“I’m not reading my Bible like I want to and like I should, because it’s just easier to watch TV and escape from reality,” is what one young woman told me this weekend through tears and in the midst of grieving a loss. And I could concur somewhat, though my “easy” mode of escape is typically flipping… Read More Adventures in Bible Reading
This morning while Robert and I were running, and hardly able to breathe in this thick New England humidity, I had a funny thought. Here we were dripping with sweat {don’t hear me complaining, though!} and jogging back toward home on the beautiful bike trail near our house when I remembered the time three years… Read More Good Gifts: Summer Camp and Deaths for Glory
Why am I in denial about the realities of summer EVERY year? Why do I eagerly anticipate the end of the school year in expectation of slow and laid back summer days ~ carefree and restful? Why, in May, do I picture myself on warm, sunny beaches in June with my kids splashing in the… Read More Counting One Thousand Gifts: Denial and Chaos and Joy
Well, my women’s small group has been at it for 6 weeks now. We’ve read the entire letter to Titus.{It’s only 3 chapters.} We’ve listed key words, phrases, and themes. We’ve looked at each chapter by itself, and have re-written crucial passages in our own words. We’ve even memorized a section of verses that well… Read More Titus: A Poetic Summary {by yours truly}
Even with the many joys and delights of springtime and beginnings of summer ~ beautiful baptisms, baby chicks, backyard cookouts, blossoming trees, and a touch of warmth from the sun, I still found myself writing these words from my favorite book in a difficult-to-write card to an old friend of mine… “God knows whom He… Read More Counting One Thousand Gifts ~ May {Springtime & Sorrows}
At the Daddy’s Girl retreat last weekend, we learned that fatherhood wasn’t necessarily something created, but that God just WAS the perfect Father, that He IS the perfect Father. We matched up multiple verses with multiple categories discovering that He is the perfect Provider, Protector, Defender, Caregiver, Teacher, Leader. Then we transferred them to the… Read More The Gift of All Things New
Abby and Yarisa enjoying the summer sun! Been looking forward to this for a while now ~ hanging out with all of these lovely ladies and the young girls for whom they pour out their lives on a weekly basis. Ita leading worship. This year the retreat they’ve planned is called “Daddy’s Girl”, and we… Read More Recipe For My Weekend: Daddy’s Girl Retreat!
“I hadn’t known that joy meant dying. What did I think hard eucharisteo and the table of the Last Supper meant?” Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts, p. 179 +++ And He summoned the crowd with His disciples and said to them, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself, and take up… Read More Counting Gifts ~ Hard and Good
For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves groan within ourselves waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope,… Read More Sunday Snapshots
Gifts nailed together was the Joy Dare prompt for Friday. 1. His hands and feet to the Cross 2. My rescue and redemption 3. My forgiveness and freedom Thankfully, these three things were nailed… Read More Holy Week Gifts