Anticipating Beauty and Joy
Look at these! I roam the garden, so filled with joy over what’s coming. Climbing roses in a peachy blush. Raspberries so abundant that I’ll make as much sorbet as we want. Blackberries as big as a thumb. Strawberries, bright red and perfect for pies. And this deep truth: anticipation itself contains the beauty and the […]
Wide Open (Psalm 81:10)
What I Learn From the Judges of the Boalsburg Memorial Day Pie Contest
We journey down the road to the Boalsburg, Pennsylvania Memorial Day Fair. We have dollars in hand to buy slices of whichever pies win the pie contest. We intend to stay to watch the Maypole Dance and listen to the joyous Little German Band. We will buy steaming hot dogs from the Boy Scouts. For years, […]
Matters Too Wonderful
Today I take great comfort in David’s words in Psalm 131: “My heart is not proud, Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.” I sometimes find myself so caught up in complex theological mysteries that distress my soul more than bring me […]
Get to Yourself Before You Do
This morning, I learn about all the bad choices people make when they are over tired, over hungry, and over stressed. A friend reminds us to get to ourselves before we become the person making bad choices. It’s a funny expression. She advises us to catch ourselves before we become too tired, too hungry, too […]
The Robins Arrive
You Work Around It
The cowbird intrudes upon the sparrow nest. She continues on. She works around the unexpected.
Divine Enablement
Why is it that we so often forget the impossibility of doing what God commands apart from the enabling power of the Holy Spirit? How quickly I become overwhelmed. Today I discuss with a neighbor the infinite riches of God always available to meet us in any need. We not only forget to ask and […]
No Fear
I read a verse in Isaiah 52 that reminds me of God’s care. It’s just this: “The Lord will go before you, the God of Israel with be your rear guard.” He’s a Guarding God, and this is a promise, always, of our souls, even when our bodies decay and calamity comes.
We Are Never Outside of His Care
Today on the walk to school, my youngest daughter peers first into the tiny sparrow nest in the bush along the path. It’s as small as a silver dollar. Oh, the wonder to see the first little egg, smaller than a jelly bean. I note the size of both the nest and egg and the […]