his calling. In fact, the insights he gleaned while… Continue reading The Presence of God: Will You Accept the Invitation Without an Agenda?
Living Our Days 