How to Stop Comparing Yourself: You’re Appointed for That
I’m learning another path to freedom from comparison, jealousy, insecurity, and even fear. Two Bible verses inoculate me against these kinds of temptations: 1 Corinthians 3:6 tells me that “the Lord has assigned to each his task.” Ephesians 2:10 reminds me that “we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which […]
Bringing Back the Best Autumn Craft
It’s acorn season! My youngest gathers a bowl of them, and she brings out her old nail polish for our Super Cool and Easy Autumn Craft . She loves this activity. She remembered it from last year! I store her painted acorns (from this year and last) to display in a little bowl as part of […]
By the Time You Read This, I’ll Be Exhausted
I’m writing this on Friday for tomorrow’s post because I’ll be camping with the youth group! I’m a parent volunteer on their camping trip. Yes, you may laugh. No, I didn’t wear my pearls (well, I did wear my pearl earrings, just no necklaces). Yes, I agreed to stay in an actual tent. Yes, I […]
A Glitzy Little Resistance
This morning, I notice the way the rose bushes stand secure, mature, and large against the trellis. In just a few months, they’ve grown. The leaves display a certain shimmer, so I bend down to look. Each rose leaflet wears a diamond necklace of dew. In stark contrast to those menacing thorns, the delicate dewdrops […]
Get a Little Closer to It
This afternoon, a treacherous and enormous–and most likely poisonous–spider casts a terrible shadow onto the drapes. From my vantage point, I see a crawling terror the size of my fist. (Cue horror movie music in the background as I tiptoe slowly to the window.) When I pull back the curtain, I find a tiny little […]
When Light Intervenes
In the late afternoon sun–right around 5:15 PM–light saturates the overgrown, untended, and chaotic backyard garden. I notice that when the light intervenes, the most unlikely plants take on a certain beauty. They can’t help it; in the right light, anything might become beautiful. I think this must be true. When light intervenes, people and […]
It’s OK to Ask
This morning, I read the simple prayer of David when he was being persecuted by Saul. He prays: “I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer.” Don’t you want to know what he asked? Don’t you want to know what this great request might […]
A Reminder from Tozer: “No Common Act”
I find an old quote in one of my journals from A.W. Tozer: “It is not what a man does that determines whether his work is sacred or secular; it is why he does it. The motive is everything. Let a man sanctify the Lord God in his heart, and he can therefore do no […]
The 10 Glorious Verbs of Psalm 65
I read Psalm 65 as someone obsessed with verbs. My students know my great love of verbs; they weasel “grapple with” and “fritter” into their papers because they know such verbs send me clapping. So I’m reading Psalm 65, and I discover glorious verbs about God: He answers us with awesome deeds of righteousness.He brings […]
The Best Breakfast Ever
Lately (twice a week even), we have made the most delicious family breakfast. You must try this! Imagine children running, skidding around the corner. Imagine a spouse hovering in anticipation. Imagine family members having their breakfast wishes come true. It’s crepes! We use Alton Brown’s All-Star Easy Crepes Recipe. You can whip this up the […]