Gaining a heart of wisdom
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?
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Even in this season of the empty nest, I value its uncomplicated requirement of gathering with loved ones, preparing a meal featuring everyone's favorites, and cultivating a spirit of gratitude to carry throughout the year. Of course, that last one can be a little challenging, right? I keep catching myself… Continue reading Can I Really Persevere in Daily Gratitude as a Matter of Obedience?
For the first time ever, I planted garlic this fall. It's been ages since I've planted something completely different, something that required me to read the directions and something with an unpredictable outcome. Exhilarated at the prospect of a new crop, I did the research and learned that each small clove needed to be sunk… Continue reading When You Feel Stuck in Your Spiritual Life, Don’t Worry About Doing It “Right”
Sunday Scripture "How odd," I thought as the word jumped off the page and into my startled brain. I'd never noticed it before, but there was the word thanksgiving, dangling off the end of the sentence like an afterthought: Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him… Continue reading A Purposeful Thanksgiving Life is More Than an Afterthought
My grandson’s favorite grape tomatoes ripen to a vivid orange in the sunshine on one of the outside rows of my garden. When he was a toddler, he would quiver with delight whenever we picked them together, filling container after container with their bright beauty—and a small cupful to stow in his cup holder for… Continue reading Wake Up to Wonder as a Pathway to Loving and Celebrating God
Living Our Days 