How Are You Today, God?

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

Thankful: Challenged for the Future

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

New Mercies and Coffee

Lately I have been enjoying a mixture of spices, coconut milk and maple syrup in my coffee. I have noted that my pain levels seem to be reduced after my morning mug. This comes as no surprise since my mom used coffee for pain relief for many years, having an Read more

Hügelkultur and Humility…

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

Not Neat and Tidy

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

What Kind of Playmate Am I?

“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

Fault Lines

“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

Whatever You Do

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