Gaining a heart of wisdom
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?
How’s YOUR relationship with the discipline of silence? Twice in Psalm 62, David exhorts his own soul to “wait in silence,” and 21st-century believers need to have the same conversation with our souls.
One of the most frequent questions I've been asked over the years (and one I struggled with myself as a young woman) is this: "I know I'm supposed to be having a devotional time with God every day. What does that look like?" The short answer is that there's no short answer to that question! My… Continue reading What Makes a Rich and Meaningful Devotional Life?
We've all met the woman who treats her daily quiet time like a lucky rabbit's foot or a spiritual vitamin pill. And we've heard from the guy who announces financial blessings in direct proportion to how long he fasts or prays. In an article at Christianity Today, James Bryan Smith pressed on that fragile boundary… Continue reading The Urgent Difference Between Legalism and Faithful Spiritual Practices
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
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Even in this season of the empty nest, I value its uncomplicated requirement of gathering with loved ones, preparing a meal featuring everyone's favorites, and cultivating a spirit of gratitude to carry throughout the year. Of course, that last one can be a little challenging, right? I keep catching myself… Continue reading Can I Really Persevere in Daily Gratitude as a Matter of Obedience?
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”
"One year ago today... Look back at September 17, 2022." My phone flashed a cheerful message as it does almost every day, inviting me to view photos from a year (or more!) ago. It's an invitation I usually ignore but for some reason, on September 17th I accepted. My reward was a video of wind-driven… Continue reading Harvest the Goodness of Every Single Day by Remembering
My friend Joanne was continually clearing off her kitchen table–with little success to show for her valiant efforts. Whenever we talked on the phone, I could hear her moving about, tethered by a 1970s-era phone cord, and I knew what she was doing. She was clearing off the kitchen table. Again. Even so, whenever I… Continue reading Do the Next Thing and Fine Tune Your Focus
Keeping my voice confident (more confident than I felt!), I greeted my Sunday morning learners with an unexpected request: “Let’s stand together for our reading of God’s Word this morning.” They didn’t know I had chosen a longer passage than usual.They didn’t know I had timed the reading to fill about three minutes.They didn’t know… Continue reading How Can I Cultivate a Listening Life in a Noisy World?
Living Our Days 