Gaining a heart of wisdom
The Old Testament books of history read like a slow circling of the drain, a downward spiral of ever-worsening kings, determined to ignore God's prophetic message, delivered in vivid terms by a long succession of articulate and earnest prophets: "Stop doing this to yourselves!" In dark times, any glimmer of light stands out, so when… Continue reading A Glimmer of Light in a Very Dark Time
As I opened the gate to the garden, there on a broad sunflower leaf rested a bright yellow butterfly, wings unfurled in the afternoon sun. I stood very still, watching as the butterfly exercised its wings, marvelling that it didn't fly away. Later, on consulting a field guide, I was able to confirm my suspicion… Continue reading Beauty Hunt! Behold the Beauty of the Lord Today
I love reading and sharing Christian books here at Living Our Days—and with friends in real life. My goal is to put resources in my readers' hands to help them become more confident followers of Christ and students of God's word. I want to see the truth clearly so I can say it clearly. The… Continue reading What Gospel Is Your Life Spreading in the World?
Lately, I've been looking at the trees towering over our house, shading our front lawn, and providing a boundary around the back lawn. What an audacious trust to permit something so tall and heavy to coexist so closely with our home! A strong wind coupled with a heavy load of snow could bring the tree… Continue reading Planted and Present: A Game Plan for Growing Deep Roots
Going from one chore to another, following well-worn routines, it's easy for me to lose sight of the big picture, which is, of course, my life as a Christ-follower. Does it matter how I weed the garden or hang sheets on the clothesline? Is there one molecule in the universe that is better or worse… Continue reading Overcome Distractions as You Run the Race of Faith
It's testing week here on the hill! My oldest grandson and granddaughter have been here with me to take their end-of-year standardized tests. Remember those forms with all the little dots to be filled in with Number Two pencils? Testing is a big deal1 because it helps my son and daughter-in-law assess their children's educational… Continue reading What to Look for When Times of Testing Come
I stumbled upon the Artemis II live stream while I was on the elliptical last week. Seeing what the astronauts were seeing and hearing their voices transmitted from space boggles the mind. To be honest, though, I can't let myself think for too long about their forty minutes on the far side of the moon—forty… Continue reading Even on the Far Side of the Moon
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
Living Our Days 