Three days before my father-in-law died, I visited a local florist seeking some cheer, for me, for all of us. Stepping through oddly placed, automatic, glass sliding doors that had been an afterthought on an old house felt like stepping into open jaws ready to consume. Willing to be eaten, I entered to find promises … Continue reading Fresh cut
As I sat reading this morning while drinking diluted, doctored coffee, my eyes and mind went over and again to this Advent countdown with cutout cardstock in the center of the kitchen table. My youngest and I have worked our way, day by day, cutting and sorting and displaying the individual steps. I realize as … Continue reading All that is left on this Eve is the crown
This learning curve is steep. New job, all new terminology, volumes of unfamiliar acronyms and unfamiliar operating systems are a tad overwhelming. I could chalk it up to a lot of things— age, background, disposition—but it is now a moot point. In the last three weeks I have learned more than I ever thought I … Continue reading Leviticus and how God wants you (yes, you) near
There is a lot of holding fast couples can do by sheer force of will, many times that the cleaving of their own power may be able to cover a wound. It is the deep and harrowing, the stomach churning hurts that will not be repaired this way.
“We can forget: God may not affirm our desires, but He will firmly nail those desires to the cross and affirm the rising of Christ through those desires. And the beauty of Christianity is—what dies will rise. When you’re called to a cross, God is always calling us to our greatest good—and to greater abundance.” … Continue reading Do not feed the flesh habits
For the second year in a row, one of our children is graduating from high school. The eldest just graduated from college and there are two still to go. It is almost unfathomable the children I birthed are considered “adults.” This is scary. I know so little and think I have showed them even less. … Continue reading An open letter to my adult children
“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted … Continue reading Rooted and grounded
“For while we were still weak, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, CHRIST DIED FOR US. Since, therefore, we … Continue reading Who is to blame?
Running is the worst. I get it if there is a specific purpose in mind—a child is headed for the road and a life has to be saved, a fast break in basketball and you just want to score. I ran somewhat unintentionally two days ago and I’m still hurting, the good kind of sore … Continue reading Do not lose heart
Grover from Sesame Street made me laugh out loud when he explained the difference between near and far. There was a skit where he would stand close to the camera and tell the kids “this is near” and then run, huffing and puffing, far away, until he looked small and yell from a place nearly … Continue reading Bringing the far near
thatdaubing 