A Thrilling Thought for Writers
I pick up Charles Spurgeon’s All of Grace, and I pause at his thoughts about his own writing. He writes that he sends forth his writing with “childlike dependence on the power of God” to bless his readers. He then asks so beautifully: Who knows how many will find their way to peace by what they […]
The Fragrance of Lilac
My late blooming lilac blooms in full, spreading the sweet fragrance throughout the yard and kitchen. It’s lovely, and I love lovely.
Not All At Once
Right about now, I go into a cleaning frenzy. I want the whole house clean, decluttered, and organized for summer. I like breezy, wide-open areas with clear surfaces. Let’s go! Let’s do this! And then, I feel overwhelmed. Don’t you? I remember what to do when I feel overwhelmed by this kind of deep cleaning: remember […]
Follow the Beak
I’m finding more and more nests. I found the tiniest little sparrow nest that’s still under construction. It’s in a low bush by the sidewalk. It’s nearly impossible to see. Then how did I find it? If you want to find nests, don’t just watch the birds; watch what they carry in their beaks. If […]
All the Purple
I love purple. It’s such an unusual color to see outside. It’s astonishing. I go in search of springtime purple (autumn offers her own deep purple of falling leaves), and I stay awhile, just noticing.
Something that Makes God Happy
I love reading Jeremiah 32 to remember again the heart of God towards us. He loves to do good to His people. He rejoices in doing good things. It makes God happy. I read God’s words here in Jeremiah 32:39-41. He says about His people: I will give them singleness of heart and action, […]
What You Require for Peace, Control, and Security
Today I’m challenged to think differently about idolatry. I discover a question that invites true repentance: “What do I require in my life in order to feel peace, control, and security?” (Thank you to Keith Johnson and his article, “Hearing the Music of the Gospel,” for sparking my thinking.) Did you think about good health, more […]
“Implore that person to tell and tell and tell their story.”
My sister finished her final project for her Reading Specialist Certification from the University of Virginia. She chose to create a teacher’s guide for Thanhha Lai’s powerful prose-poetry book, Inside Out and Back Again, (a semi-autobiographical book about Lai’s experience as a refugee from Vietnam in the 1970’s). I just ordered it! In the author’s […]
With and Not For
Years ago, my husband challenged me to stop doing things for people and to do things with them. That ministry principle changed everything about how I thought about serving others and what it meant to love people, include people, and empower people. And I realized how much I loved the withness–the togetherness, the sharing, the […]
Triumphant, Joyful, Forward-Moving
Today I consider the attitude of the day for someone in Jesus’ guarding care. I enjoyed a wonderful book club meeting last night with some new friends reading Guarded by Christ, and the conversation refreshed my soul. I think of these words: Triumphant. Joyful. Forward-moving. Someone in God’s guarding care experiences victory; God always leads them […]