We Can Never Ask Too Much
My friend, the artist from Texas, shares with me the words penned by John Newton in regards to prayer: Thou art coming to a King, Large petitions with thee bring, For his grace and power are such, None can ever ask too much! All weekend, I think about my rather small petitions in light of […]
The Practice of Dwelling on Beauty and Excellence
I read this morning in Philippians 4:8-9: “. .. whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen […]
Who Daily Bears Our Burdens
Sometimes I’m overcome with the simplicity of such statements in scripture like this one from Psalm 30:2: “O Lord my God, I called to you for help and you healed me.” I call. He helps. He heals. Or the prophet Isaiah who tells us, “You will call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, […]
Peering In
Extraordinary Finds
We woke up to the alert that bear cubs and the mother bear were seen down the road, so we take caution on the walk to school. We’re extra-observant. We’re not too worried since we have the protection of so many neighborhood dogs and friends: We find some wonderful treasures this morning, including the rare […]
The Most Blessed Means
I read this quote from Hannah Whitall Smith with great joy this morning (written in 1888 in her book, The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life). Her words remind me of God’s presence and working grace in any situation, no matter how dire: “He is able to turn any soil, whatever it will be like, […]
Wisdom’s Traits
I loved reading James 3:17-18 this morning because these verses proclaim something about wisdom. We read: “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.” I think about living […]
Flimsy and Unsturdy
Today my youngest and I search for nests and find new Robin, Sparrow, and even Mourning Dove homes. The Mourning Dove nest troubles us. It simply can’t be true that such a flimsy and unsturdy collection of twigs serves as a home. It does. The babies will find warmth in their parents and not in […]
Fallow Times
Today the Italian Mama used a word I hadn’t thought of in a while: fallow. During fallow times, you feel drained, empty, unproductive, and unsettled. Something’s supposed to be happening but isn’t. Your life feels like it’s in a bizarre kind of crop rotation, and it’s your turn for the soil of your life to […]
In the Same Space of Joy
We linger on the walk to school because we spy the Pileated Woodpecker. We stop to take note of his joyful, loud pecking that reverberates through the woods and up the path to school. We stand there to observe the bright red head with the stunning white markings down his neck and on the underside of his […]