Gaining a heart of wisdom
When I have visiting grandchildren on a Sunday morning, sometimes I get to sit with them in the church nursery. It's a break for their mother and a treat for me. On a Sunday morning nursery date with Ruthie, we had a packed house with every rocking chair occupied and mums sitting on the floor… Continue reading Prayers from a Mother’s Heart Because We’re All Mothers Together
Roots and wings are the gifts Christian parents pass on to our children. We establish rules, give them responsibilities that build confidence and skill, and water those deep roots with lots of love and prayer, knowing that strengthening wings will soon carry our children away from home, out of reach of our influence and our protection. In my prayers for the four young men who are so close to my heart, I’m taking my cues from the book of Philippians.
Whatever time in your family’s life feels like mud season to you, don’t let yourself get stuck! Turn your frustration and anxiety into arrow prayers, and remind your heart that there is no mess too big for God to clean up.
I never like disagreeing with Jesus. After all, he is the Son of God, so when he takes a position on something in Scripture, I am committed to agree. I want to see things his way. But what about his teaching on prayer in Matthew 21? He had just cursed a fig tree, and it… Continue reading When God Says No—The Good Gift of Unanswered Prayer
For the first time ever, I planted garlic this fall. It's been ages since I've planted something completely different, something that required me to read the directions and something with an unpredictable outcome. Exhilarated at the prospect of a new crop, I did the research and learned that each small clove needed to be sunk… Continue reading When You Feel Stuck in Your Spiritual Life, Don’t Worry About Doing It “Right”
If your kids and grandkids haven't already gone back to school and if the retail merchandising freight train hasn't already whisked you into Halloween and Christmas, the imminent arrival of Labor Day weekend and the month of September have likely put you on notice that summer is coming to an end. Maybe you've spent your… Continue reading What to Pray When Your Whole Life Feels Out of Control
In the Pie Chart that is your life, how big is the slice devoted to prayer? I don't ask to induce guilt or to point the finger of condemnation. It's actually a question I'm asking myself, and it's been prompted by a statistic I just bumped into once again: Eleven percent of the book of Nehemiah… Continue reading Are You Satisfied with Your Prayer Life or Is Prayer Simply a Means to an End?
Today it's cornmeal rolls, a trip to our auto mechanic... oh, and this post.Yesterday was fourth grade at Union Elementary, roasting a chicken, and making soup.Every day has its list, and I'm sure that's true of you as well. As good citizens of American culture, we're hardwired for productivity, and the checklist serves as both… Continue reading What Does It Mean to Grow in Spiritual Wisdom? (And a Free Guided Meditation)
Sunday Scripture Today, we begin Holy Week with the waving of palms and the well-loved story about a borrowed colt, an adoring crowd, cloaks thrown on the ground, and a hero's welcome. Caught in the present moment, Jesus's disciples were likely imagining that this was IT, that this event was surely the climax of all… Continue reading Palm Sunday: Celebrating a Day of Triumph and Tears
Do you ever wonder why you can recall banal song lyrics from your youth, but can't remember why you've walked into the family room? I'm learning from this affliction that if I want to commit something to memory or form some sticky habit that's important to me, I really have to work at it. I… Continue reading A Guided Meditation to Keep Your Heart from Wandering
Living Our Days 