Gaining a heart of wisdom
Whatever your age or stage of life, if you've made it this far without experiencing sorrow or pain, CONGRATULATIONS, you are a rare and wonderful creature! But don't get too comfortable there, because trouble is a certainty. Jesus declared that it's a sure thing, but not a hopeless thing, for he also said that he… Continue reading God Has a Powerful Purpose for Your Pain
The gardening life is full of surprises. It yields good surprises like volunteer tomato plants that show up among the squashes from last year's random self-seeding—and bad surprises such as the utter gluttony of one woodchuck who feels entitled to our green bean plants. This year's best gardening surprise has been the unexpected results of… Continue reading God’s Joyful Surprise: The Gift of His Given Strength
A studio upright sat by the door, but the small piano was truly the centerpiece of Helen's apartment. A widow transitioning from married to single, from missionary to retiree, she poured sadness out the tips of her fingers, and the wealth of words absorbed over seven decades found their way into melancholy melodies. Helen introduced… Continue reading Whatever Made You Think the Christian Life Would Be Easy?
Are there chapters in your personal story that you wonder about? “Why this, Lord? What good thing could possibly come from bringing this across my path?” If so, you are in good company, for many spiritual giants have pondered the same question. Amy Carmichael, a pioneer missionary to India, did her pondering in poetic form… Continue reading For the Days When You Question God’s Wisdom
When Amy Carmichael left her home in Ireland to serve as a missionary in India, she embarked with joy upon a career as an itinerant evangelist. As part of a close-knit ministry team, she traveled from village to village, sharing Christ and seeing lives transformed. One campaign reached twenty thousand people, drawing large crowds who… Continue reading Three Words That Make It Possible for You to Rejoice
Sunday Scripture One of the few relics that has survived my youth is a small golden cross, mailed to me by a dear aunt and uncle I met only once. Whenever I wear it, I think about their unlikely generosity, their completely uncalled-for interest in an awkward pre-teen. And in this Lenten season, I wonder,… Continue reading Carrying Death but Manifesting Life? How in the World Does this Work?
One morning, three-year-old Amy eagerly pushed her chair close to a mirror and climbed up. The night before, she had prayed for her brown eyes to be changed to a beautiful blue, and because her mother had assured her that Jesus always answers prayer, she was certain that she would be gazing into beautiful blue… Continue reading Inspiration from the Servant Life of Amy Carmichael
Sit on a wooden bench (behind a goat) for a day long bus ride through the Andes. When the bus stops, the only way forward in 1952 is to rent a horse for an excursion over steep mountain trails with muddy puddles up to your knees. You'll know you've reached the village of San Miguel… Continue reading The Gift of God in Exchange for Ashes
Over time, a family with four sons develops a unique tone, a guy-culture with a certain decibel level and a distinct way of doing life. As a mother of some now-married sons, it has been a joy to welcome other women into this circle, women who love my sons well and have also opened their… Continue reading How to Be a “True Christian” Mother-in-Law
Turning the last page of 2016, I'm reminded of all its gifts, chief among them this favorite guy, and our rowdy and much-loved family. Thank you, friends, for the encouragement you have brought to this year, for your own inspiring books and blog posts, and for the hospitality of a warm welcome into your life -- and… Continue reading December Musings — 2016
Living Our Days 