Dwelling in the Land, Walking With Christ

Wisdom Toward Outsiders

Last January, just after a Sunday morning worship service, I stopped by Trader Joe’s to buy a special dessert for a gathering of college students we planned to take them on an international mission trip last summer. It was a signature dessert from the very country we’d be traveling to, and I was excited to… Read More Wisdom Toward Outsiders

Favorite Things, Good News

Friday Favorites: Cooper’s Story

A few of you have either mentioned how much Cooper’s testimony meant to you, or expressed a desire to read it. Here it is, reprinted with Cooper’s permission. His baptism, along with two others that day, happened this past Sunday, and it was…well, I’m not sure I have a word for it. Cooper’s life, well-being,… Read More Friday Favorites: Cooper’s Story

Dwelling in the Land, Fight the Good Fight

A Battle and a Rescue: Part 2

I watched the kind man in the truck drive away to his early shift, I imagine. Not knowing quite what to do with myself at that point, I walked back outside of my dorm and onto the former boarding school campus where we were staying for our retreat. I knew Robert was walking somewhere on… Read More A Battle and a Rescue: Part 2

Dwelling in the Land, Exultations

Celebration Grace

Revelation. It was the next book staring at me as I turned the page from Jude on my journey through the New Testament in recent months. My first thoughts were: Ugh. I don’t want to read Revelation. Crazy visions, bowls of wrath, angels, sealed books, dragons with seven heads, and sea beasts. No one knows… Read More Celebration Grace

Dwelling in the Land, Hospitality

Last Week & A Winner

I was going to entitle this post May is cray-cray, but then I realized it’s not even May yet. Yikes.  May will indeed be crazy – baptisms, a wedding, graduations, Kayla’s thesis presentation day, a family reunion in Texas – but it will be also be wonderfully filled with celebration. I can’t wait. Maybe one… Read More Last Week & A Winner

Adorning the Truth

Found in “Spring”

I snapped this photo on Monday morning. We had a lunch at our home for potential Deacons/Care Team members on Sunday after church, and one of our guests brought me a bouquet of flowers. It was the perfect opportunity to use these tiny vases which my friend Deborah sent me for my birthday.  They’ve just… Read More Found in “Spring”

Dwelling in the Land, Holidays

Best Week of the Year

It really is the best week of the year, though it’s also the busiest. And the desire to take a little breather after the crazy pace isn’t an option for anyone in my house, well, except for Kayla who has the week off from Classical Conversations, but also a major thesis and defense due soon.… Read More Best Week of the Year

Dwelling in the Land, Hospitality

A Sunday In The Life

It’s been a routine around here for a very long time. So long that it actually didn’t even start here in Massachusetts, but is more original to our life in Oklahoma when we had a toddler, an infant, and a ministry to college students. It’s the Sunday routine, and we’ve hardly ever veered from it.… Read More A Sunday In The Life

Generosity, Identity

A Funny Story and An Identity Crisis

Social Media is such an interesting thing. I have a love/hate relationship with it, and I suspect you probably do too. I love connecting with people there and sharing all of life’s highlights, and I hate the negative way it is used by some. I love the ability to stay up to date on the… Read More A Funny Story and An Identity Crisis

Holidays

Giving Thanks, Getting Away, Going Forward

It was such a nice Thanksgiving here. And it’s become such a familiar routine to get ready to host a houseful. Always a few special touches to the day as well. I mean, just take a look at those place cards Kayla made – with a little help from our friend Hadassah. Very special. (The… Read More Giving Thanks, Getting Away, Going Forward