Seems like a silly question. I mean, really…He never changes, right? It’s true, but He also is living, not a static entity, and that means He is responsive. Scripture tells us that His heart breaks, He rejoices over repentant sinners, He has wrath which is not always being poured out Read more…
Wow…thanks…and Ow… This morning I encountered this startling statement from Psalm 138: “I will …praise Your Name for Your love and faithfulness, for You have exalted above all things Your Name and Your word.” That’s a pretty strong statement about where He has placed the value of His word: exalted Read more…
“No discipline is joyful.”* Oh, how I hated this verse as a child! Hearing it was supposed to make me feel better about feeling bad about something that was being done to make me be better! It is challenging enough to give thanks for the hard things God brings into Read more…
Many years we have kept a thankful journal during the month of November. Some years we have kept a continuous thankful list. Other years, just those around the Thanksgiving table recorded gratitude. Re-reading some of them recently brought some tears and some giggles. Stick figures drawn by those too young Read more…
Lest you think following Jesus every day in the everyday is just a catchy hashtag, here is a glimpse into what it looked like for me a month ago… My mind an heart are a bit weighted this morning. I don’t understand. Please examine me and show me what I Read more…
Rest… Yeah, good luck with that! In our culture, rest is seen as an offense against productivity…and we are what we produce, right? God has been working on me in this area lately. (By lately, I mean over the last few years…I’m a slow learner!) The latest adventure has included Read more…
Yes, again… So, I finished the hügelkultur pit; the brush pile has been reduced to a flat patch of ground covered with twigs and grass. Not a thing of beauty by any means, but at least unobtrusive and less obnoxious. It no longer looks out of control or dangerous. I Read more…
If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, 10 no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you Read more…
Not neat and tidy. Nope. This following-Jesus stuff is messy! Questions come up that don’t have any neat solutions. Or even straight-forward ones. Conflicts arise for which there is no resolution. Depression hits and won’t let up. Disease and death still affect and afflict us, cheating and robbing us of Read more…
“You guys are like stubborn playmates on the playground…I suggested a great game full of delight, and you poohpoohed it. When my friend told you a sad story, none of you were willing to listen and cry over it with him.” When I came across this passage (my paraphrase), I Read more…