Gaining a heart of wisdom
Sunday Scripture Maybe it's because we're just two now in a house that still feels made for six.Maybe it's the tiny snatches of news I listen to, ominous pandemic predictions and sadness around the world.Whatever the reason, I've been lighting our window candles in 2021, a practice I have always reserved for Advent, but which… Continue reading For the One Who Feels Lonely and Dreads the Coming Darkness
The Montauk daisies in my front yard were covered in small white buds, a sight so improbable that I had almost missed seeing them. You see, the plants had been an utter failure in their first location, and I had, initially, had high hopes for the sunny spot near the rock that looks like a… Continue reading How to Keep Persevering When the Work Feels Hard and Horrible
Have you ever wished you could hear God's voice, out loud and in the room? If you were God, how would you go about revealing yourself to humanity? In 2021, you might choose to go live on all social media outlets! In his tiny epistle, John is clear that, even though we cannot hear God's… Continue reading How’s Your Hearing These Days? Can You Discern the Voice of God?
Sunday Scripture My three married sons have chosen wisely, smart women who love God and love their husbands well. Therefore, my grandchildren have wise mothers who limit screen time and access to junk food. Humans, both big and small, develop an appetite, an acquired taste, for what's-good-for-them when what's-good-for-them is what they are given. As… Continue reading 4 Strategies to Help You Develop an Appetite for Reading the Bible
Sunday Scripture "Bam, how old are you?" My oldest grandson's eyes sparkled with pleasure over the edginess of his question, although I'm sure he knew I'd answer without hesitation. "I'm 58," I said because my September birthday hadn't happened yet. "You're younger than Grammy!" he reported with surprise. "You don't LOOK younger than Grammy! Your… Continue reading God is Not Distant or Untouchable. You Can Draw Near to God.
If you want to live well and share wisdom with your children and your neighbors about how they can also live well, the Bible will chart a sound course. If you are looking for inspiration or comfort or if you are preparing a speech, you will certainly want to lift some of the soaring phrases… Continue reading Open Your Bible and Discover the Life-Changing Art of Spiritual Reading
Our intrepid son and daughter-in-law hiked up Pike's Peak, but we drove, oohing and aahing as the car carried us through rugged pines, scattered wildflowers, and startling rock formations. Past the tree line the view changed dramatically, and we began to notice sheer drop offs leading straight down to a mile of nothingness. My cautious… Continue reading See the Narrow Way as a Focused Path and Thank God for the Gift of Guardrails
What goals have you set for your spiritual formation this summer? Do you want to trust God's faithfulness more fully? Have you accumulated a pile of deeply challenging books to read? Maybe you've decided that you're sick and tired of feeling as if your prayer life needs work and are determined to focus on your… Continue reading Think Well | Why Is It Important for Me to Persevere in Clear Thinking?
Sunday Scripture I have begun to consider listening to the morning news as a spiritual discipline, a small act of patriotism in which I put the good of our country above my own comfort or preferences. I've never been a political animal, but events of the past several years and a fleet of newly minted… Continue reading How Can an Ordinary Citizen Begin to Practice a Radical Patriotism?
Sunday Scripture It's been so long since I administered a standardized test to a first grader that I had almost forgotten the most crucial skill being assessed is a little boy's ability to sit still for twenty to thirty minutes at a time while attending to academic material. Even with frequent and very stimulating breaks--butterfly… Continue reading What Obstacles Stand in the Way of Your Daily Endurance Test?
