Gaining a heart of wisdom
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
Across the miles they drove, journeying four hours north on washboard roads until they reached this country hill. “We want to talk about the conference,” they had said on the phone. “We can fill you in on the details in person. The more you know about us, the easier it will be for you to… Continue reading Offer The Priceless Welcome And Genuine Hospitality Of Friendship
I settled down to work in my usual spot. The dining room table always provides a welcoming space for all my books and notes and an open Bible. With fingers on the keyboard, I was ready to write when a ping sounded from my phone, a reminder from an app that I hadn’t done a… Continue reading Three Strategies for Aligning Your Life with Your Convictions
I was sitting on the attic floor sorting through hand-me-downs when the phone rang, and a bridge began to crumble. Through tears, via a clunky cordless phone, my friend dropped the bomb. She and her family would be leaving our church—the church where our kids had misbehaved together and where she and I had moved… Continue reading Two Strategies for Navigating in a World of Temporary Connections
I had begun to picture cobwebs growing in the corners of my email inbox, and my impatience was rivaled only by my disappointment. After two years of watching my speaking ministry grow, the invitations suddenly stopped coming. Of course, I kept all my fraught feelings to myself. How could I share this particular sadness without… Continue reading Is There a Place for Ambition in the Life of a Christian Woman?
When my husband and I were still a “young couple,” we used to laugh over an imagined scenario at our church: Whatever happened to that young couple with all the boys?” “Haven’t you heard? They divorced – someone said that they just grew apart, that they didn’t know each other anymore.” “No! They were here… Continue reading 2 Good Reasons to Keep Showing Up at Your Church
Living Our Days 