As I ponder and praise Jesus’ coming as a baby, the coming of Christmas this year, and His return at the end of the age, here are a few ways, words, melodies, and moments lighting my life with hope and peace and gratefulness and reflection during December and Advent. 1. Lighting a candle on my kitchen island […]
When Hope Is Long In Coming
There’s a beautiful batch of snowflakes filtering down outside my window this afternoon. They make me unabashedly happy. Big, glorious flakes of snow aren’t entirely common for my part of Kansas. It’s a bit like living in a snowglobe. The snow spells out Christmas, Advent, and cozy all swirled together. As I’m contemplating hope during […]
The Beauty of Little Acts of Kindness Matters
Last week, in the middle of a few busy days, my son slid the mail pile onto my kitchen island. It’d been bumping around in the farm pickup. My farmer man had plucked it all out of the mailbox right after lunch. Now, late afternoon found me flipping through it. Smack in the middle was […]
In Which I Muse About Assurance
Assurance could look like a signed contract. It might be in the number of place value holders stamped on our bank statement. Assurance may feel like meal plans or lesson plans, vacation plans or run-away-from-Nineveh-plans. Assurance sometimes disdainfully and smugly plants itself in the territory of how-right-I-am. Perhaps assurance comes in the form of a […]
A Simple Tuesday in 2020
On a simple Tuesday morning, in the midst of August, in the year of our Lord, two thousand and twenty… I’m anticipating… • that life will not always be as it is today. In an upheaval and uncertainty of days. In a madness of strong opinions and fears on either end of the pendulum. In […]
Wandering and Wondering in My Yard Tonight
I wandered in my yard tonight.Gave solemn thanks for glorious light.I wondered in my yard tonight.Of His redeeming love and might..I wandered in my yard tonight.A loyal dog friend at my side.I wondered in my yard tonight.Of Jesus’ whisper, soft, “Abide.”.I wandered in my yard tonight.Admired dahlias blooming bright.I wondered in my yard tonight.He looks […]
The Gift of Anticipation
It took me a while to name this. {A.K.A. years…}😆 I LIKE TO ANTICIPATE. I know these days and weeks have been different. As a homebody, I’ve loved the permission to live at a slower pace. The relief from the pressure to do more, go more, please other’s invitations. Yet, I still have missed things […]
I Want the Infusion of Jesus in My Life
I want the infusion of Jesus in my life. For this is the leaven of life. Not the profession of Him.Not the profession of Christianity.Not nicely summed up in a little meme. Not the confession of Jesus.Not confession alone.Not nicely coined words and phrases. Certainly not the pretension of Jesus. A house of cards testimony.Woven […]
It Reminds Me
Lightning flickers in the wee hours of dark and splays a light show across our curtained bedroom window. Thunder rumbles deep in the distance and raindrops echo off of eaves. Blinking sleepy eyes, I roll over, listen, lean against my good farmer man, and let slumber beckon me back. The spring storm splatters its wind […]
Intentional Resolve and Choosing To Make a Difference
I underlined the words with my fingertip and laid my Bible in my lap. Gazing out the window, I thought about the words I’d just read. Words pointing towards waiting, resolving, and making an intentional difference in a loved one’s life. I knew waiting was not my strong point. Sitting in settled stillness or practical […]
Books and Podcasts That May Be Exactly What You Need Right Now
Good day, friends! Kansas is showing off beautiful this morning. Blue, blue skies. Rolling out the puffy white clouds because they look so fantastic with the blue as a backdrop. Green wheat waving. Spring blooms swaying. Truly magnificent! Our world is full of noise, isn’t it? Even in ordinary days, we all have a lot […]
Made to Move Mountains
The back cover of Made to Move Mountains begins with these words, ” Life is an incredible journey with many ups and downs.” It is, isn’t it?! We know and believe this, but never are we more aware of it than when upheaval and uncertainty come calling. Right now, for most of us, the coronavirus […]
Read a Bit {Journey to the Cross}
Today I have a book to prepare us for Easter. Journey to the Cross contains forty devotionals from the (in)courage community. I’m excited about this book during the spring and Easter season. It would work well for Lent. I appreciate focusing on the Advent season and finding a book, devotional, or study specific to Christmas. […]
I Never Missed a Moment
On a Wednesday morning, I attend the commemoration of a life well-lived. The celebration of graduating from this body of skin and bones and sinew, housing soul and spirit, into the presence and majesty of Jesus. Can we only imagine sitting face to face, completely enveloped and warmed by His extravagant love?! Truly experiencing the […]
Five Ways I’ve Found to Fight Back Against the Voices of Failure, Fear, and Futile Discouragement
I’ve spent enough days on this spinning planet, listened to enough stories, cares, and heartache, and fought them myself too many times to count. I’ve found they attack old and young alike. I know them to be sneaky and the meanest kind of mean. I’ve come to believe no one is exempt, no one never […]
Press. Hold. Spray.
I stare into the mirror and I press the nozzle on the hairspray and I spray making circles all around the front and back to hold my flyaway hair in place. I pause. Then, I press it again and repeat the hairspray path. I think I’m not just spraying my hair in place. Deep down, […]
An Excerpt From The Reminder of A God Who Sees Me
I cried over a kitten this morning. It felt dumb and ridiculous. It felt compassionate too, yet the critic in my head condemned me for crying over a kitten when I so often fail in my desire to have a deeper compassion for other people. It felt small and silly, for I could easily count […]
