Gaining a heart of wisdom
Close your eyes and do not peek, And I’ll rub spring across your cheek. Smooth as satin, soft and sleek, Now close your eyes and do not peek. I can’t begin to count how many times my husband has come home from a spring outing with these words from his childhood . . . and… Continue reading Blessed Are Those Who Persevere
Soaring on lyrical thermals, the author of Hebrews piles image upon image, linking his thoughts with conjunctions that urge the reader to keep a finger in the preceding pages -- all the while pressing forward for more encouragement. Finding that ten out of the thirteen chapters begin with a conjunction, this last thunderous "therefore" that launches chapter… Continue reading Running the Race of Faith
Readers are always fascinated by the people behind the books they love. If you have read Debbie W. Wilson's new book Little Women, BIG GOD (or if you've read my review here on the blog), your mind may be buzzing with questions as mine was. Debbie has an official website where you can learn that she has… Continue reading Author Interview: Debbie W. Wilson
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
Students had assembled for an October chapel service as several dozen faculty members strode to the front of the Great Hall bearing symbols of their work -- a laser in the hands of a physicist, clay in the hands of an artist, spreadsheets borne by an economist. Each offering was placed on the stage, transforming… Continue reading The Practice of Listening
The patient husband and I have challenged ourselves to be more purposeful in our practice of hospitality this year -- to "meet the stranger at the gate" in our own little rural setting by inviting someone new and different into our home each month. January was wonderful! We enjoyed an evening with a couple we've… Continue reading The Glorious Right Angle
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
Traveling to over forty different countries, meeting church leaders who are, at times, risking their lives in the course of doing ministry, and hearing their unique challenges and joys can be an exhausting prospect. Fortunately, Brian Stiller has logged all the travel time, and he has shared his unique experiences and insights in An Insider's Guide to Praying… Continue reading Intercede with Greater Focus and Understanding
Rest is a radical practice. In our hyper-scheduled culture that worships productivity, it's easy to slip into a negative attitude toward those who promote a more rest-filled lifestyle, but The Radical Pursuit of Rest is not seeking to add one more thing -- resting! -- to the already full do-list. Author and professor John Koessler asserts that rest… Continue reading Rest: A Remedy, a Relief, and a Gift
Living Our Days 