Gaining a heart of wisdom
The word "amazing" comes with its own built-in check list -- with a unique edition to fit every age and stage of life. For the middle-aged-mum-grandmother-church-lady-blogger category, my numbers just do not conform. Size, weight, and ounces of caffeinated beverages consumed daily are "too big." I.Q., income, and Twitter following are way "too small." Therefore, according to any culturally acceptable check list, my life… Continue reading It’s Not About Trying Harder
We don't know who he was because he didn't sign his name. Was it fear that drove this anonymity in an age of persecution? Or was it humility? When we studied Hebrews 7, we marveled together at the author's ability to connect the dots between Melchizedek and Jesus, our High Priest forever, based on… Continue reading The Heart of Faith
We refer to them as "spiritual disciplines," and then we stiffen our upper lip -- all the while fumbling tentatively for our boot straps. Then, we proceed to dismiss the more rigorous of the lot (fasting, meditation) as pertinent only to high-power spiritual giants, and it turns out that we've got the wrong idea after all,… Continue reading Habits of Grace
At times, the Apostle Paul's words are so emphatic that I picture him jumping up from his seat and speaking them out loud to whomever is in the room. For instance, these words from Romans 8:31 in The Message: "So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose?"… Continue reading Little Is Much
Four words link the heart to the anchor of God's steadfast love; Four words acknowledge God's goodness in the midst of difficulty: No matter what happens. Thanksgiving -- no matter what happens -- was the challenge facing Lauren Chandler during days in the desert, in the crucible of her husband's cancer, riding the daily waves of parenting… Continue reading No Matter What Happens
Getting older seems to level the relational playing field -- at least that's what I'm finding. The past ten years have been enriched by relationships with women of all ages who have come to my Sunday school class or have attended our women's group. I'm always surprised to find common ground with younger women with whom, if it had been possible… Continue reading The Gentle Art of Discipling Women
The new year is off to a great start! The boys are applying themselves to their school work (most of the time), we've followed through on our goal to be more hospitable (and it's been great fun!), there have been lots of positive comments on the blog (thank you!), and the adorable grandboy was here for… Continue reading Encourage One Another
Pastor and author Kyle Idleman did an informal survey via social media with just one question. "Finish this sentence: Jesus became real when . . ." The hundreds of responses he received, some general ("I had no one else to turn to.") and some specific ("My husband was killed in a car accident."), could be… Continue reading Filling Empty Things
So, it turns out that stroller wheels still run pretty well over hummocky, leaf-strewn garden pathways, and that the thud of a tiny muck boot still makes the same satisfying "bong" against the metal bed of a wheelbarrow. When the going gets desperate with a little guy, the desperate go outside -- just as I… Continue reading 10 Critical Concepts for Women’s Ministry
Spare narrative and a stoic reporting of the facts -- this is the tone of the Old Testament book of Nehemiah: "So I came to Jerusalem . . ." (Five words about a dangerous two-month, one-thousand-mile journey.) "I wept and mourned for many days." (Three months!) Based on a careful study of Scripture, Lynn Austin puts… Continue reading Stone by Stone
Living Our Days 