Gaining a heart of wisdom
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
As hard as it might be to believe, the "influencers" of my formative years were ordinary people. I actually knew them, ate at their tables, rode in their cars, and, in some cases, even slept in their guest rooms. I was formed and influenced by high school teachers, a nursing assistant, and an assortment of… Continue reading The Power and the Promise of Your Ordinary Life
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
"I'm manifesting a new job in 2026.""I'm manifesting a quick end to the unrest in Iran.""Let's manifest solid growth in our church this year." Manifest was the Cambridge Dictionary word of the year in 2024. Since 2020, public figures and influencers have been writing articles and social media posts that encourage women to "manifest anything… Continue reading Has Manifestation Found Its Way Into Your Prayer Life?
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
Flipping open the pages of my Bible, I turned to the book of Matthew, my scheduled reading for the day, and my entry into the New Testament after months of reading in the Old. This is where I should have picked up my phone and texted my reading partner, Peg, to say, "Hey! We made… Continue reading Stay Present to the Truth Even in Your Grief
I read the quotation, scrawled in purple ink in the margin of my Bible, and I silently scolded myself for not recording the source.1 Then I read it again: "Good works are to grace what a pail is to water—a container to get it from the well to the supper table." Sometimes we wonder why… Continue reading The Miracle Drug that Will Make You Happier and Healthier
When my sons were small, I kept a running list of their funny sayings in my journal or in the memory books I kept for each of them. Many of the most amusing or surprising were questions: "What's inside my tongue?""Did Moses watch tv?""Does Penny (our dog) pray?" They kept me on my toes, but… Continue reading Does Your Life Inspire Questions from Your Grandkids?
We've been tackling some much-needed cleaning projects here on the hill, and it feels good to move furniture, vacuum up accumulated dust, and throw away the things we don't need. Big jobs require time and a certain amount of elbow grease, but the results reward the investment. Routine tasks are less exciting: wiping down the… Continue reading Your Only Sure Protection from the Tragedy of Moral Collapse
The longer I live, the more dubious sounds the popular wisdom of couch pillows and coffee mugs advising me to “Listen to your heart.” When push comes to shove (as it invariably does), I’m learning the advice my heart dishes out is likely to lead me astray. Let me instead speak to my heart as the psalmist… Continue reading What’s the Worst Advice You’ve Ever Been Given?
Living Our Days 