“Sometimes fault lines can only be identified and mapped after an earthquake.” —40 Days of Decrease, Alicia Britt Chole That’s why failure is such an important thing to not be protected from. (She says from her ivory tower…) We often ask God to bless our event, activity, or adventure, expecting Read more
This classic pun has been used by comedians since the 1930’s, since our English word “way” refers both to direction and to manner. It’s great comic fodder, as well as a vehicle for understanding how we are to live our lives as Jesus-followers. I have an unusual way of washing Read more
Today’s to-to list is enormous and overwhelming… like normal. This morning’s verse from a dear friend was this: “Whatever you do, do your work heartily as to the Lord, and not to men…” – Colossians 3:23 I can hear my children’s groans (along with the strains of a march-like tune Read more
My grapevines look very sad. And they are teaching me a thing or two, as usual, about God’s pruning. Thanks to the recovery time dictated by a complete knee replacement, they have mostly not yet been pruned. Care for grapevines (if what you are after is fruit) means reduction of Read more
Regrets. We all have them. I should have bought this when it was on special. I shouldn’t have spoken to my child that way. I should have made a better choice of…anything. I could have had a V-8! Regrets are the subject of today’s fast on my Lenten journey (started Read more
Sometimes my thoughts are like a skittish school of herring, flashing this way and that at the least provocation. I found myself asking God to settle them, or herd them into His net. Is it on the right side of the boat or the left? It isn’t always that He gives Read more
Add one more failure to the list. At least that’s where I’ve been about it… “I thought you were going to put out a song a month.”…Yeah, yeah, yeah. So did I. (heavy sigh) …”I must have launched out without proper planning, or God’s okie dokie, or something. I don’t Read more
Depressed children often chatter like George Washington’s wooden dentures at Valley Forge, and bounce off the walls. Depressed adults are often quiet — silent, even. I was the classic depressed adult. I sat at the computer last week, and wrote nothing, because I had nothing to say. I was depressed… Read more
Seeking for the source of the withered places in my heart, I had a “chance” conversation with someone who is getting therapy for trauma. I asked what the trauma was, and the answer sent me diving into research about trauma. Here’s what I found from UNYTE-ILs. It can include ANY Read more
“Repent and believe the gospel.” — Mark 1:15 These are Jesus’ words that stood out from this morning’s lectio Divina, the ancient Christian tradition of soaking in a short passage of scripture and allowing God’s Spirit to focus one’s attention on a portion of it. Processing what He means resulted Read more