Gaining a heart of wisdom
(The voice of a grieving mother after Herod's Slaughter of the Innocents based on the biblical accounts in Matthew 2:16-18; Jeremiah 31:15; Isaiah 61:1-3) There was no angel appearance to my husband -- No timely warning granted for us to flee the danger and death of Herod's sword. Know that I, too, would have fled.… Continue reading The Christmas Story No One Wants to Talk About
With eyes sparkling, my grandson came to the door, cookie in hand, and grinned through the window. He waved at me with his free hand and then pointed to the cookie. "Thanks, Bam!" he shouted and with a leap, he was off the deck and on to more important business, but the moment stopped me… Continue reading Gratitude Is Solid Evidence of the Transaction of Grace from God
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?
Sunday Scripture "How odd," I thought as the word jumped off the page and into my startled brain. I'd never noticed it before, but there was the word thanksgiving, dangling off the end of the sentence like an afterthought: Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him… Continue reading A Purposeful Thanksgiving Life is More Than an Afterthought
My grandson’s favorite grape tomatoes ripen to a vivid orange in the sunshine on one of the outside rows of my garden. When he was a toddler, he would quiver with delight whenever we picked them together, filling container after container with their bright beauty—and a small cupful to stow in his cup holder for… Continue reading Wake Up to Wonder as a Pathway to Loving and Celebrating God
If I had to affix a title to the front of my beat-up journal, I'd call it Two Quarts of Manna. Its scrawled entries echo Moses's instructions to Aaron about preserving some of God's provision as a memorial for the future. My journals contain the evidence of God's faithfulness. Journal-keeping has become a means of… Continue reading Journal Keeping as a Tactic for Self Awareness and God Awareness
In February, I finished my slow read through the Psalms. One hundred fifty psalms should have taken a mere hundred and fifty days, but I'm sure the math wouldn't come out right if one were to check the dates in my journal. My purpose was to pray my way through the psalms, a goal that… Continue reading Embrace the Subversive Practice of Rest. Celebrate Lent in a World of Hurry and Hustle.
Sunday Scripture Two spiritual practices carried me through December 2020: Each day, I took note of the sunrise, describing the way the light arrived and thanking God for sending the one True Light. Later, I would read a carol and write down one line that stood out to me. The big January surprise, in this… Continue reading Begin Again Every Day: A Powerful Rule of Life
Living Our Days 