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I wrote a letter to someone once. It wasn’t a pleasant letter to be writing and frankly, one I didn’t approach as prayerfully as one should. A friend ten years my younger was struggling with drug addiction, chronic lying, and had just given up a child. I was watching this girl hurt her mother, also my friend. I let anger dominate the pen as I advised, “Tread lightly for a mother’s grace will run out. Turn to God before it’s too late because His grace never will.”
I regret those words.
Light is beautiful. A good fall fire dances after dusk. Christmas lights twinkle in the evening.
Hot - cold. Light - dark. Up - down. You’re familiar with opposites and we make a point to learn and teach them to young children, but as we grow the need to review opposites appears obsolete. This shall not be the case to preserve right thinking.
One Sunday morning I was singing in my church a familiar lyric and by the movement of God’s good Spirit I have been beckoned to meditate on it for days.
When Satan tempts me to despair…
Snuggling with my 5 yo on my lap I glanced out the window to see a red truck park by the tree in our front yard. It looked like white smoke in the front cab. My initial thought was smoking or hot boxing, not abnormal for many in our area. Moments later a man jumped out of the front seat and immediately the flames broke out. The driver ran away while I sprinted downstairs to inform my husband. We called 911. The fire was put out. No one was hurt. My kids were both shaking from fear and excitement because a fire truck, ambulance, and police motorcycle in front of your house resembles Christmas more than you’d think.
Few places leave me with a perma-smile. Airports are wonderful. It’s easy to get caught up in the buzz all around, coffee’s faithful scent to those gleefully addicted, and the anticipation of something new or at least a trip worth repeating. I love traveling.
We, as a society, are in the business of filling. We fill our stomachs, our homes, our resumes, and our schedules. Even after doing all of this we still find ourselves seeking more. It seems we are never quite full enough. It’s no secret we want to be full. The great news is God is in the business of filling and His fullness is offered to everyone.
Gideon was a funny sort of kid. He's fallen, unlikable at times, an average young guy in a small tribe, certainly overlooked by most people. We meet him for the first time in Judges 6, hiding in a winepress.
The spiritual discipline of solitude is shown throughout Scripture in both the old and new testaments and the practice has continued throughout generations by those pursuing faith in Jesus. Retreating to a quiet place to be alone is the beginning; engaging the Lord when alone is putting solitude into useful practice. Solitude is not a means to another end. The spiritual discipline is the end itself. Solitude's goal is not to become something more or retreat from all other obligations; rather, it's purpose is coming to be with the Holy. Retreat from the physical and connect with the Spiritual.
Asaph is overlooked as a psalmist often overshadowed by King David’s slew of entries. However, he is deep, honest, wise, and here we will dwell with him in Psalm 50.
Nourishment has been an important topic over the last twenty years with diabetes on the rise and obesity at its all time high. Nutrition seems to have different meanings depending on the spokesperson and diet trends have never known such success.
Sometimes I wonder what happened to food. Did our grandparents think so much about what they put on the table? Maybe. Maybe not. Some may argue that’s why we’re in the mess we’re in with cancer running rampant and allergies that invade every classroom. Let’s not claim to know all the answers today. Instead, let’s think about a different kind of nourishment.