Gaining a heart of wisdom
Today I attacked the kind of cleaning chores that I envision other more diligent and domestically devoted women doing all the time: the tidying that requires pulling furniture away from the wall, vacuuming under beds, and applying a ferocious dust cloth to the rungs of chairs and the hidden recesses of bookcases. Homely household routines… Continue reading Elisabeth Elliot’s Unique Blend of Grit and Grace and My Review of a New EE Biography
Sooner or later, it happens to every church-going man or woman. It's as common as trolls on Twitter, and it happens almost every time we sing: We lie to ourselves, and we lie to God. Whether we're singing a great hymn of the church or something more recent, the lyrics are often aspirational--but not actual.… Continue reading Telling the Truth in Worship Requires Clear and Unclouded Vision
I have a new plant sitting on the window sill of "The Princess Room." Its pink flowers will undoubtedly bring delight to the heart of my oldest granddaughter--primary inhabitant of that particular guest room and the reason it is so named. Now, if I can only keep the plant alive! I have a terrible track… Continue reading 5 Practical Resources to Encourage Daily Rhythms of Spiritual Discipline
Serving as the substitute teacher on a field trip with a kindergarten class leaves plenty of room for disaster, but I didn't expect to come away from the experience with sadness. We spent a May morning at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, and the tulips, peonies, jonquils, and flowering trees were putting on quite a… Continue reading The Power Source for All that You Could Never Be
When grown-up sons fly the nest, sometimes the parents take wing as well. Circling the breathtaking terrain and then landing in full view of the Colorado Rockies feels a bit like landing on the moon for eyes accustomed to the gently sloping ranges of Mid-Coast Maine. Look out the window, and there’s Pike’s Peak on… Continue reading Can You Perceive the Glory of God in Your Ordinary Surroundings?
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)
“I want to keep it handy in case I need it,” she said, matter-of-factly. She wasn’t talking about a flashlight. Not a package of tissues. Not even a cell phone...(They hadn’t been invented in 1978.) She was talking about Isaiah 55. “I liked it,” she went on. “So I memorized it.” Come, all you who are… Continue reading Memorize the Mind of God and See Your Own Mind Changed
I still chuckle when I remember the look of surprise on the faces of kids on the morning after a sleepover when all the Morins would suddenly just burst out singing at the breakfast table. We wanted our kids to learn the hymns of the faith, so we made it part of our routine. When… Continue reading Standing on the Promises is More Active than it Sounds
Since 2022 was my worst gardening year EVER, my enthusiasm for spring and another year of digging in the dirt seems completely unreasonable. After all, 2022 began with great intentionality--an early planting of peas and lettuce and lots of faithful watering followed by thorough weeding of the growing plants. Certainly, the plump woodchuck living under… Continue reading Intentional Gardening–and an Intentional Life–in Partnership with God
When I am in the process of turning bright red tomatoes into fragrant and delicious spaghetti sauce in my kitchen, I’m usually working with inexact measures. The recipe may call for nine cups of tomato puree, but my garden produces whatever seems right in that season. Measuring the herbs that flavor the sauce is definitely… Continue reading Commit Your Minutes to the Hard Work of Reaching Your Goal
Living Our Days 