Faith. It's a complicated word. For some...it has great spiritual meaning. For others...it's a bit nebulous. A long time ago, when one of the girls from my youth group got married, I created some counted cross stitch art for her as a wedding gift. I stitched these words from Hebrews 11:1....Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Why in the world was I so enamored with this verse that I created cross stitch art? And for a wedding gift, no less. I can't answer that. One thing I do know.... In order to navigate through life, faith is a … [Read more...]
Taste and see that the Lord is good. Psalm 34:8a If you don’t slow to count the gifts in the moments, God in the moments — when exactly will you taste and see that the Lord is good? The losing of every battle begins when there is no time to taste and see and savor that the Lord is good. When you don’t have time to taste and see that the Lord is good — you begin to taste and believe that life is bad. Ann Voskamp, A Holy Experience My days are pretty full. I get up early and go to bed late. I'm an early bird and a night owl. Would that make me an early owl? No matter what I do, or … [Read more...]
Do you choose a Word for the Year? Lots of people choose a word rather than make resolutions. Last year my Word for the Year was JOY. You can read about it here. If you've been following on Facebook you might have picked up that I decided to skip on choosing a Word for the Year and choose a Verse for the Year. Okay....I changed my mind. Instead.... I decided to do both. Sorta. The verse isn't just a verse...it's several verses...okay....a whole section of scripture. But before we go there let's visit my Word for the Year. Restore. It isn't what you … [Read more...]
What was the best Christmas gift you have ever received? I would need to think long and hard about that one. As a child there were too many gifts under the tree for me. I'm not quite sure what my parents' thought process was on Christmas gifts. Most kids get some new clothes to start off the school year. Not me. Sometimes I got new shoes....in the first few weeks or months of the school year. My parents were not into starting off the school year all shiny and fresh. For all the picture-taking, I never remember, one time, a first-day-of-school picture. But, always, there was a new wardrobe of clothes … [Read more...]
Love. On this Fourth Sunday in Advent we Light the Candle of Love. The first week, we lit the candle of Hope. The second week, we lit the candle of Peace. And last week we lit the candle of JOY. My heart is full of gratitude. I cannot even begin to comprehend this love the Father has for us. To think that he so much wanted us to "get it" that he orchestrated an amazing turn of events to not only demonstrate this love he has for you and me, but to make a way to be a part of his forever family. At Christmas, we imagine a sweet bucolic scene of a mother tending to her … [Read more...]
Today, on this third Sunday of Advent, we light the candle of JOY. The first week, we lit the candle of Hope. The second week, we lit the candle of Peace. Today, we rejoice with Mary at this amazing thing God has done. Oh JOY! Though we know that Mary was a very young woman about 13 years old, she had an amazing understanding of scripture and the times in which she lived. She was carrying the Messiah, the one who to bring freedom to the captives. No doubt she was a little scared. Yet, she was filled with great joy. I enjoy reading a translation of the Bible called … [Read more...]
Are you observing Advent with a daily reading or a weekly candle lighting? If not, it really is not too late to begin. It's a very special time of anticipation. I shared some ideas for observing Advent here. And I created a not-so-typical-version of an Advent wreath here? Today we light the second Advent candle. The candle of Peace. Click here to read about God’s promise of peace from Isaiah 11:1-10. In the second chapter of the Book of Luke in the Bible, the writer tells us all the details surrounding Jesus' coming to the world, including the census which … [Read more...]
It was interesting to me to listen to other shoppers when I was in the stores earlier this weekend. I was amazed at how intentional and sometimes intense people were in finding and deciding upon their purchases. Most of us have a plan in mind when we go shopping, or even when we begin our Christmas decorating. How many of us have a personal plan for the Christmas season? Often we are so busy doing....that we don't take time to be in the moment. We don't take time to ponder the reason for the season. We just go. And I am very experienced at getting into that mode. So... Last week I invited you to … [Read more...]
Are you feeling grateful? What about when there's snow on the ground and it messes up your plans? What about when you've been working like crazy, putting in extra time, and someone else gets the promotion? What about when your head hurts, your family is counting on you, and all you want to do is collapse? Giving thanks with a grateful heart is much easier when the sky is blue, the sun is shining, and you're comfortably sipping your lemonade at the pool on a perfect 75 degree day. Giving thanks with a grateful heart is much easier when everyone notices your hard work and you get an … [Read more...]
