Gaining a heart of wisdom
Debbie Kitterman's class comprised a delightful balance of both brown and white faces, and when she overheard the symphony of Spanish and English conversations, her curiosity was piqued. At the first opportunity, she approached the pastor of the Hispanic congregation that was hosting her class. "How come half of my class doesn't speak Spanish?" she… Continue reading The Bridge-Building Ministry of Encouragement
Among the assorted ranks of those who practice journaling, you can record me in the column labeled "intimidated." Observation, application, and interpretation of my reading primes the pump, but never are my entries particularly stirring or insightful. My pages are scattered with partial outlines, first and second drafts of biblically-inspired poetry, and lists of questions… Continue reading Practical Help for Journaling as a Spiritual Discipline
We are a story-telling family, composing on-the-spot homespun tales, filling up the long minutes of road trips with audio books, laughing together over replays from crazy conversations, and delighting in glory-moments together after the fact. As our family continually rotates in wider orbits, stories have become the fibers that connect us, that keep us known… Continue reading God Has a Bigger and Better Story for You
Most days on this country hill are a blur. With every line in my planner filled, there’s also the background music of laundry and continual cleaning. In the winter, there’s a voracious wood stove; in the summer there’s a garden that needs constant attention. Stuffing a ratty t-shirt into the washer’s maw, I try not… Continue reading Celebrating the Labor and the Love
The knock at the door came as no surprise. Rahab was used to furtive visitors at all hours as male customers came to her door, and yet this pair was different, for they were part of Israel's advance surveillance strategy, the first wave in their mission to conquer Jericho for the glory of God. It… Continue reading God Has an Ever-Unfolding Vision for You
When the herald sounds the arrival of a Great One, Heads turn. Eyes focus on The Coming. This is the goal, of course, For greatness must be seen. But "Sound no trumpet," said Jesus To those who would do good for others. Fold the bill to hide Ben Franklin's face in the plate. Avoid the… Continue reading Do Good So That Goodness May Be Done
In times of danger and disaster throughout history, true believers have made their mark by running toward the darkness. Whether it was a plague in second century Rome or a twenty-first century hurricane in America's deep south, if we follow Mr. Rogers's advice and "look for the helpers," we might be surprised by how many… Continue reading Run Toward the Darkness with Borrowed Light
**This post was written in 2014, the year my grandson was born. He will be four this week, and his great-grandmother would have had her 100th birthday two days prior to his big day. I'm updating this post in her honor and memory.** Fall 2014 I spent some time today making curtains for my grandson's… Continue reading Remembering Grammy Morin on Her Birthday
Tired metaphor though it be, the transformation from chubby caterpillar to seemingly inanimate chrysalis, and then to elegant and dainty flying monarch was new again to me in this late summer season of 2018, because it was new to my tiny grandson. "Leafy" had no idea that the milkweed he munched in a retired goldfish… Continue reading Musings: September 2018
Conversations about missionaries and missions strategy are commonplace in our home. We talk about the latest newsletter updates, who's "home," and who's "back on the field." We wonder about the members of our missionary family when we don't hear from them, and we puzzle over big picture concerns in an era in which more missionaries… Continue reading Is There a “Right Way” to Do Church Ministry?
Living Our Days 