Talking to Others About Their Prayer Life
I love learning about prayer from others. How do they pray? Where do they pray? When do they pray? What do they most talk to God about? How do they experience God in prayer? What is it like? I’m fascinated by the prayer lives of others and what we can all learn from one another. […]
More Organized
For years, I’ve resisted using the calendar on my phone and all the organizational tools available to me. I wanted to live as tech-free as possible. But the time came; I’m now fully on my phone with my calendar, to-do-lists, and anything else I need to stay organized. I resisted, but now I wish I […]
A Great Prayer from Psalm 90
I love Psalm 90:14-17. It reads like this:: Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, and for as many years as we have seen evil. Let your work be shown to […]
Symbolic Transitions to New Spaces
Do you remember how Mr. Rogers always did the same thing when he arrived back home on the show Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood? He opens the door, waves to us, sings a song, takes off his sports coat, hangs it up, put on his sweater jacket, zips it up, sits down, takes off his dress shoes, […]
On Pilgrimage
I always pause when I read the word “pilgrimage” in the Psalms. Most notably, I love Psalm 84:5: Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. I always remember that we’re all just passing through; this isn’t our real home. Our hearts are set on a journey to a different […]
Take the Wheel
I’m driving in a confusing rental car up Seven Mountains to get home to State College. Because of my bad knee, I can rarely drive more than 20 minutes without immense pain. So when traveling to speaking events, Cruise Control becomes my best friend so I can rest and stretch my knee. Yesterday, after speaking […]
In a Glorious Way
I just returned from a wonderful women’s retreat in Lancaster. For the theme of “Belonging,” I spoke on Seated, Surrendered, and Sent, and I enjoyed true fellowship with so many great women. Something particularly special involved a moment when the leadership team passed around piles of beautiful bookmarks all with different colored tassels. Each bookmark […]
Not Making Simplicity Complicated
Today I chuckled about how I can make even something like simplicity overcomplicated. Many of my friends and students deeply value “simplicity.” I think to myself all about what simplicity means and complicate the very word that means uncomplicated. I love simplicity. I love anything related to clarity and ease—not just in writing and home […]
You as the Answer to Someone’s Prayer
This morning, I enjoyed a wonderful thought: What if I served as an answer to someone’s prayer today? I wrote in my prayer journal to God that He could send me today to be an answer to someone’s prayer. Is someone right now praying for help? For encouragement? For a word of wisdom? For direction? […]
A Student of the Student
I recently began asking students to share their favorite music for us to create a class music playlist. I’ve learned how much people love to connect about music. As a music lover who always has music playing in the house, in the car, in the classroom, at work, or anywhere I can listen to it, […]