Month: October 2018

Good Days and Bad Days

I remember a sermon I once read by Charles Spurgeon entitled “God’s Providence.” In this sermon, Spurgeon compares our life–the good days and the bad days–to a wheel turning. The image captivates me. I read on as he writes this to help us understand our life: So it is with our life.  Sometimes we are in […]

Preparing for Guests

Over the years, I’ve learned some things (both as a guest of others and host) that I’d thought I’d pass on to younger readers about hosting other people in your home. I’m not an expert, but here’s what I’ve learned: Prepare a bedroom with fresh linens, a tissue box, a bottle of water, and a […]

What to Fear

I’m settled as I read Psalm 49 this morning. The priest writes: Why should I fear when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround me–those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches? No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them–the ransom of a […]

Making Baked Kale Chips

At a party recently, my friend displayed a bowl of her perfectly crispy and salty kale chips. In fact, she had huge bunches of kale on her counter for her next batch because her boys ate the chips as fast as she could make them. I found myself gobbling them up as well! I didn’t […]

Helpful Questions

Following the theme of “help” from these past few bogs, I continue to think about help, especially if I am in the position to give it. The needs of others come to me swiftly and clearly; you can’t miss them if you live at all in community with people. I can almost guarantee that anyone […]

The Help that Came

After considering the help of the Lord yesterday, and the prayer in that beautiful psalm that God might send help and support, I did indeed wonder about the kind of help God sends when we feel overwhelmed. As I’m thinking about the Lord sending help, I’m amazed that several strange things happen in quick succession. […]

My Second Day of Not Blogging in 8 Years

Well, there was that one day in Kansas that I couldn’t blog. And now yesterday. It was a day of grading and running around campus, and I forgot.  For the first time in 8 years, since March 2010, I forgot. I did have a small, shining moment in the morning when I thought, “This is […]

All the Butternut Squash

With two butternut squash on my kitchen counter, I search the internet for main dish ideas. First, I’ve learned the easiest way ever to peel and chop butternut squash. Enjoy this easy microwave trick.  Then, I find this gem of a recipe and immediately gather my goat cheese and walnuts. I just know my family […]

Keeping Yourself in a Bit of Struggle

Last night, my daughter talked to us about a test in which she received a lower grade than she expected. Instead of worrying about this, she announced that she’d rather struggle in a class that’s a little too hard for her than take an easier class with easy A’s. If it’s always 100%, with no […]