How was your week? Today I was standing in line at Kroger with my husband. He asked me if I was okay. I mumbled something. But I wasn't okay. I had been running a grocery list in my mind on the drive over. It wasn't the grocery list of things I needed to pick up from the store. As I was standing in line, I let the weight of that list come down on me. I guess it was written across my face. At that moment I knew that I needed to start a new list.... a list of blessings. And I did....right there in line at Kroger. And then I found myself telling my husband the … [Read more...]
Reading portions of the Book of Psalms in the Bible is something I do almost every day. It's full of wisdom and pain and gratitude and praise and fear. Today's passage included this verse...Psalm 111:10, from the New Living Translation: Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom. All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom. Praise him forever! I don't know about you...but I want wisdom. People who are wise seem to navigate life more gracefully. They are the ones others seek for advice. People who are wise are more thoughtful, less reactionary, … [Read more...]
Obedience. That's sort of a prickly word for many of us. If our parents were strict disciplinarians we may have felt the price of disobedience. But, have you ever thought about the joy of obedience? Here are some verses from the Book of Hebrews, chapter 12, in the New Testament: 2 We must focus on Jesus, the source and goal of our faith. He saw the joy ahead of him, so he endured death on the cross and ignored the disgrace it brought him. Then he received the highest position in heaven, the one next to the throne of God.3 Think about Jesus, who endured opposition from sinners, so that you don’t … [Read more...]
Welcome to Day 27 of 31 Extraordinary Days to Be... Or...simply: Be... Together, we will learn to Be… to live fully and beautifully in our “skin” and in our homes and beyond. If you missed The Introduction or you'd like to follow the entire series, you can find each post listed here. In my reading early this week I came across this verse.... This image is available as a FREE 5x7 printable. Download it here. Light-seeds are planted in the souls of God’s people, Joy-seeds are planted in good heart-soil. Psalm 97:11 The Message I love the idea of God planting … [Read more...]
Welcome to Day 20 of 31 Extraordinary Days to Be... Or...simply: Be... Together, we will learn to Be… to live fully and beautifully in our “skin” and in our homes and beyond. If you missed The Introduction or you'd like to follow the entire series, you can find each post listed here. Last Sunday we took a drive with some friends to visit a local university's gardens in the country. On our way home we drove past a small lake and were totally blown away by the awesome color. Four excited adults exited the car and quietly shouted for joy, exclaiming the glories of the beautiful colors, and … [Read more...]
Welcome to Day 13 of 31 Extraordinary Days to Be... Or...simply: Be... Together, we will learn to Be… to live fully and beautifully in our “skin” and in our homes and beyond. If you missed The Introduction or you'd like to follow the entire series, you can find each post listed here. Do you live in a spot where you can view a sunrise or sunset? Right now we're living at the beginning of a private cul de sac. It's a half mile from beginning to end. This little road runs from east to west. Or west to east depending on your perspective. The beauty for me is that each morning I can sit in … [Read more...]
Welcome to Day 6 of 31 Extraordinary Days to Be... Or...simply: Be... Together, we will learn to Be… to live fully and beautifully in our “skin” and in our homes and beyond. If you missed The Introduction or you'd like to follow the entire series, you can find each post listed here. ...You direct me on the path that leads to a beautiful life. As I walk with You, the pleasures are never-ending, and I know true joy and contentment. Psalm 16:11 The Voice Really? Is that even possible? When life throws a knuckle ball, followed by a curve ball, it sometimes feels like there will … [Read more...]
Raise your hand if you believe God provides everything we need. Now what if I were to say...God provides everything for our enjoyment. Where is your hand now? Up or down? Really. God has an interest in our enjoyment? Most of us "get" the idea that he provides everything we need. See Matthew 6:25-34 But this.... ....fix your hope on God, the One who richly provides everything for our enjoyment. 1 Timothy 6:17b ~The Voice This is a little more difficult for many of us to grasp. After all...many of us don't think of God as being in the enjoyment business. … [Read more...]
