Gaining a heart of wisdom
My first hospitality disaster looked like a blueberry pie, but once I cut into it, I could see it was clearly a blueberry soup enclosed in a pie crust. I hope I served it with ice cream, but even if I did, nothing can take the sting out of that memory. Thanks be to God,… Continue reading Recovering Hospitality as a Vital Aspect of the Christian Life
Social media hadn't been invented yet (thank heavens!) when my kids were very small, and I had never heard of the term #minime, but if I had, one of my sons would definitely have qualified for the role. Given the similarity of our temperaments, one would imagine a high degree of mutual sympathy, a level… Continue reading Parents, Have You Found The Balance Between Judgment And Compassion?
The church has fallen on hard times, and there's no denying that some of the bad press has been well-earned by churches with broken leadership structures, a show-biz mentality, and pastors who prey on their congregations more than they pray for them. Even so, it's hard to get through the New Testament without doing business… Continue reading 3 Reasons You Should Go to Church this Sunday
We've all been subjected at one time or another to the cloying behavior of the people-pleaser. What used to be called a "goodie two shoes" is now the more dignified sounding "virtue signaler," but motive is unchanged by time. It's still a desire for approval, a need to gain attention for doing good. Jesus addressed… Continue reading What Is the Reward for Doing Good?
In my April newsletter, I shared my Desert Island Bookshelf, and in the wake of that, one reader said she'd be interested to know what podcasts I follow regularly. I LOVE reader recommendations, so today, I'm sharing 25 podcasts that land in my feed. I'll keep my comments brief, but I'll share my reason for… Continue reading 25 Favorite Podcasts and Why I Listen to Them
I've lived through a good many phases of interpreting the Christian life, and maybe you remember some of them, too. In the 80s, young Christian women like me were encouraged to be fervent and verbal about our faith. It helped if somewhere along the way you'd experienced a Damascus Road turnaround with a gripping story.… Continue reading Jesus Answers the Question: What Does it Really Mean to be Righteous?
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
I discovered Be Thou My Vision, the classic hymn, when I was in my twenties during a season when my own vision was clouded by uncertainty about the future and lack of clarity about my calling. It was a beautiful and poetic way for me to howl, "Show me, LORD! What is true? What is… Continue reading Time-Bound and Short-Sighted, We Need God to be Our Vision
I've recently taken up my knitting needles and resumed the practice of making mittens. My homemade mittens used to warm the hands of my four sons, but these days I'm working on making mittens for my six grandkids. Right now, I'm over halfway through the second tiny pink pair. I love being “Bam” to six… Continue reading How Has God Demonstrated His Love for You?
Early in 2024, little Margaret Louise added her voice, her turned-up nose, and her indescribable cuteness to the Morin family. Our sixth grandchild, fourth granddaughter, and sixteenth member of our immediate family, she is already a tiny and unique human. Because she is so very young, much of who she is and who she will… Continue reading Every One of Your Days is Given and Designed by God
Living Our Days 