Part of Our Spiritual Training
I read a curious little parentheses in Judges 3 before church this morning. We read about how the Lord left a few opposing nations near the Israelites to train this new generation and test their hearts. The verse says this divine tactic was “for all those Israelites who had not experienced any of the wars […]
Frost Tonight, Harvest Today
Today, I harvest. With the frost coming this evening, I gather the last of the Serrano peppers, the raspberries, and the tomatoes. I also cut down the Brussels sprouts and roast them for a snack. The eggplant and green tomatoes left might still ripen, so I leave these plants. I harvest the last of the […]
The Little Nudges
Today my cat Snowflake would not leave me alone. Nudge, nudge, nudge. She pressed her little face into my arm, my lap, my computer screen. Nudge, nudge, nudge. She loves the warmth of being near me, and as a highly relational cat, she simply wants to be with me. I tried everything: I pushed her […]
The Bonsai Gift
Something wonderful came my way this week. But first, let me tell you that for years, my daughters and I tried those little kits to grow bonsai trees. I just love everything about the Japanese art form of bonsai gardening, and my daughter adores Japanese art and culture. Since we’ve failed miserably in our efforts […]
Pumpkin in Everything
I discovered a recipe where you blend a tablespoon of canned or fresh pumpkin into your almond milk, and you add some pumpkin spice, a dash of vanilla, and a splash of pure maple syrup. When it’s all frothy, you pour this over your coffee for a delicious pumpkin spiced latte. You can even top […]
From Thing to Thing
Today felt like I bounced from thing to thing. All day long, I bounced without a break. Some days feel like this, and it’s not necessarily a bad or wrong thing. Today felt gloriously full of wonderful things I wanted to do and felt led by the Holy Spirit to say yes to. But it […]
Gifts of the Season
It’s finally chilly in the mornings as I walk around campus. I’m now crunching acorns underfoot, and I pause to pick up the most beautiful ones to bring home, paint, and display. The air smells, I don’t know—like old, old oak trees. The smell offers a particular joy. Just as I embraced summer with all […]
The Week Ahead: Speaking, Teaching, and Podcast and Radio Interviews
Hello, Friends! I often forget to update all my wonderful readers on the events of my life related to book promotion and speaking engagements, so I thought I’d give you a glimpse into my week ahead. Please keep me in your prayers! Teaching: I’m teaching Monday, Wednesday, Friday at Penn State for an in-person Honors […]
Seeing God Work
I’m reading A.W. Tozer’s Alive in the Spirit: Experiencing the Power and Presence of God, and I’m especially encouraged by this quote: God does not work within the confines of our strength; God works according to His character and nature and power. If we only see God work within our structure, we will never see […]
My Strength and My Fortress
Today I woke up remembering 9/11. It’s still as vivid in my mind as ever. The one thing I always remember was that feeling that this was this end. I thought we might lose our lives as more attacks came. I was scared, but I was also ready in my soul for whatever was coming. […]