Gaining a heart of wisdom
Over 25 years ago, I began reading the Bible with a friend who lived well into her nineties. Our friendship withstood the Proverbs 17:17 test (“A friend loves at all times”), enduring numerous life changes and geographical challenges as we extended a welcome to each other through our changing seasons. Sadly, a long-haul friendship like… Continue reading The Faith-Shaping Hospitality of Spiritual Friendship
I'm not very happy with my new glasses. I guess, technically, they're not exactly new anymore, because I've had them for at least six months. Sadly, I'm still getting used to them, and it seems that I'm not seeing as well as I did with my old glasses. For someone who reads as much as… Continue reading Hope for the Days When Your Faith is Blurry
You don't need me to tell you that these are anxious days we're living in. Even if you limit your news intake as I do, the headlines are beyond belief, and it's easy to let our hearts slide into unhealthy rhythms. I've said it before here, and I'll say it again: We fall back onto… Continue reading Calm Your Anxious Heart with Rich Devotional Reading
You can learn a lot about people by studying the search history on their computer or phone. Mine, for example, includes two tabs on the book of Habakkuk, several on Google Docs, and a random assortment of blogging websites. If you guessed that I'm doing some reading, writing, and teaching, you'd be correct. Using the… Continue reading Pray in a Different Way Because of Your Fear
In the aftermath of a big snowstorm, I'm grateful for the good work of our son with his snowplow. He clears the driveway, pushes the snow into big piles, and leaves the yard accessible to our vehicles and our feet. What works great here in the northeast when winter has us by the throat does… Continue reading You Need to Know that God Is Not a Snowplow Parent
Every January 1st, I am greeted by the same bracing truth as I turn again to the first page of my well-worn flip calendar of Elisabeth Elliot quotes: Lord, give me a quiet heartThat doesn’t need to understand,But, confident, walks forward inThe darkness, guided by your hand." In a sense, everyone steps into the darkness… Continue reading 6 Means Through Which God May Choose to Guide You in the New Year
For those of us in the United States, this is a day of thanksgiving. However, gratitude is not circumscribed by geographic boundaries. Nor do we need a calendar’s permission to leave room for gratitude, so . . . LORD, we thank you!We confess that our hearts are often full of ourselves, for we mistake self-importance… Continue reading A Prayer for You on Thanksgiving Day
Maybe it’s the bright yellow of autumn here in New England, or perhaps it’s just my affinity for Robert Frost’s view of the world, but I can’t seem to turn calendar pages past the fall equinox without mumbling phrases from “The Road Not Taken.” Unfortunately, a glut of ’70s-era posters and way too many graduation… Continue reading Finding Your Way Back to the Right Road
September always feels like a new beginning to me. No wonder, after so many years of homeschooling! Give me a few sharpened pencils and a clean, unsullied notebook, and I'm ready for a fresh start, focused and impervious to distractions. Christianity is all about new beginnings. Salvation is the starting line for everyone (there are… Continue reading Avoid Distractions When You’re Running the Race of Faith
My son called with a question, and (for a change) the call was actually for me. (I don't do home renovation or car repair questions.) He had been raking blueberries and had settled down to pick them over, removing the unripe berries, leaves, and stems. It's slow and painstaking work. "How clean do you get… Continue reading Think About What You Want to See on Your Plate
Living Our Days 