Luke 1:46-50 ~ “And Mary said:My soul praises the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, because He has looked with favor on the humble condition of His servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed, because the Mighty One has done great things for me, and […]
Hope Infused Music
Three of my favorite musicians/groups: Andrew PetersonCasting CrownsMercy Me Here’s the commonality they share ~ They sing real. They speak authentic words. They talk about worry and struggles and fears. They tell of doubt, even despair. They acknowledge life, and how it hurts and happens and hurls hard things at our heads. Then they press […]
Of Children and Cookies and Such
As I walked through our snow-powdered woods the other day, I began to muse about a few of my favorites and create a mental list in my head. I’d baked cookies and was thinking of books. Children’s books, in particular. I had to chuckle as I noticed a connecting thread running through it all. Here’s […]
The Hope of Further Up! Further In!
We awoke to the most gorgeous blanket of snow we’ve seen on our Kansas plains in a long while. Cedar branches powdered, porch posts piled, and my round outside table blanketed. I gazed in awestruck admiration out my front window. Venturing to the basement door, I flung it open for a few frosty pictures. Retreating […]
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 […]
Gifting A Neighbor As They Re-Establish Hearth and Home
This morning I’m considering… What would I especially wish for if I had to replace all my earthly possessions? In the Kingdom of God, we know value and life and eternal significance lies in things unseen and beyond our physical realm of life here. However, many of us are given lives filled with dishes and […]
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 […]
Catching My Attention
Catching my attention on this Wednesday in July What am I inputting?.How might a slight shift in perspective help me see things from a different angle?.What is breathing beauty into my day?.What made me laugh recently?.Could I break out a puzzle or game for brain exercise?.What have I been savoring?.Have I taken time to be […]
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 […]
Living Gratefully and Aware
Gratitude for what I am given is something I never want to take for granted. I’m no more deserving. I’m not extra special. I most often feel like a misfit. Yet, I often wonder and ponder why I have a home and fresh water when half-a-world away, the children we sponsor with @compassion, often struggle for […]
Cultivating What I Consume
What we consume, begins to consume us. When I dwell on negatives, I become sour, stifled, tight-fisted, grumbly, grumpy, fearful, anxious, bitter. At best, it produces less-than-living. Less than desirable. Less than encouraging. Less than uplifting. Less than inspiring. Less than glorifying. Less than trusting. Less than hoping. Less than joyful. Less than peaceful. Less […]
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 […]
