Always Receptive
Today I read a beautiful quote by AW Tozer about God. He writes: In coming to Him at any time, we need not wonder whether we shall find Him in a receptive mood. He is always receptive . . . He does not keep office hours nor set aside periods when He will see no […]
All this Rain
Today I loved gathering with the Baker family in the living room for conversation, snacks, and a little television. It’s another day of rain, so we stay inside. I’m imagining a game of Spoons and maybe Shanghai Rummy. The rain brings on the conversations and the games, and I’m thankful. It’s a wonderful day so […]
Building Oneness in Marriage
Today my husband and I celebrate our 18th wedding anniversary. Our gift to one another is a new landscaping plan for our garden that we can work on together over the years as the budget allows. It’s fun to learn together about native Pennsylvania plants and how to make a garden work well for a […]
Looking at You Looking at Me
Even Then, Even There
I love Psalm 139 and the promise that no matter where I am, even then God’s “hand will guide me” and His “right hand will hold me fast.” Isn’t it wonderful to know that God’s hand guides us and holds us no matter where we are? He is here even then (when your worst fears […]
All the Things You Couldn’t Tend
I discover that most of my raspberries never make it to my bowl. A collection of creatures–rabbits, chipmunks, birds, and probably a deer munching from over the fence–regularly consume every single berry the minute they ripen. Mostly, it’s the rabbits. They have burrowed under our fence. Those rabbits with that adorable puff of a tail […]
Encouraging People in Four Ways
As you know, I love to encourage people. Today I realized that it’s important to teach others how to encourage one another. It doesn’t come naturally to many of us, so I thought I’d provide this list that I’ve been teaching my children. Tell others you are glad to be with them and why. You can […]
Healing Comparison and Fear of Missing Out
I still remind myself of the truths of Seated with Christ every new morning. It’s not just for me; it’s because I’m raising teen girls. We need to know we’re seated at the Greatest Table with the Greatest King now more than ever. The lies of the culture abound: we need this vacation, this kind of […]
What’s Best for the Team
This week, I’m volunteering as a “huddle coach” for our church’s MEGA Sports Camp. I learned a wonderful point about living in a way that’s “best for the team.” In other words, sometimes you sit out because that’s what’s best for the team. Sometimes, the coach puts you in the game because that’s best. Either […]
The Little Claws
I return from all my summer travels and settle into the home routine. I pause by the second robin’s nest that still catches me by surprise. It’s so late in the summer, and yet here they are. I notice the little claws. And I realize I want to show you these claws. I consider how this […]