Gaining a heart of wisdom
My finger hovered over the screen as I read and scrolled, the words landing like lead in my stomach. A friend had simply reported the facts: “Try this!” she chirped, her heart pure, meaning only to encourage. “It worked for me! I’ve had 300 responses in just a few hours!” I darkened the screen with… Continue reading The Glory of Being Loved and Known by God
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
He placed one hand on the door frame, shifted his weight to one foot, and then placed the other small boot toe-down on the floor. Looking at his dad, he checked his hand position and then assumed the facial expression he deemed appropriate to the occasion, a conversation among "the guys." My grandson's imitation of… Continue reading 10 Ways to Reflect God’s Character
It should come as no surprise when a brain that has been marinating for decades in North American evangelical culture has an immediate and visceral response to the names of prominent historical Christians: C.S. Lewis: Green light and heart emojis (but, remember, he did smoke . . .) Francis Schaeffer: Amazing intellect, but too bad… Continue reading The Life and Theology of Karl Barth
“Wait,” He said, and locked His gaze with eleven pairs of eyes brimming with question marks. “Wait. I have been your constant companion for three years, walking long deserted roads, sharing our meager meals, sleeping under the stars. I have answered your questions and rebuked your faithlessness, and now it is time for me to… Continue reading Wait for the Spirit of Christmas
"I'm glad you're the one reading this," said the patient husband. He was referring to the tongue-twisting list of names in I Chronicles 5 with all their adjacent vowels and unexpected consonant blends. I could see his point, but, to be honest, I was enjoying the effort of decoding the names and then saying them,… Continue reading Why Read the Lists?
As one who is eminently shake-able, I look daily and with great need to the unshakeable Word of God. There's no better place to turn when your heart has been shaken -- Truth (with a capital "t") is the solid foundation for a life of stability. The #livefree Thursday community is pondering the word… Continue reading Inerrancy Defined and Defended
"Why would God want us to speak to Him?" William Philip's question stopped me in my tracks because most authors of books on prayer argue from the opposite perspective: "Why should you want to speak to God?" Forever curious about the nature of God and constantly frustrated with my inconsistent prayer life, I found biblically-based and deeply thoughtful reflections… Continue reading Thinking God’s Thoughts After Him
The Things of Earth: Treasuring God by Enjoying His Gifts by Joe Rigney -- A Book Review By nature, I have a war-time mentality. I wish I could attribute it to a white-hot gospel fire in my bones, but it probably has more to do with seeing President Gerald Ford wearing a sweater and urging… Continue reading Brighter, Better, and More Potent
Jesus, Continued . . . by J.D. Greear: A Book Review As soon as he started talking about guidance, J.D. had my ear. You see, I am THAT Christian -- the one who becomes paralyzed whenever there's a big decision on the table, and even though I know that God is not interested in mindless… Continue reading Beside Us to Guide Us — and More!
Living Our Days 